Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) Kashmir has recently procured 17 High Genetic Merit (HGM) dairybulls imported from the United States of America, marking a significant milestone in the genetic upgradation of bovine livestock in Kashmir Province.
These elite male animals have been genomically evaluated and ranked under internationally accepted genetic performance indices (15 different parameters) of Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), USA and have been classified as elite category breeding bulls.
The animals arrived in India on 18th December 2025 and were placed under mandatory 30-day post-import quarantine at the GoIPost-Import QuarantineFacility, Bengaluru (AQCS Bangalore). During this period, the bulls were subjected to rigorous health screening for nine major infectious diseases. The animals were released from quarantine only after all test results were confirmed negative, in strict compliance with national biosecurity protocols. Following clearance, the bulls were safely transported to Kashmir and are presently housed at the Pre-Entry Quarantine Facility of Frozen Semen Project, RanbirBagh.
The bulls will be inducted into the semen production, and frozen semen doses will be produced for use in conventional Artificial Insemination (AI) programme as per the standing guidelines of GoI. The semen generated from these bulls will play a crucial role in genetic improvement of dairy cattle across the valley.The introduction of the world-class dairy germplasm is expected to significantly enhance milk productivity, reproductive efficiency, functional longevity, and overall herd health, thereby ushering in a new era of genetic upgradation in the livestock sector of the valley.
The initiative is poised to deliver long-term benefits to farmers and contribute substantially to the sustainable growth of the dairy industry in the region.
The import of these animals assumes special significance as it represents the first successful import of breeding bulls by any State or UT. This landmark achievement by the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir underscores its commitment to revitalising the dairy sector through strategic genetic interventions.
It is pertinent to mention that this project was funded under HADP flagship program of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
