Researchers at the Nana Ji Deshmukh University of Veterinary Sciences, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, have successfully bred two female calves with the help of embryo transplant technology. The feat is achieved with an aim to improve livestock quality. Embryo transplant technology involves breeding cows using superior breed cattle’s embryos and semen, which is then implanted into less productive cows. It is believed that this technology will revolutionize animal husbandry in India. “This is our Governor’s dream project which was taken up by the institute. We brought some sick cows from the cowshed and, using the gene plasm of Sahiwal cow, performed an embryo transplant. As a result, two calves were born today,” SP Mishra, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told ANI.

A plan to convert the cow sheds into dairy farms is being devised by the officials. To achieve the transformation, embryo transplant technology will play a pivotal role since it will also affect the milk production of cows. By breeding high-yielding calves, the governor aims to increase milk production by almost 10 times the current production.