Amul set to ‘sex out’ bulls to produce more cows

AHMEDABAD: Even as the nation is engaged in an acrimonious debate over cows and beef, in a corner of Anand, milk major Amul has set up India’s first reproductive facility. What is unique about it is that cows here, in most cases, will give birth only to cows! In other words, bulls stand to be ‘sexed out’ in 95% of cases in Amul’s new artificial insemination centre.
This reproductive facility is spread over 43 acres and has been set up to develop the country’s own 'sexed semen' technology. This will ensure that sperm cells resulting in a cow calf (XX) have more DNA than sperm cells that result in a bull calf (XY).This sorting of genetic material is done by a process called ‘flow cytometry’ which is available in US and Canada. The sorting of sperm cells is done by a laser beam or staining sperms with a DNA-binding fluorescent dye.
Managing director Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited (KDCMPUL), K Rathnam, told ToI that nearly 30% of the work had been completed and 2,000 young female calves have already been procured from cattle-breeders for the purpose.
Rathnam added that three major scientific institutions — he declined to reveal their names — are partnering this project. “Once successful among cows, the project will be extended to buffaloes as well,” he said. The project is being undertaken to increase the cow population and milk productivity in the country. “We plan to give the young female calves back to cattle owners once we have impregnated them with the sexed semen,” he said.
“In normal breeding, there are 50% chances of getting either a bull or a cow. With the influx of farm implements, the bulls are now virtually unproductive,” Rathnam said. In October last year Kerala imported sexed semen from Canada priced at Rs 1,500 per dose.