NDRI initiates cloning of indigenous cattle breeds

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 1

After the success in the cloning of Murrah buffalo, scientists of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), here, have initiated the work on cloning of indigenous cows such as Gir, Sahiwal and Red Shindi. They are expecting a breakthrough in a year.

The purpose behind the project is to conserve and multiply the indigenous breeds of cows in the country. Presently, scientists have started work on Gir and Sahiwal and in coming days, they will start work on Red Shindi as well.

Purpose is to multiply breeds of cows

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• The purpose behind the project is to conserve and multiply the indigenous breeds of cows in the country.
• Presently, scientists have started work on Gir and Sahiwal and in coming days, they will start work on Red Shindi as well.

A team of scientists comprising Dr Naresh Selokar, Dr Ajay Aswal, Dr Manoj Kumar Singh, Dr SS Lathwal and technical officer Dr Subhash Kumar are working on this project.

Animals adapted to hot, humid climate

Our indigenous animals are well adapted to the hot and humid climate. In 2014, the Centre had launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the conservation of indigenous breeds. This initiative is a step ahead in the mission. —Dr MS Chauhan, NDRI director

“The embryo is being developed with the somatic cell of the indigenous cattle and once it is developed, it will be transferred to the surrogate mother to deliver the calf. If all goes as per our plans, the institution will successfully get the first clone calf of Gir, Sahiwal and Red Shindi,” said Dr MS Chauhan, NDRI director, who was among the scientists developing the world’s first cloned calf of buffalo.

To achieve the target, the NDRI has signed an MoU with Uttrakhand livestock board to initiate the work, the director added.

Talking about the objective of the initiative, Dr Chauhan said the number of indigenous cattle had been decreasing, which was a cause of concern. “Keeping that in mind, we have initiated work on developing the clone of indigenous cattle,” the director said.

“Our indigenous animals are disease-resistant and well adapted to the hot and humid climate of the country. In 2014, the Union Government had launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds. This initiative is a step ahead in the mission,” the director added.

The NDRI got first breakthrough in cloning in 2009 when they produced the first cloned calf of Murrah buffalo. However, the first calf remained alive for only six days but later, the scientists produced over 30 cloned calves, who later reproduced healthy kids naturally.