First Badri calf born through OPU-IVF, a boost for Uttarakhand's hill cattle
A Badri embryo, a Sahiwal mother: can lab reproduction save a small Himalayan cattle breed faster than nature?
Published 13 September 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
A female calf of the Badri breed, an indigenous hill cattle of Uttarakhand, was born on 11 September 2026 through Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF), described as the first Badri calf produced with this technology. The work was done by the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR-NDRI), Karnal, with G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, and was funded by the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi. The project began in 2023, initially led by Dr M. S. Chauhan, then Vice-Chancellor of the Pantnagar university. The Badri embryo was carried to term by a Sahiwal cow acting as the recipient, or surrogate, mother. A second, crossbred recipient cow was expected to deliver another calf within five to seven days.
OPU-IVF has three steps. In ovum pick-up, immature eggs are collected from the ovaries of a live donor cow with an ultrasound-guided needle, so the donor is not harmed and can be used again. In in vitro fertilisation, the eggs are matured and fertilised in the laboratory; here the semen came from genetically superior Badri bulls supplied through the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board. The resulting embryos are grown for a few days and transferred into recipient cows. Because one elite donor can yield many embryos carried by other cows, the method multiplies her genes far faster than natural breeding. Dr Dheer Singh, Director of ICAR-NDRI, said technologies such as OPU-IVF can accelerate the multiplication of elite female germplasm and support structured breed-improvement and conservation programmes for Badri cattle.
Badri cattle are hardy and disease-resilient animals that survive on free-range grazing in the hills, and their milk is valued for being rich in the A2 form of the protein beta-casein, which fetches premium prices. Conserving such breeds keeps genes suited to harsh local conditions, while supporting livelihoods in remote Himalayan villages. The team has also produced cloned Badri embryos and plans to transfer them into Sahiwal, crossbred and Badri recipient cows next. Supporters see assisted reproduction as the fastest route to multiplying rare, well-adapted breeds; the method is costly and needs trained staff and laboratories, so its reach to ordinary hill farmers depends on how widely such services are offered.
Prelims facts
- The first Badri calf produced through OPU-IVF, a female, was born on 11 September 2026.
- The work was done by ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, with G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, funded by the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council.
- The Badri embryo was carried by a Sahiwal recipient cow; semen came from genetically superior Badri bulls.
- In ovum pick-up, eggs are collected from a live donor cow with an ultrasound-guided needle; they are then fertilised in the laboratory and the embryos transferred to recipient cows.
- Badri is an indigenous hill cattle breed of Uttarakhand, hardy and disease-resilient, whose milk is rich in A2 beta-casein.
Quick recall
- When was the first Badri calf through OPU-IVF born?
- 11 September 2026 (a female calf).
- Which institutions produced the Badri OPU-IVF calf?
- ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
- Which cow breed carried the Badri embryo?
- A Sahiwal recipient cow.
- What does OPU stand for?
- Ovum Pick-Up: collecting eggs from a live donor with an ultrasound-guided needle.
- Whose genes does an embryo-transfer calf carry?
- Those of the egg donor and the bull, not the recipient cow.
- Which body funded the Badri project?
- The Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi.
- Which milk protein do A1 and A2 refer to?
- Beta-casein.
- Which ICAR institute registers livestock breeds?
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF) technique used to produce a Badri calf in 2026, which one of the following statements is correct?
- The eggs are collected only after the donor cow is slaughtered.
- Eggs are collected from a live donor cow using an ultrasound-guided needle and fertilised in the laboratory before the embryo is transferred to a recipient cow.
- The calf is a genetic copy of the recipient cow that carries it.
- The technique involves inserting a gene from another species into the embryo.
Show answer
Answer: (b) Eggs are collected from a live donor cow using an ultrasound-guided needle and fertilised in the laboratory before the embryo is transferred to a recipient cow.. OPU collects eggs from a live donor with ultrasound guidance; IVF fertilises them in the lab; embryos go into recipient cows. The calf inherits the genes of the egg donor and the bull, not the recipient, and no foreign gene is inserted.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Livestock economy, indigenous breeds and applied biotechnology
- How to use this
OPU-IVF for the Badri breed shows how assisted reproduction and premium A2 milk can raise livestock incomes in remote hill villages, offering one concrete measure.
- The first Badri calf produced through OPU-IVF was born on 11 September 2026, through ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and G. B. Pant University, Pantnagar, carried by a Sahiwal recipient cow.
