Uttarakhand’s Badri Calf Born Through OPU-IVF Technology

A healthy Badri female calf has been born through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF) technology at the Academic Dairy Farm in Uttarakhand. The achievement could support the rapid multiplication, conservation and genetic improvement of the state’s indigenous Badri cattle breed.

TAGS:
Badri Cattle, OPU-IVF, Uttarakhand, Indigenous Cattle, ICAR-NDRI, GB Pant University, Livestock Biotechnology, Animal Husbandry, Genetic Conservation

Key Points:

• A healthy Badri female calf was born on September 11, 2026, at the Academic Dairy Farm in Uttarakhand through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF) technology.
• The calf was born after a Badri embryo was transferred into a Sahiwal recipient cow.
• The initiative was undertaken jointly by ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal, and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, with financial support from the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi.
• Under the OPU-IVF process, oocytes were collected from genetically valuable Badri donor cows through ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up.
• The oocytes were matured and fertilised in vitro using semen from a genetically superior Badri bull supplied through the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board.
• The resulting embryos were cultured under controlled laboratory conditions and transferred into synchronised recipient cows.
• Another synchronised crossbred recipient is expected to deliver a Badri calf within the following five to seven days.
• According to ICAR-NDRI Director, OPU-IVF can accelerate the multiplication of elite female germplasm and support structured conservation and breed-improvement programmes.
• The programme is also exploring the cloning of elite and high-producing Badri cows, with cloned Badri embryos reportedly generated during the research.
• Badri cattle, named after Badrinath and formerly known as the ‘Pahadi cow’, are adapted to the Himalayan environment and are found in the hill districts of Uttarakhand.
• The breed is recognised as Uttarakhand’s state animal and is valued for its local adaptation and disease resistance.
• The successful birth demonstrates the potential of advanced reproductive biotechnology for the conservation, multiplication and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle germplasm.

Practice Question

Q. The recent birth of a Badri female calf through OPU-IVF technology in Uttarakhand involved the transfer of a Badri embryo into which recipient breed?

A. Gir

 B. Sahiwal

 C. Tharparkar

 D. Rathi

Answer: B. Sahiwal

Explanation: A Badri embryo produced through OPU-IVF was transferred into a Sahiwal recipient cow, which subsequently gave birth to a healthy Badri female calf.