September 30, 2010

Indian state to build embryo transfer technology for high yielding cattle

India's Himachal Pradesh is prepared to set up a scientific laboratory for embryo transfer technology (ETT) costing nearly Rs3 crore (US$700,000).

This is an initiative to produce genetically superior cattle breed through reproductive biotechnology, and eventually introduce "semen sexing" technology.

Some of the trials already done in the state at Bagthan in Sirmour district have proved successful in the reproduction of genetically superior animals using low producing recipients (surrogate mothers).

If the initiative takes off in the next one or two years, the state expects a new revolution in rapid genetic improvement of the livestock, besides increased milk production. Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary, Animal Husbandry confirms that, "Through this way, as many as 80-100 calves may be produced from a single cow/buffalo, as against 5-10 calves in her whole life in normal breeding."

The technology can also be applied to enhance the reproductive rate in superior animals by production of twins. In a nutshell, by using conventional breeding technique, good bull crossed with low yielding cow produces progeny having average milk yield, but in ETT, good bull crossed with high yielding cow produces high yielding progeny.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who recently announced a series of initiatives in the farm sector, has given his go-ahead to the project and suggested the animal husbandry department to get some of the scientists trained from countries like UK and Germany that have already done pioneering work in the field of embryo transfer.

"One assistant director and one senior veterinary officer were earlier trained in Germany, who later handled the propagation task at the cattle breeding farm in Bagthan, the native village of Himachal's first chief minister Dr Y S Parmar. The embryos were bought from Ludhiana," said Ram Subhag. Two other veterinarians have now been sent to Kalsi (Uttarakhand) to acquire further expertise in this technique. Himachal will also introduce "semen sexing", an advanced technology for sex selection and sperm sporting in the cattle.