Gadvasu Introduces Revolutionary DNA Fingerprinting for Dairy Animal Parentage in North India
Gadvasu, Ludhiana, establishes North India’s first DNA fingerprinting facility for dairy animals, ensuring lineage authenticity and transforming dairy farming integrity.
In a significant breakthrough for dairy farming in North India, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu), Ludhiana, has established a pioneering facility for parentage determination of dairy animals using DNA fingerprinting (DFP) technology. This facility, the first of its kind in North India and the second in the nation, aims to combat the prevalent malpractices in the dairy industry, ensuring the authenticity of dairy animals’ lineage with an accuracy rate of 99.99%, as reported by the varsity’s scientists.
Enhancing Dairy Farming Integrity
The misuse of dairy farmers’ trust by selling under-quality semen and misrepresenting calf lineage has been a longstanding issue. Gadvasu’s new DFP technology offers a scientific solution to this problem, enabling the verification of parental claims to a near-perfect accuracy level. This development comes as a relief to dairy farmers who have long been victims of deceit in the trade of dairy animals. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, the vice-chancellor of Gadvasu, highlighted the rampant practices of selling inferior semen and calves by falsely claiming them as offspring of high-yield dairy animals. The introduction of DFP technology is expected to significantly curb these malpractices.
Scientific Breakthrough and Research
The establishment of this facility is the culmination of extensive research and dedication by a team of experts from the College of Animal Biotechnology at Gadvasu. The team, led by Dr. Y S Malik, along with senior scientist Dr. C S Mukhopadhyay and other esteemed colleagues, has contributed to a body of work that includes at least three PhD and MSc theses/dissertations. Their work, which has spanned over three years, has not only paved the way for this innovative facility but also promises to transform the dairy farming landscape in Punjab, a state with a significant population of indigenous cattle and buffaloes and the highest per capita milk production in the country.
Implications for Dairy Farmers
With the new DFP facility, dairy farmers can now ensure the genetic merit of their animals, thereby making informed decisions regarding the sale and purchase of dairy animals. Dr. Malik emphasized the financial benefits of this technology, noting that accurate parentage determination can prevent significant financial losses for dairy farmers misled into purchasing moderate-quality animals under the guise of high genetic merit. The introduction of this technology not only promises to enhance the integrity of dairy farming in Punjab but also sets a precedent for other regions to follow.
The advent of DNA fingerprinting for parentage determination in dairy animals is a landmark achievement for Gadvasu and the broader dairy industry. By ensuring the authenticity of animal lineage, this technology not only safeguards the interests of dairy farmers but also contributes to the overall improvement of dairy animal quality in the region. As the facility begins to impact the local dairy farming community, it heralds a new era of scientific integrity and transparency in the industry, promising a future where dairy farmers can confidently invest in and cultivate high-quality dairy herds.