- One elite donor can yield many embryos carried by other cows, multiplying her genes far faster than natural breeding; Badri milk, rich in A2 beta-casein, fetches premium prices.
- Limits to address: the method is costly and needs trained staff and laboratories, so services must be extended through State livestock boards to reach ordinary hill farmers.
Biotechnology's role in development goes beyond energy; the Badri calf is an example of reproductive biotechnology applied to rural livelihoods and conservation.
Mains practice question
Assisted reproductive technologies such as OPU-IVF can speed up the conservation of indigenous cattle breeds. Discuss their potential and limitations with reference to the recent birth of a Badri calf. (150 words)
Model answer
The birth of the first Badri calf through OPU-IVF at Pantnagar on 11 September 2026 shows how lab reproduction can help small indigenous breeds.
Potential
- Speed: one elite donor can yield many embryos carried by surrogate cows, far more calves than natural breeding.
- Conservation: multiplies well-adapted germplasm of hardy, disease-resilient hill breeds.
- Flexibility: here a Sahiwal cow carried a Badri embryo; donors are unharmed and reusable.
- Livelihoods: A2 milk fetches premium prices, supporting hill farmers.
Limitations
- High cost, trained staff and laboratories are needed.
- Recipient cows must be synchronised and managed.
- Risk of narrowing the gene pool if a few donors dominate.
- Reach to remote villages is limited.
Way forward
- Pair OPU-IVF with field breeding programmes and breed registries.
- Extend services through State livestock boards.
Used carefully, assisted reproduction can buy time for breeds that nature alone would conserve too slowly.
The basics
Why this matters
India has many indigenous cattle breeds, each shaped by its local climate and fodder. Some, like the Badri of Uttarakhand's hills, are hard to multiply fast by natural breeding. Biotechnology offers a shortcut, and UPSC asks both about livestock economics and about applied biotechnology.
The breed
Indigenous cattle breeds are those developed in India over centuries, as opposed to exotic or crossbred cattle. The Badri is a hill breed: hardy, disease-resilient and able to live on free-range grazing on steep slopes. Its milk is rich in the A2 form of beta-casein, explained in A1 and A2 milk.
The technique
Ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation lets scientists take eggs from a valuable cow without harming her, fertilise them in the laboratory and place the embryos in other cows. The last step, Embryo transfer, is what allows an ordinary cow of another breed to give birth to a pure Badri calf.
- 1Ovum pick-upImmature eggs are collected from a live Badri donor cow with an ultrasound-guided needle
- 2In vitro maturation and fertilisationEggs are matured and fertilised in the lab with semen from genetically superior Badri bulls
- 3Embryo cultureFertilised eggs grow into embryos over a few days
- 4Embryo transferA Badri embryo is placed in a Sahiwal recipient cow
- 5BirthA female Badri calf is born on 11 September 2026
- Donor cow carries her own calf
- Genes of one elite cow spread slowly
- Low cost, done on the farm
- Other cows carry the donor's embryos
- Many embryos from one elite cow
- Needs laboratories and trained staff
Who did it
The project, begun in 2023, is a partnership of ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, and G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, funded by the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council. The team has also produced cloned Badri embryos, the next step in multiplying elite animals.
- 2023Project begins at Pantnagar with ICAR-NDRI
- 11 September 2026First Badri calf born through OPU-IVF, carried by a Sahiwal cow
- NextCloned Badri embryos to be transferred into Sahiwal, crossbred and Badri recipient cows
Go deeper
In one line: Scientists have produced the first Badri calf through OPU-IVF, a route to multiply a small, well-adapted Himalayan cattle breed much faster than natural breeding allows.
Why it matters for UPSC
It links GS3 topics on the economics of animal rearing and on biotechnology with Prelims general science. Questions on assisted reproduction, indigenous breeds and A2 milk are easy to set from this story.
The core idea
Indigenous cattle breeds such as the Badri are adapted to harsh local conditions but often few in number. Ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation lets one elite donor cow produce many embryos, and Embryo transfer lets cows of other breeds carry them. The Badri's premium, explained in A1 and A2 milk, adds an economic reason to conserve it.
Numbers and dates to remember
- 11 September 2026: female Badri calf born through OPU-IVF.
- Partners: ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and G. B. Pant University, Pantnagar.
- Funding: Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi.
- 2023: project began.
- Recipient cow: Sahiwal; a crossbred recipient was due to calve within five to seven days.
