Gandhinagar: Gujarat has witnessed a fivefold increase in artificial insemination of cattle through sex-sorted semen, with the technology delivering a female calf birth rate of up to 94 percent, significantly boosting prospects for milk production and rural incomes, an official statement said.

As per the government, over the last four years, more than 2.80 lakh cattle across the state have been inseminated using sex-sorted semen, a modern scientific method adopted to strengthen the animal husbandry sector, one of the key pillars of Gujarat’s rural economy.

Unlike conventional frozen semen, which results in nearly equal numbers of male and female calves, sex-sorted semen ensures 85–90 percent female offspring. The Gujarat government introduced this technology through the Animal Husbandry Department in 2022–23, initially charging a service fee of Rs 300 per dose. During the first two years, 25,746 animals were covered in 2022–23 and 25,620 animals in 2023–24.

In 2024, the state government sharply reduced the service fee to Rs 50 per dose, leading to a substantial surge in adoption. As a result, 1,30,925 animals were inseminated in 2024–25, while 1,00,178 animals received doses up to October this year alone.

According to official data, 94 percent of animals calved through sex-sorted semen have produced female calves, underscoring the effectiveness of the technology.

Officials said widespread use of sex-sorted semen is expected to reduce the number of male calves, helping curb the problem of stray animals and illegal slaughter. It is also likely to enhance milk production, improve cattle genetics, reduce breeding-related challenges, and increase farmers’ income through the sale of additional calves and heifers.

Meanwhile, under the National Gokul Mission, the Government of India has approved a Rs 47.50 crore project to establish a sex-sorted semen production facility at the Frozen Semen Station in Patan, Gujarat. The facility is expected to ensure the availability of affordable sex-sorted semen doses for cattle breeders across the state. DeshGujarat