Assam has got its latest frozen semen bank (FSB) amid the nationwide lockdown, thanks to the relentless efforts of the state’s veterinarians to boost artificial insemination (AI) of livestock.

The Assam Livestock Development Agency (ALDA) under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission has now set up an FSB at Akajan near Silapathar in Dhemaji district. It commenced operation on April 8.

The Akajan FSB has a pick-up delivery vehicle and a liquid nitrogen storage vertical tank with a capacity of 3,000 litres.

Dhemaji ains to set up 20 AI centres.

Assam at present has 17 FSBs at various locations.

Artificial insemination is generally done to genetically upgrade livestock to produce high-yielding females. Around 3.7 to 4 lakh inseminations are being done annually in Assam with conception rate of 35 to 40 per cent. Half of the calves born after AI are females, according to an agency official.

The agency is targeting 5.5 lakh inseminations per year.

Officials said the agency was planning to expand operations and create privately-owned inseminators on self-employment basis.

“Dhemaji despite having a considerable breedable cattle population, has been deficient in AI services and milk production. The farmers of the district had been provided with facilities through eight AI centres which were supplied with exotic bull semen and liquid nitrogen from FSB in North Lakhimpur since 2011-12. As North Lakhimpur, which has an FSB, is far from Dhemaji, the supply chain was erratic and difficult to maintain.

Considering the regular need of breeding input supplies to all the AI centres, the new FSB in the district will be helpful,” an ALDA official said. The agency’s officials also said supply of liquid nitrogen and frozen semen was uninterrupted during the lockdown period.

Liquid nitrogen of minus 196 degrees Celsius is required in bulk for preserving semen of bull as well as buck (male goat).