Panaji: Farmers in Goa are being trained in nutrition and hormone-based techniques to tackle repeat breeding in cows and improve their reproductive health and chances of conceiving.The ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), North Goa, in collaboration with the directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services, recently conducted a programme focusing on repeat breeding — a condition in which a cow undergoes artificial insemination multiple times without becoming pregnant.Gokuldas PP, senior scientist in animal reproduction, said several factors can affect a cow’s ability to conceive, including inadequate nutrition, difficulty in detecting heat, improper timing or technique of artificial insemination and reproductive health problems.He introduced farmers to nutri-hormonal therapy, which combines improved nutrition with hormone treatment to support reproductive health. Under the recommended protocol, cows are given 75g of bypass fat daily for 45 days, beginning on the day of artificial insemination. Hormonal treatment is administered on the seventh or eighth day after insemination.“This method has shown encouraging results in field conditions,” Gokuldas said.Farmers were also advised to monitor cows closely to detect heat, ensure artificial insemination is carried out correctly and at the appropriate time, provide adequate and nutritious feed, and conduct regular reproductive health checks.Udharwar SV, animal science, said, “Feeding chelated mineral mixture and bypass fat to lactating cows helps in improving milk yield and milk fat percentage. Maintaining a balanced ration with adequate energy, protein, minerals and vitamins for better reproductive performance is also important.”
