First IVF water buffalo born to surrogate mother

Director-general Sorawit Thanito said the department’s Biological Technology Office had reported its success after confirming through DNA this was the first IVF water buffalo calf born at the department.
The mother calved on July 23 at the Surin Water Buffalo Research and Development Centre, exactly 11 months after being implanted with the foetus developed through in vitro fertilisation.
Sorawit said two cows were implanted with IVF foetuses were implanted, but only one gave birth.
The foetuses had remained frozen in liquid nitrogen for 12 years.
The calf weighed 35 kilograms, stood 71 centimetres tall and 64cm in length, with a chest diameter of 73cm.
Sorawit said the success would allow the department to preserve “rare” stocks of water buffalo.
The Biological Technology Office 10 years ago engineered the births of an IVF dairy cow, a fighting bull and a White Lamphun cow from surrogate mothers.