Livestock Farmers to Benefit from IVF Technology; Making Cow Rearing More Profitable

Through in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer technologies (IVF-ETT), the Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, has boosted the quality germ plasm of indigenous breeds of cow (Sahiwal and Hariana). 

Scientists claimed that the technology would encourage farmers to raise cattle since it would increase milk productivity of cow breeds and increase the high chances of female progeny. Haryana has been grappling with the problem of stray cattle, as male calves/oxen are no longer useful to farmers. Low milk output in cows is also causing problems for farmers. Dr. Parveen Goel, director of research, stated that five cows successfully calved using this technique and five others are in different stages of pregnancy. The pregnant animals belong to different gaushalas of Hisar, Jind, Sirsa and Sonepat districts. 

Dr. Vinod Verma, Vice-Chancellor of LUVAS, Hisar, stated that using this technique, the number of quality female animals could be increased in a short period of time, which would help farmers increase their income by having female calves of superior genetic quality with higher milk production potential. According to Dr. Verma, this technique would be beneficial in lowering the number of wandering cattle.

Farmers are no longer interested in keeping ox/bull at home since they have already been phased out of agricultural activities due to the arrival of technology. 

"This strategy will also aid in the self-sufficiency of gaushalas. Livestock rearing is an important source of income for many farmers in the state, and many of the state's poor and marginal farmers raise low-milk producing cows. With this technique, the farmers can replace their animal/herd with high-milk yielding indigenous cows”, Dr. Varma said. 

Dr. Goel also stated that LUVAS was working on propagation of the Sahiwal breed and has plans to work with the Hariana breed in the future. In Brazil and the United States, IVF-ETT is used as part of a standard breeding programme. Brazil is a pioneer in this field.  

The implementation of the IVF-ETT programme would undoubtedly transform the Indian dairy industry. The university has set up an IVF laboratory as part of the center's project.

"Implementation of embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilization techniques for bovine breeding," which is being carried out in collaboration with the Haryana Livestock Development Board. 

Oocytes are aspirated from elite donors, who are high-milk yielders and reproductively sound and incubated with sexed semen from elite bulls in this project. The chances of obtaining a female calf range from 80% to 85%. The high-quality embryos are transferred to the surrogate mother, a low-milk-yielding cow.