12 calves with semen of cloned bulls produced

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 30

Scientists of the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) added another feather to their cap by producing 12 calves with the semen of cloned buffalo bulls, proving that the reproductive potential of the cloned animals is similar to normal animals./These calves — six males and six females, are physically normal and in good health. They are being monitored by the scientists in the livestock research centre of the institute.

“These calves have been produced from the semen of two elite cloned bulls — Swaran and Rajat, earlier produced by NDRI. The semen of the cloned bulls was similar to their somatic cell donor bulls (father) on the molecular parameters, which was revealed in the transcriptomics and micro-RNA studies. The conception rate of the cloned bull semen is same with the normal bulls,” said Dr MS Chauhan, director, NDRI.

“To strengthen the artificial breeding programme through artificial insemination, the country requires around 7,000 elite buffalo bulls a year and the cloning technology will help in achieving the demand,” the director said.