Calves of purebred cows brought from S. Korea being studied in Chitwan

By Shaligram Nepal

Chitwan, Jan 12 : Experts from the Chitwan-based National Cattle Research Programme under the Nepal Agricultural Research Council have started studying  the calves of the purebred cows brought from South Korea.

In less than one month, 101 calves were brought to Nepal from Korea under the initiative of Heifer International Nepal, with the approval of the government of Nepal.

According to the officials at Chitwan’s National Cattle Research Programme (NCRP), four calves arrived on its premises. “We will be researching on managing proper environment for the calves so that they can develop as the purebred cows which give 9,000 to 10,000 litres of milk during their lactation period of 300 days,” said Sagar Paudel, coordinator at the NCRP.

“The calves will be matured enough to perform artificial insemination (AI) after one year and can bear offspring,” said Paudel.

The NCRP is also studying the ways and investment required to rear the cows and their calves. 

“If the newborn calves are male, we will send them to Pokhara. If they are female, we will keep them to conduct further research and produce more offspring,” Paudel said.

The Pokhara-based office will distribute male calves to the farmers as necessary, he added.

Paudel also informed that the cows brought from Korea were the ones being reared in the countries like Korea, Canada, Japan and America for commercial milk production.

“We are also researching on fodder required for the cows and whether the Nepali environment is suitable for them or not. It will allow farmers to take necessary steps to rear the purebred cows,” said Paudel.

Among the calves brought to Nepal, four were transported to Chitwan, nine to Pokhara, three to Kumartar and four to Jiri. Other calves were given to farmers of different districts.

The offices of Heifer International in Nepal and Korea had coordinated to bring 20 purebred oxen and 100 calves alongside 5,000 doses of sperm for the AI. However, the oxen have not arrived in Nepal yet.

The Rampur-based NCRP is also researching on 205 cows and calves of other breeds. A neck collar is used on cows and calves to conduct the research. The collar keeps records related to their health.