Assam has reported the birth of a female calf of the indigenous Lakhimi cattle breed through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), marking what has been described as the first such achievement involving the breed. The calf was born at the Assam Veterinary and Fishery University, marking a new development in the use of assisted reproductive technology for indigenous cattle in Assam.
The development was shared by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a post on X. He wrote, “The world’s first IVF female calf of the Lakhimi breed – native to Assam – has been born at the Assam Veterinary and Fishery University. This landmark achievement opens new doors for our livestock and dairy sector -from conserving indigenous breeds and improving disease control to enhancing milk productivity and, ultimately, raising farmers’ incomes. The Lakhimi cattle breed is native to Assam and forms part of the state’s indigenous livestock resources. Scientists have increasingly looked at reproductive technologies such as IVF as a way of multiplying animals with desirable characteristics and supporting the conservation of native breeds. The Assam Chief Minister congratulated the scientist on this achievement. The birth is being seen as a step towards bringing advanced reproductive technology into the conservation and propagation of Assam’s indigenous cattle breeds.
He described the achievement as a “beautiful convergence of Sabhyata, Sanskriti & Srijan” and congratulated the scientists and veterinary professionals involved. “She may be a tiny calf, but she carries a huge milestone for biotechnology in our State,” Sarma said.
