Ganga, the first cloned cow in India, brings optimism for the revival of indigenous cow breeds.
Born on March 16 at Indian National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Haryana, Ganga represents a significant milestone in India's scientific achievements.
Cloning technology holds the potential to address the decline in indigenous cow populations caused by cross-breeding, adoption of high-yielding exotic breeds, and exports.
Gir cows, like Ganga, are renowned for their disease resistance and adaptability to India's hot and humid climate.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), emphasizes the importance of cloning technology in meeting the demand for higher milk-producing indigenous cattle, benefiting Indian dairy farmers.
The journey to clone a cow was a lengthy process due to religious sensitivities and technical challenges.
In 2018, scientists gained access to a non-invasive technology called ovum pick-up (OPU), allowing the extraction of oocytes from cows without causing harm.
They also refined the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique, enabling the transfer of a body cell's nucleus into an enucleated egg, resulting in the successful cloning of Ganga.
The cloning project aims to scale up the technique and produce more cloned calves.
NDRI plans to make policy recommendations for commercial cloning, paving the way for wider adoption in India. Gir cows, known for their high milk yields and resilience, were specifically chosen for the project to enhance milk production and improve the quality of indigenous cow breeds.
While the benefits of cloning have yet to reach farmers, a pilot project in Nuh, Haryana, aims to introduce cloning on a larger scale.
The project's goal is to birth 2,000 calves and study their development to formulate a strategy for widespread adoption.
Ganga's birth signifies a promising future for indigenous cow breeds in India. The successful cloning of Ganga brings hope to the dairy industry and offers potential solutions to the challenges faced by Indian farmers.