What Happened
- ICAR–Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, has produced five healthy Sahiwal calves using a combination of three advanced assisted reproductive technologies (ART): Ovum Pick-Up (OPU), In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and Embryo Transfer (ET).
- The five calves were born within a five-day span starting February 28, 2026 — described by the institute as the "first-ever success of its kind" at IVRI using these combined techniques on Sahiwal cattle.
- The donor cow was a high-yielding Sahiwal producing over 12 litres of milk per day; bull semen came from a proven sire with approximately 3,320 kg lactation yield — ensuring elite genetics on both sides.
- Average oocyte retrieval per session was 13.14 in Sahiwal cattle; blastocyst (early embryo) production rates exceeded 47% — on par with leading global laboratories.
- ICAR-IVRI plans to scale up OPU-IVF-ET on a larger scale and conduct hands-on training programmes to build a skilled workforce for the technology across India's livestock sector.
Static Topic Bridges
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in Livestock — OPU, IVF, and ET
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in livestock are biotechnological tools that accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffalo populations. The three technologies used by ICAR-IVRI in this achievement are:
- Ovum Pick-Up (OPU): Uses ultrasound-guided transvaginal aspiration to collect oocytes (eggs) directly from the ovaries of a donor animal. Unlike conventional superovulation, OPU does not require hormonal stimulation and can be repeated every two weeks.
- In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF): The collected oocytes are matured and fertilised in the laboratory using semen from elite bulls, producing embryos outside the animal's body.
- Embryo Transfer (ET): The resulting embryos (at the blastocyst stage) are transferred into recipient (surrogate) cows, which carry the pregnancy to term.
- OPU-IVF-ET allows multiple embryos from a single elite cow per month — compared to one calf per year through natural reproduction
- Non-stimulated OPU (as used by ICAR-IVRI) avoids hormonal side effects and is more economical
- Blastocyst production rate of 47%+ achieved at ICAR-IVRI equals international benchmarks
- The technology dramatically accelerates the genetic improvement cycle from years to months
- Global application: widely used in Holstein, Jersey cattle; India's achievement with indigenous breeds is distinctive
Connection to this news: The significance of this achievement lies in applying cutting-edge reproductive biotechnology — previously used mainly on exotic/crossbred cattle — to an indigenous Indian breed (Sahiwal), demonstrating that India can fast-track improvement of its native germplasm without compromising breed integrity.
Sahiwal Breed — Characteristics and Significance
The Sahiwal is one of India's premier indigenous zebu (Bos indicus) dairy breeds, originating from the Montgomery district of undivided Punjab (now in Pakistan). It is recognised globally for heat tolerance, disease resistance, and relatively high milk production for a tropical breed. India's National Animal Genetic Resources Bureau (NBAGR) lists it among the priority breeds for conservation and genetic improvement.
- First lactation milk yield: 1,597–2,125 kg; average lactation yield: ~2,270 kg (while suckling calf); high-yielding individuals can exceed 3,000 kg
- Heat tolerance: The Sahiwal's Bos indicus genetics include a pronounced hump (zebu characteristic) and loose skin that aids thermoregulation in tropical conditions
- Disease resistance: Higher natural resistance to tick-borne diseases and tropical parasites than exotic breeds
- Exported globally: Sahiwal genetic material has been exported to East Africa, Australia, and Caribbean nations for crossbreeding programmes
- Conservation status: ICAR-NBAGR maintains a Sahiwal germplasm bank; the breed faces genetic erosion due to crossbreeding with exotic cattle
- Sahiwal is listed in the Indian Government's indigenous breed conservation programme under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBD)
Connection to this news: The OPU-IVF-ET achievement enables multiplication of high-quality Sahiwal genetics at scale — addressing the dual need of genetic improvement (increasing milk yields to compete with crossbreds) and conservation (maintaining pure Sahiwal germplasm).
India's Livestock Economy and Indigenous Breed Policy
India has the world's largest livestock population and the second-largest cattle population. The livestock sector contributes approximately 4-5% of India's GDP and 28% of agricultural GDP. Despite this, India's average milk yield per animal is low compared to global averages, largely because exotic breeds (Holstein-Friesian, Jersey) have been prioritised over indigenous breeds in crossbreeding programmes. Government policy has gradually shifted toward valuing indigenous breeds for their resilience, particularly in the context of climate change.
- India: world's largest milk producer (approximately 230 million tonnes in 2023-24)
- National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBD): umbrella scheme supporting semen production, frozen semen stations, and ET technology deployment
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): flagship scheme for conservation and development of indigenous breeds; includes Gokul Grams (indigenous breed development centres) and e-Pashu Haat portal for germplasm trade
- National Bovine Genomic Centre for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB): established to develop genomic selection tools for indigenous breeds
- India's Livestock Census 2019: 148.88 million cattle, of which 75% are non-descript; only 18% belong to recognised indigenous breeds — highlighting the scale of the genetic resource management challenge
Connection to this news: ICAR-IVRI's achievement operationalises the policy push under Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Scaling OPU-IVF-ET for indigenous breeds can substantially increase the supply of genetically superior Sahiwal calves, particularly females, without the years-long wait inherent in natural reproduction.
Key Facts & Data
- Institute: ICAR–Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh
- Technologies: OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) + IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) + ET (Embryo Transfer)
- Achievement: 5 Sahiwal calves born in 5 days starting February 28, 2026 — first such success at IVRI
- Donor cow: High-yielding Sahiwal producing 12+ litres/day
- Bull semen source: Proven sire with ~3,320 kg lactation yield
- Average oocytes collected per OPU session (Sahiwal): 13.14
- Blastocyst production rate: >47% in cattle; >42% in buffalo — matching global laboratory standards
- For comparison, IVRI also achieved 14.5 oocytes/session in Tharparkar breed and 4.5-5.5 in Murrah buffalo
- India's milk production: ~230 million tonnes (2023-24) — world's largest
- Sahiwal average lactation yield: ~2,270 kg; high-yielding individuals exceed 3,000 kg
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission: flagship government scheme for indigenous breed conservation and development
- ICAR-IVRI plans to expand OPU-IVF-ET training to build skilled professionals and support livestock sector entrepreneurship