📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / অজয় দাস
Agriculture
World's first IVF female Lakhimi calf born at Assam Veterinary University
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 22 Aug 2026, 04:36 PM
👁 4
A female calf of Assam's native Lakhimi cattle, created through in‑vitro fertilisation, was born at Assam Veterinary University, marking a global first.
Assam Veterinary University announced the birth of a female calf belonging to the Lakhimi breed, the first such animal produced by in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF) anywhere in the world. The calf was delivered at the university's animal breeding facility in Khanapara, Guwahati, after a successful IVF procedure that combined oocytes and sperm in a laboratory setting before implantation.
The Lakhimi breed, native to Assam, is valued for its adaptability to local conditions and its role in small‑holder dairy farming. Scientists at the university have been working to preserve and improve the breed, and the IVF success is expected to accelerate genetic improvement and conservation efforts.
Researchers involved in the project said the milestone demonstrates the potential of assisted reproductive technologies to address declining cattle populations and enhance productivity in the region. The calf will be monitored closely as part of a breeding program aimed at expanding the Lakhimi herd across the state.
The achievement has drawn attention from agricultural authorities, who view it as a step forward for livestock development and food security in the Northeast.
The Lakhimi breed, native to Assam, is valued for its adaptability to local conditions and its role in small‑holder dairy farming. Scientists at the university have been working to preserve and improve the breed, and the IVF success is expected to accelerate genetic improvement and conservation efforts.
Researchers involved in the project said the milestone demonstrates the potential of assisted reproductive technologies to address declining cattle populations and enhance productivity in the region. The calf will be monitored closely as part of a breeding program aimed at expanding the Lakhimi herd across the state.
The achievement has drawn attention from agricultural authorities, who view it as a step forward for livestock development and food security in the Northeast.