OPU-IVF Calf Born in Badri Cattle: A Major Milestone for Conservation and Genetic Improvement of Uttarakhand’s Indigenous Breed
A healthy Badri female calf has been successfully born through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology. The achievement involved transferring a Badri embryo into a Sahiwal recipient cow at the Academic Dairy Farm. This collaborative effort aims at the conservation, multiplication, and genetic improvement of Uttarakhand's indigenous Badri cattle breed.
Why It Matters
This is relevant for exams covering government initiatives in agriculture, dairy development, and biotechnology applications in animal husbandry, specifically regarding indigenous cattle conservation.
In Simple Words
A healthy female calf of the Badri cattle breed—which is the state animal of Uttarakhand—was born using advanced Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology. The process involved fertilizing oocytes from Badri donor cows with semen from a superior Badri bull and transferring the resulting embryo into a Sahiwal recipient cow.
This scientific milestone is a collaboration between ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, and G. B. Pant University, with support from the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council. The initiative demonstrates how advanced reproductive biotechnology can help in the rapid multiplication, conservation, and genetic improvement of valuable indigenous livestock germplasm.
Key Points
- A healthy Badri female calf was born through OPU-IVF technology on 11 September 2026.
- The Badri embryo was transferred into a Sahiwal recipient cow at the Academic Dairy Farm.
- Badri cattle are an important indigenous genetic resource and the state animal of Uttarakhand.
- The achievement is a collaboration between ICAR-NDRI (Karnal) and G. B. Pant University (Pantnagar).
- Financial support was provided by the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi.
- Semen used for in vitro fertilization was obtained through the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board.
- Another synchronised crossbred recipient cow is expected to deliver a Badri calf within 5–7 days.
- The research programme also explores the cloning of elite and high-producing Badri cows.
Exam Angle
A. 11 September 2026
Source: Press Information Bureau