The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled.

¶ 03 (a)(i) Under the Performance Evaluation of Selected Dairy Cow Herds (PPRS), heifer calves born using imported frozen semen from high-yield sires and raised by local farmers were selected as semen-donor bulls. Number of bulls used to obtain semen (2020–2025): 2020: 14; 2021: 13; 2022: 11; 2023: 10; 2024: 14; 2025 (Jan 1–Sep 30): 12. Total: 74.

¶ 04 (a)(ii) Quantities of bovine semen produced domestically and imported (2020–2025): Imported total 1,090,075 straws; sexed semen (Jersey sexed) 47,195 straws (details tabled). Domestic production costs and categories tabled.

¶ 05 (a)(iii) Calves reported from AI services distributed to 337 Veterinary Ranges islandwide (2020–2025): 2020: 56,049; 2021: 60,101; 2022: 65,492; 2023: 64,003; 2025 (Jan 1–Sep 30): 54,813.

¶ 06 (a)(iv) No semen-donor bulls were imported to Sri Lanka during 2020–2025.

¶ 07 (b) Advantages of importing semen: - Ability to introduce new high-yield genetics by importing semen from various breeds and multiple sires within a breed. - Access to sexed semen technology not available domestically.

¶ 08 Disadvantages: - High cost: ordinary imported semen straws Rs. 1,000–3,500; sexed semen Rs. 8,000–12,000, plus salaries, storage and distribution. In 2024, domestic production final cost per straw was about Rs. 315 inclusive of salaries, storage and distribution, with far lower unit cost burden to the state. - Domestic and imported ordinary semen straws are issued to farmers at subsidized prices (about Rs. 100 for ordinary, Rs. 190 for sexed), implying significant fiscal outlay when using imported semen.

¶ 09 Advantages of importing animals: - Potential for production at lower average cost and creating substantial surplus of doses for extended use, since semen can be stored indefinitely in proper deep-freeze conditions. Thus, even after a donor bull’s productive life ends, semen can be used for years, yielding a very low amortized unit cost (estimated at about Rs. 16.79).

¶ 10 (c) Does not arise.