JK BovaGenix announces the birth of India’s first IVF calves through frozen IVF embryos at Gopalnagar (Chhattisgarh state)
ü Named as Krishna (male calf) and second calf (female calf) and a third male calf belong to Rajasthan’s Tharparkar breed
ü Established 28 pregnancies through fresh IVF embryos and 17 pregnancies through frozen IVF embryos
ü In line with the Government of India’s – ‘Rashtriya Gokul Mission’ aimed to rapidly multiply & upgrade the Indigenous breeds of cattle
ü Mobile Embryo Transfer & IVF Van takes the technology to the doorsteps of farmers
9th January, 2017: JK BovaGenix, an initiative of JK Trust, one of the largest NGOs working towards “Cattle and Buffalo Breed Improvement” in India, today announced the birth of India’s first IVF male calf (Krishna) born on 8th Jan 2017, second IVF calf (female) and a third IVF male calf born on 8th Jan 2017 through frozen IVF embryos of Tharparkar breed of Rajasthan. The donor cow of Tharparkar breed and three of her IVF calves produced through frozen IVF embryos using crossbred cows as recipients (foster mothers) are in good health. Additionally, two IVF calves, (one male and one female) from fresh IVF embryos were born on 23rd Dec’16 and 24th Dec’16 respectively. These calves were born at Dr. Vijaypat Singhania Centre of Excellence for Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Livestock’ located at Gopalnagar. This latest development can be termed as a turning point in India’s growth story that would bring in a revolution in producing genetically superior Indigenous breeds and can lead to a multifold increase in milk output.
In line with the Government of India’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission, this initiative assumes strategic significance given the pressing need for enhancing milk productivity of the various indigenous breeds. JK BovaGenix aims to establish 10,000 IVF pregnancies by the year 2020.
Speaking on this momentous occasion, Dr. Vijaypat Singhania, Chairman JK Trust said; “JK BovaGenix is committed to bring in a revolution in producing genetically superior cattle breeds at a rapid pace, thereby enhancing the milk yield in a short period of time. This is the second initiative undertaken by JK Trust. The first initiative – “Cattle and Buffalo Breed Improvement Programme” has been undertaken in more than 40000 villages across 10 states that has delivered phenomenal outcomes. Both these projects while supplementing each other will provide sufficient milk to the villagers, not only for sale but also for household consumption.”
Further elaborating on this scientific breakthrough, Dr. Shyam Zawar, Chief Scientist- JK BovaGenix & CEO – JK Trust said, “The success of our clinical trials marks a milestone that signifies the beginning of the transformation of cattle scenario in India. Taking forward the government’s initiative of Rashtriya Gokul Mission, talks of JK BovaGenix are in progress with various state governments to implement a similar programme that can conserve the depleting indigenous breeds making Rashtriya Gokul Mission a grand success in our country.”
Incepted in 2016, JK BovaGenix has set up 2 state of the art ET-IVF labs under the name ‘Dr. Vijaypat Singhania Centre of Excellence for Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Livestock’ located at Gopalnagar in Chhattisgarh and Vadgaon-Rasai in Maharashtra. JK Trust has commenced IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) work in Cattle at its state of the art laboratory named ‘Dr. Vijaypat Singhania Centre of Excellence for Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Livestock’ located at Gopalnagar near Bilaspur, in Chhattisgarh. While the Gopalnagar Lab focuses on indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Ongole, the Pune Lab focuses on breeds like Red Sindhi and Rathi in addition to the breeds maintained at Gopalnagar Lab. Till date, the JK BovaGenix has successfully established 45 IVF pregnancies, out of which 28 pregnancies are from fresh IVF embryos and 17 from frozen IVF embryos.
