OPU-IVF Calf Born in Badri Cattle
Why in News?
A healthy female Badri calf was born on 11 September 2026 through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU–IVF) technology. The calf was born at the Academic Dairy Farm of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.
About the Technology (OPU-IVF)
- Ovum Pick-Up (OPU): Immature egg cells (oocytes) were extracted from genetically superior Badri donor cows using a non-surgical, ultrasound-guided procedure.
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The collected eggs were fertilized in a controlled laboratory environment using high-quality semen from a superior Badri bull.
- Embryo Transfer: The resulting pure Badri embryo was grown in the lab before being implanted into a surrogate Sahiwal cow.
- Pure Genetic Lineage: Even though a Sahiwal cow gave birth to the calf, the calf is 100% pure Badri because its genetic material came strictly from Badri parents.
The Collaboration and Project Details
- Implementing Bodies: The project is a joint initiative by the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal, and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
- Funding and Location: The project began in 2023 with financial backing from the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi. The historic birth took place at the Academic Dairy Farm in Pantnagar.
Significance for Badri Cattle Conservation
- Faster Multiplication: Traditional breeding is limited by slow calving cycles, but OPU-IVF bypasses these hurdles to multiply elite female livestock lines rapidly.
- Preserving Climate Resilience: Badri cattle are small, hardy, and highly adapted to the harsh hilly terrain and agro-climatic conditions of the Himalayas.
- Economic Boost: Enhancing the genetic quality of Badri cows helps improve their milk yield and overall disease resistance, securing better livelihoods for local farmers.
- More Births Expected: A second surrogate cow is expected to give birth to another IVF-derived Badri calf within the next few days.
- Cloning Research: The scientific team is simultaneously working on cloning high-yielding Badri cows and has already successfully generated cloned embryos in the laboratory.
