India’s first ‘test tube’ Banni buffalo calf born in Gujarat

The first IVF calf of the ‘Banni’ breed of buffaloes, found primarily in Gujarat’s Kutch region, was born in the Gir Somnath district.

“This first IVF ‘Banni’ calf is born out of six ‘Banni’ IVF pregnancies established at the doorsteps of a farmer, Vinay L Wala of Sushila Agro farms, located at Dhanej in Somnath district of Gujarat,” said animal husbandry & dairying ministry in a statement.

The process was carried out to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes to increase milk production. Producing calves by deploying ART will pave the way for the rapid multiplication of superior animals at a much faster pace. India has more than 109 million buffaloes that are 56 percent of the world’s buffalo population.