Question

Which amongst the following used in raising super-milk cows?
A) Artificial insemination with pedigree bull
B) Embryo transplantation
C) Superovulation of high yielding cow
D) All of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: Supercow refers to the dairy industry to denote lines or individual animals that have superior milk production. These animals have outstanding milk production, can adapt to different kinds of environment and have desirable phenotypic characteristics.

Complete answer:
In artificial insemination, dairy cows are bred specifically to produce large quantities of milk. Typically they are artificially inseminated within three months of giving birth. In this method, good quality of semen is inseminated to cows. This method ensures the birth of high milk-producing cattle to meet the needs of the new breed of cows. Indian Government announced a National dairy plan to increase per cow milk production through artificial insemination.

In embryo transplantation, an embryo is collected from one female (the donor) and transferred to another female (the recipient) to complete the gestation period. This process can be used to produce a large number of offspring per female in a shorter time than possible with normal reproduction.

By the use of superovulation and embryo transplantation, the number of opportunities is increased. Superovulation is the result of the treatment of a donor with gonadotropin (especially follicle-stimulating hormone FSH) to produce more than a single ovum. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Additional information: Animal husbandry can be defined as the practise by which livestock is raised and selectively bred. It includes management and care of animals which have been genetically modified for profit.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: It is to be noted that the most common breed is the Holstein. Holsteins are large black and white cows that produce the most milk of all the dairy breeds. They are found in the Ducth provinces of North Holland and North Germany.