Kerala Livestock Development Board to start livestock research centre at Mattupetty

The Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) is set to establish the 'Centre for Advancement in Livestock Productivity and Research' (CALPR) at Mattupetty, near Munnar in Idukki. According to a report by The Hindu, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Bindu Krishna will inaugurate the centre on Monday (November 9) at 11 am. According to officials, this facility is a significant step towards ensuring the long-term development and sustainability of the state's livestock sector.

The primary objective of the centre is to promote advanced research and genetic progress. Additionally, the goals include creating institutional research collaborations, providing facilities for training and knowledge exchange, conducting research for fodder development, and upgrading infrastructure. The centre will strive to increase farmers' income and profitability by reducing milk production costs and promoting scientific livestock management practices.

An official noted that the centre will prioritise genomic selection, embryo transfer technology, in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), and modern breeding techniques suited to Kerala's climate and agro-ecological conditions. The centre will provide research and training facilities not only for farmers but also for scientists, researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and startups. Simultaneously, joint research initiatives will be launched in partnership with national and international institutions.

Considering the land constraints in the state, CALPR will place greater emphasis on developing high-yielding fodder varieties and advancing innovative agricultural practices. The centre will ensure dedicated training and research opportunities for women, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, rural tribal farmers, and economically backward groups.

On the occasion of the inauguration, Minister Bindu Krishna will also launch the newly developed 'Herd Management Software' (HMS) for the KLDB. Officials stated that the Board currently relies on a Livestock Management Software (LMS) system developed approximately 25 years ago. Through the new HMS system, officials will be able to digitally record, track, and manage comprehensive real-time data of all bovine livestock across all KLDB farms.

Furthermore, the Minister will introduce the state-wide 'Ovum Pick-up–In Vitro Fertilisation/Embryo Transfer' (OPU-IVF/ET) technology. This technology will be made available to dairy farmers at the lowest rates in the country. According to officials, making this advanced biotechnology available across the state will breathe new life into the dairy sector, accelerate the government's goal of achieving self-reliance in milk production, and help strengthen the 'Puthuyuga Kshira Keralam' mission.