Where to go next
- Ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation: how eggs are collected and fertilised outside the body.
- Embryo transfer: how a cow of one breed carries another breed's calf.
- Indigenous cattle breeds: why local breeds matter and how India conserves them.
- A1 and A2 milk: what the A2 label means.
Go deeper: can biotechnology save small indigenous breeds?
The case for. Natural breeding is slow: a cow usually carries one calf at a time. Ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation can produce many embryos from one elite donor without harming her, and Embryo transfer spreads the pregnancies across other cows, even of other breeds. For a small population like the Badri, this can rebuild numbers and keep the best genes in circulation. ICAR-NDRI's Director argues that OPU-IVF can speed up the multiplication of elite female germplasm and support structured breed-improvement and conservation.
The case for caution. The technology is costly and needs laboratories, ultrasound equipment and trained staff, which are scarce in remote hill districts. If only a handful of elite donors are used, the breed's genetic base could narrow, undermining the very adaptability that makes Indigenous cattle breeds valuable. Cloning, the team's next step, copies individual animals and adds no new diversity.
Economics. Conservation lasts when farmers gain. The Badri's hardiness keeps costs low, and demand for A1 and A2 milk labelled as A2 can add value, although claims of health benefits for A2 milk remain debated. Linking assisted reproduction to milk markets, breed registries and State livestock boards is what turns a lab success into a livelihood gain.
Exam angle. Use this story for questions on livestock as a source of rural income and on biotechnology's everyday applications, with a balanced note on cost, reach and genetic diversity.
Ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation
The technique behind the Badri calf.
In one line: Ovum pick-up (OPU) collects immature eggs from a live cow's ovaries using an ultrasound-guided needle, and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) fertilises them in the laboratory.
How it works
- OPU: a probe guided by ultrasound locates follicles in the ovary; a fine needle draws out the eggs. The donor is not harmed and the procedure can be repeated.
- In vitro maturation: the immature eggs are ripened in culture.
- IVF: eggs are fertilised with semen from selected bulls; in the Badri project, genetically superior Badri bulls.
- Culture: embryos grow for a few days before transfer.
Why it matters
It multiplies the genes of the best female animals, not only of the best bulls, which artificial insemination alone cannot do.
Where to go next
Embryo transfer
How a Sahiwal cow gave birth to a Badri calf.
In one line: Embryo transfer places an embryo produced from one pair of animals into the uterus of another female, the recipient, who carries the pregnancy.
Key points
- The calf's genes come entirely from the egg donor and the bull; the recipient provides only the womb.
- Recipients are chosen for health and fertility and need not be of the same breed. In the Badri case, a Sahiwal cow was the recipient, and a crossbred cow was due to calve next.
- Embryos can also be frozen and transferred later.
Why it is in the news
Embryo transfer is the step that lets many calves be born from one elite Badri donor in the same season. The Badri team plans to transfer cloned Badri embryos into Sahiwal, crossbred and Badri recipient cows.
Where to go next
Indigenous cattle breeds
Why local breeds matter and how India conserves them.
In one line: Indigenous cattle breeds are breeds developed in India over centuries, adapted to local climate, fodder and diseases, such as the Sahiwal, Gir and the hill Badri.
Why they matter
They tolerate heat, cold, poor fodder and local diseases better than exotic breeds, and need less costly care. Many small breeds have declining numbers as farmers switch to high-yielding crossbreds, which puts their genes at risk.
How India conserves them
Breeds are registered by the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission, launched in December 2014, supports the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, including through IVF laboratories and better breeding services.
Why it is in the news
The Badri calf shows how lab techniques can speed up conservation of a small hill breed.
Where to go next
A1 and A2 milk
What the A2 label on Badri milk means.
In one line: A1 and A2 are two common forms of beta-casein, a major milk protein, that differ by a single amino acid.
The science
Beta-casein makes up a large share of the protein in cow's milk. The A1 and A2 variants differ at one position in the protein chain. Indian indigenous cattle, such as the Badri, typically produce milk with the A2 form, while many European-origin breeds produce A1 or a mix.
The debate
A2 milk is sold at a premium, and some studies suggest A1 beta-casein may cause digestive discomfort in some people. Scientific bodies have not settled wider health claims, so the evidence is still debated. For hill farmers, the A2 label is mainly a way to earn more from hardy local cattle.
Where to go next
Take the 13 September 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers