KASUR: At the Training and Research Demonstration Farm, Ravi Campus, Pattoki, the Embryology Lab of the Department of Theriogenology of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences has successfully produced the first Holstein Friesian (HF) calf through In Vitro Embryo Production (IVEP).
Dr. Naseem Ahmed, an Emeritus Professor and former UVAS VC, celebrated the accomplishment at the Pattoki campus on Tuesday, describing it as the result of departmental teamwork and research. The procedure entailed harvesting ovum from pure Holstein Friesian specimens at the TRDF, then maturing, fertilising, and cultivating the oocytes in the UVAS embryology lab. The resultant embryo was then transferred to a recipient who was synchronized, leading to a successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy calf.
Dr. Irfanur Rehman, the chairman of the Department of Theriogenology and Embryology, thanked the embryology team, Prof. Amjad Riaz, who served as their mentor, Dr. Ali Husnain, Dr. Talha Ashraf, and Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, as well as the postgraduate students Dr. Melaad and Muhammad Abdullah, researchers, technicians, and staff.
According to Prof. Naseem Ahmad, raising purebred Holstein Friesian cows domestically through the IVEP program not only reduces the cost of importing animals or embryos but also supports national sustainability by preserving milk production levels and genetic integrity.
