India’s First Horse Foal ‘Raj Sheetal’ Born Through Embryo Transfer

Rajni
North News
Chandigarh, September 25

In a groundbreaking achievement for equine conservation, scientists at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE) in Bikaner, Rajasthan, have successfully produced India’s first live horse foal through embryo transfer. The foal, named Raj Sheetal, was born healthy on September 21, weighing 20 kilograms, as revealed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The embryo, fertilized with frozen semen, was cryopreserved and transferred to a surrogate mare, marking a significant advancement in conserving indigenous horse breeds like the Marwari and Zanskari.

Dr. T.K. Bhattacharya, Director of ICAR-NRCE, emphasized the importance of this technology, noting that cryopreservation aids in transporting embryos, enhancing conservation efforts. The project, led by Dr. Talluri and his team, has already vitrified 20 Marwari and three Zanskari horse embryos, contributing to the preservation of India’s equine heritage amid a 52.71% decline in the population between 2012 and 2019.