A healthy female calf of the indigenous Badri cattle breed has been successfully born through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology in Uttarakhand, marking a significant step towards the conservation, rapid multiplication and genetic improvement of the state’s indigenous cattle genetic resources.
The calf was born on September 11, 2026, at the Academic Dairy Farm following the successful transfer of a Badri embryo into a Sahiwal recipient cow. Badri cattle are an important indigenous genetic resource of Uttarakhand and are recognised as the state animal.
The achievement was the result of a collaborative research effort between the ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal, and G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, with financial support from the Uttarakhand Council for Biotechnology. The successful outcome demonstrates the potential of advanced reproductive biotechnology for the rapid multiplication, conservation and genetic improvement of valuable indigenous cattle germplasm.
New Boost to Badri Conservation
Speaking on the achievement, Dr Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, said that advanced reproductive technologies such as OPU-IVF can help multiply elite female germplasm at a faster rate and support the development of structured breed-improvement and germplasm-conservation programmes for Badri cattle. He highlighted that the successful birth provides an important foundation for further strengthening technology-based approaches to the conservation and genetic improvement of the breed.
Potential of Advanced Reproductive Technology
Dr Raghvendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, highlighted that the successful application of OPU-IVF technology in Badri cattle demonstrates the potential of ICAR-advanced reproductive biotechnologies for the conservation and genetic improvement of India’s valuable indigenous livestock genetic resources. He emphasized that such technologies can play an important role in the rapid multiplication and dissemination of superior germplasm of indigenous breeds while supporting their conservation and sustainable utilisation.
The research programme was initiated in 2023 by the then Vice-Chancellor of G.B. Pant University, Dr M.S. Chauhan. The programme was conceived to utilise modern reproductive technologies for the conservation and multiplication of superior Badri germplasm. Since its initiation, scientists from both institutions have worked together to establish OPU, in-vitro embryo production and embryo-transfer procedures for Badri cattle.
Healthy Badri Calf Born to Sahiwal Recipient Cow
Under the OPU-IVF programme, oocytes were collected from selected genetically valuable Badri donor cows through ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up. The collected oocytes were matured and subsequently fertilised in vitro using semen from a genetically superior Badri bull obtained through the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board. The resulting embryos were cultured under controlled laboratory conditions and subsequently transferred into appropriately synchronised recipient cows.
One such Badri embryo was successfully transferred into a Sahiwal recipient cow, which subsequently gave birth to a healthy female Badri calf. Another synchronised crossbred recipient cow is also expected to deliver a Badri calf within the next 5–7 days.
The research team included Dr Naresh L. Selokar and Dr M.K. Singh from ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, and Dr Shiv Prasad, Dr Sunil Kumar and Dr Mridula Sharma from the Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, G.B. Pant University, along with Dr Sanjay Sharma, Director, Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council.
Cloning Research Also Underway
The programme is also exploring the cloning of elite and high-producing Badri cows. The collaborating team has successfully generated cloned Badri embryos through multiple stages of the ongoing research. In the next phase, OPU-IVF- and cloning-derived embryos are planned to be transferred into suitable Sahiwal, crossbred and Badri recipient cows. These efforts are aimed at accelerating the multiplication of superior Badri germplasm and contributing to the long-term conservation and genetic improvement of the indigenous breed.
Boost to Indigenous Livestock Development
The achievement highlights the potential of integrating indigenous genetic resources with advanced reproductive biotechnology for sustainable livestock development.
Dr Shivendra Kumar Kashyap, Vice-Chancellor, G.B. Pant University, congratulated the collaborating scientists and appreciated their joint efforts towards the conservation and genetic improvement of indigenous animal genetic resources. He highlighted the potential of such technologies to contribute to sustainable livestock development, rural livelihoods and improved incomes for livestock farmers in Uttarakhand.
The technology can enable the production of multiple embryos from genetically superior female animals, potentially increasing the rate at which elite germplasm is multiplied compared with conventional reproductive methods. For Uttarakhand, the initiative could provide a technology-based foundation for conserving and improving the Badri breed while supporting its wider dissemination and sustainable utilisation.