Mithun bulls in Wangdigang

“The center is meeting demands of farmers from 14 west central and east central dzongkhags,” said officials. “About 20 to 25 mithun bulls are distributed to farmers at a subsidised rate of Nu. 10,000 a bull annually.”

While places near to the center are supplied with breeding bulls, artificial insemination (AI) is provided to farmers from far off villages.

The success of the farm has resulted in more demand for the bull from farmers, said farm manager Tashi Dhendup. “And we have been meeting the demand. Dzongkhag livestock officials recommend farmers to buy the mithun bulls because of their advantages over the indigenous breed.”

The farm, at present, has 120 mithuns and a breeding bull. The females are kept in the farm to replenish stock.

Farm officials said that breeding bulls are changed every three years while the calves become fertile.

The Wangdigang bulls are exchanged with bulls from Arong farm in Samdrup Jongkhar for one year after they become three years old. They are later sold to farmers.

The cross of the powerful mithun with the native siri gives the Bjatsha (male), which are ideal for ploughing and the Bjatsham (female) gives better milk production with high butterfat than the native siri.

The mithun cross also retains the siri’s agility and hardiness and are therefore easy to maintain in Bhutan’s difficult terrain. But all mithun siri male progenies are sterile.

According to the farm officials, mithuns are a distinct semi-wild cattle breed in themselves and indigenous to Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh. These big and strong animals have a typical dorsal ridge on the crest of the shoulder, a flat forehead and big horns with an enormous base.

Females weigh about a tonne and produce milk containing 10 percent butterfat.

According to Tashi Dhendup, the increased bull production in the farm and frequent diseases in the border areas has put a stop to buying bulls from across the border.

The National Mithun Breeding Center was established in 1976 at Chukha.

Tashi Dhendup said that the farm at Wangdigang was a better location in terms of pastureland and security from diseases. “Chukha was on the highway and there was every possibility of the animals getting infected with diseases because of the increasing human population and settlement,” he said.