30 institutes use advanced IVF technique to produce elite bulls
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, November 11
After witnessing the success of Ovum Pick-Up (OPU)-in vitro-fertilization (IVF) technique in the past couple of years at National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) here, the technique is now being used in around 30 animal institutes of the country for the multiplication of good quality bulls to meet the shortage of around 80 million doses of semen of livestock in India.
At present, the country has around 80 million doses of semen, while the requirement is of around 160 million doses for animals.
With the help of this technique, a cow can produce more than 50-80 calves in comparison to five to eight normally in her lifetime.
“The OPU-IVF is an advanced technique of reproduction. Presently, farmers are using artificial insemination in the field, but its success rate is around 35 per cent. With the help of this advance technology, we will produce good germplasm to meet the demand of semen,” said Dr BN Tripathi, Deputy Director-General (animal science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
“NDRI is at the forefront of the research and developmental activities in advanced reproductive biotechnology and is a premier research organisation having a high-quality infrastructure and experienced faculties. After its success in the technique, the Union Government has funded Rs 1.5-2 crore to each institute working on this project across the country for strengthen the OPU-IVF technique,” he added.
