Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 4: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) has launched a series of infertility camps for bovines across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from August 1, 2026, as part of a scheduled initiative aimed at strengthening reproductive health, improving conception rates and supporting dairy development through scientific veterinary interventions.
The campaign began with an infertility camp at Rabindra Nagar Panchayat on August 1, where veterinary teams clinically examined 35 animals. Of these, 10 were found to be pregnant, while 20 animals, including lactating cattle and a few heifers aged between two and three years, underwent deworming. One animal in heat was artificially inseminated, and four animals were identified in the 30-day post-partum stage.
Veterinary officials also distributed medicines, including Hepacin powder, Mineral Mixture, Rafoxanide, Oxyclozanide with Levamisole, Albendazole, Tonophosphan injection and Multivitamin injection. As part of efforts to encourage fodder cultivation, six farmers received 30 kg of Sorghum (MP Chari) fodder seeds at the rate of 5 kg per farmer for cultivation over one bigha of land.
Another infertility camp was organised at New Bimblitan village under Gram Panchayat Sippighat by the Senior Veterinary Officer of Veterinary Hospital Garacharma and the veterinary team in association with Perumal, Senior Scientist at CIARI. During the programme, 17 animals were examined. Veterinary teams detected three repeat breeding cases, one case of silent heat with underdeveloped genitalia and another case of silent heat.
The identified repeat breeding animals were treated with Ivermectin, Tonophosphan and Cyclomin. To improve the effectiveness of artificial insemination, six scrub bulls were castrated. The camp also covered deworming of 27 cattle and 28 goats, while anti-tick medication was administered to four cattle. Livestock owners attending the programme were briefed on the benefits of Sex Sorted Semen (SSS).
A similar camp was conducted at Lall Pahar, Portmout, where veterinarians examined 10 animals. The assessment found two pregnant animals, two animals in heat, two in anestrus and four animals with normal reproductive status. The two animals in heat and four animals with normal oestrus cycles were selected for the fifth round of Embryo Transfer Technology (ETT). Deworming tablets and mineral mixture were supplied to the selected animals.
The department said the infertility camps form part of its continuing efforts to address infertility among bovines, promote scientific breeding practices and enhance livestock productivity across the Islands.
