Source: Global Agriculture | Subject: Species in News / Science and Technology
Context
India produced its first Badri calf through OPU-IVF technology at Pantnagar — a milestone for indigenous cattle conservation.
What It Is
- An indigenous humped cattle (Bos indicus) breed native to the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand
- Locally called Pahadi
- Named after the holy shrine of Badrinath
- The first cattle breed from Uttarakhand to be officially certified and registered by ICAR’s NBAGR
- Recognised as the state animal of Uttarakhand
Habitat
- Found across the hilly and mountainous tracts of Uttarakhand
- Particularly in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions — Almora, Pauri Garhwal, Chamoli and Champawat
- Thrives in high-altitude environments, uneven slopes and cold climates where exotic or plains-bred cattle struggle to adapt
Important Facts for Exams
- Badri cattle — Bos indicus, indigenous to Uttarakhand; locally Pahadi; the state animal
- Named after the Badrinath shrine
- The first Uttarakhand cattle breed registered by NBAGR
- Found in Garhwal and Kumaon — Almora, Pauri Garhwal, Chamoli, Champawat
- Classified as a dual-purpose breed
- NBAGR — National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, the nodal body for breed registration
- Bos indicus — humped, zebu cattle of the tropics; Bos taurus — humpless European cattle
- The first Badri calf through OPU-IVF was born 11 September 2026, from a Sahiwal surrogate, in a collaboration between ICAR-NDRI Karnal and GBPUAT Pantnagar, funded by the Uttarakhand Biotechnology Council, Haldi
- Cloned Badri embryos have also been generated, with cloning of elite cows under exploration
