Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, Dr BP Mishra and Principal Secretary, Animal Biotechnology, ICAR-NBAGR, Dr Manishi Mukesh met Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, at Raj Niwas on May 26.

Director, ICAR-NBAGR, Dr Mishra briefed about their work on the identification, characterisation, registration, documentation, monitoring and conservation of animal genetic resources. He apprised about the Mission towards Zero Non-Descript AnGR of India that emphasises on the significance of characterisation and registration of the non-descript population of the country along with their conservation and improvement.

Dr Mishra informed about their plan to make Ladakh the first Indian Zero Non-Descript AnGR region. He also briefed about the ongoing process to identify and characterise new/non-descript population of Ladakh such as Chang-khi (wild dogs found in the Changthang area), yak and donkey. He informed that the native cattle from Ladakh called ‘Ladakhi cattle’ was recognised as the 42nd cattle breed of India.

Dr Mishra informed that Ladakhi cattle are a natural source for A2 milk. He apprised about the presence of hypoxia inducing factor-1 (HIF-1) and its regulatory genes in Ladakhi cattle that produce homeostatic responses to hypoxia in higher altitudes of the Trans-Himalayan region.

LG Mathur suggested that the milk of Ladakhi cattle and yak may be promoted among tourists as the milk enriched with anti-oxidant and hypoxic properties to promote high-altitude areas of Ladakh. He stated that this would also enable locals to earn more money for their livelihood. He also suggested that ICAR-NBAGR may look at the breed of dzo/dzomo for their identification and characterisation.

LG Mathur highlighted the commercial benefits of identification, registration and characterisation of Chang-khi and Ladakhi cattle as the new/non-descript population of Ladakh, especially among aspiring entrepreneurs, through value addition. He stated that a breeding programme may be conducted for Chang-khi once they are recognised as a native breed of Ladakh.