Regional Cattle Breeding Centre, Wangkha

Wangkha, Chukha Dzongkhag

Background

The centre is located at Wangkha under Chhukha Dzongkhag, midway between Thimphu and Phuentsholing (75 kilometers from Thimphu and 80 kilometers away from Phuentsholing), at an altitude of 17000 masl, with an area of 113.55 acres. It was initially started in early 1960s (1963) as Regional Mithun Breeding Farm to produce and supply pure Mithun bulls to farmers for crossing with local cattle. Later in 2006, Mithun farm was re-located to Wangdigang in Zhemgang Dzongkhag.

After re-location of Mithun, the farm was renamed as Cattle Rearing Centre (CRC) and operated with the mandate to procure surplus male calves from the farmers and rear them for breeding, fattening and draft purposes. But the program had to discontinue during 10^th Five Year Plan owing to religious sentiments of the public against fattening (beef production) aspects.

After discontinuing the rearing of male calves and to meet the increasing demand for dairy cattle, the farm was mandated to source and procure heifers from within or outside the country, rear, impregnate and supply to the farmers to promote dairy farming in the region/country. As mandated, the Centre had procured 337 heads of heifers/cows and supplied 293 nos. after confirmed pregnant to the interested dairy farmers of various Dzongkhags in the country till now.

Further, with the creation of Research and Extension Division (RED) under the Department of Livestock in 11^th Five Year Plan, the farm was re-aligned with Research & Extension Division and renamed the erstwhile Cattle Rearing Centre (CRC) as Regional Cattle Research Farm (later was not approved by RCSC) to support the conduct of dairy research activities in the region. This resulted into rearing various breed types such as Jersey pure, Jersey cross, Karan Fries, Holstein Friesian and local cattle (Siri). Again, the nomenclature of the farm was renamed again as Regional Cattle Breeding Centre (RCBC) by the RCSC ODE team as recommended by the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture & Forests during its meeting on finalization of farm strategy and management plan (15-18 May 2019), considering the revised mandates and functions of the farm for 12^th Five Year Plan and beyond. As mandated, this farm stopped procuring and rearing of heifers as done earlier and started production of calves in the farm itself. However, due to Brucellosis infection in animal herd, this centre completely stopped breeding activities since a year ago till the further instruction from the Department.

Vision

Serve as a model Government dairy farm in its operation and management that serves the need of dairy farming communities. 

Mission

Produce high quality Jersey heifers and cows through application of advanced reproductive bio-technologies and adoption of modernized farm management practices.

Mandates

• Ensure production of good quality Jersey heifers and cows through use of advanced reproductive technologies by adopting modern dairy farming management practices and supply to interested dairy entrepreneurs/farmers/youths to promote dairy farming in the country.
• Provide opportunity to conduct research related to dairy sector to different centers/agencies under the Department of Livestock to establish sound technical information or technology to improve productivity of dairy animal.
• Serve as a mother stock farm for Jersey cattle to sustain and compliment National Jersey Breeding Centre (NJBC). 

Functions /Objectives 

• To maintain Jersey crossbred cattle with Jersey bloodline level of 75-87.25% and slowly upgrade to pure bred based on farm carrying capacity.
• To apply advanced reproductive technologies preferably progeny tested female sex sorted Jersey semen to produce quality Jersey cattle.
• To supply pregnant and/ or serviceable age Jersey heifers to intensify dairy farming in the country.
• To monitor quality Jersey heifers/cows in the Jersey potential areas within the country, procure, rear, and supply to the interested dairy entrepreneurs to meet the raising demand of Jersey dairy cattle.
•  To apply selection methods to screen and cull low performing cows with, health and reproductive problems and replace with quality replacement stock.
• To impart knowledge on modern dairy technologies and husbandry practices to entrepreneurs, farmers groups and visiting students/youths in the region.
• To support relevant centres/agencies in the conduct of research as and when required.
• To diversify farm revenue generation through sale of milk, farm animals and other diverse activities.