OPU-IVF Calf Born in Badri Cattle: A Major Milestone for Conservation and Genetic Improvement of Uttarakhand’s Indigenous Breed

A healthy Badri female calf was successfully born through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilization (OPU-IVF) technology at the Academic Dairy Farm, following the transfer of a Badri embryo into a Sahiwal recipient cow on September 11, 2026. Badri cattle are recognized as the state animal of Uttarakhand and represent an important indigenous genetic resource. This achievement is the result of a collaborative effort between ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal, and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, with financial support from the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi. The initiative aims to utilize advanced reproductive biotechnologies for the rapid multiplication, conservation, and genetic improvement of elite Badri germplasm, alongside ongoing exploration of animal cloning.