Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division

Introduction :

Although two sections namely Environmental Physiology and Shelter Management and Goat Reproduction existed since the begining of this Institute, the Division of Physiology, Reproduction and Shelter Management in its present form was established in the year 1998 consequent upon merging of two sections.

Division has three major laboratories viz. Environmental Physiology and Shelter Management Lab, Male Reproduction Laboratory & Female Reproduction and Embryo Transfer Laboratory.besides an Experimental Animal Shed complex.

The division is having a sanctioned strength of 11 Scientists out of which the following scientists are presently available.

Objective

The division is primarily engaged in carrying out research in the field of Reproductive Biotechnology Biotechnology of Male and Female Reproductive Physiology including Embryo transfer, IVM,IVF, Parthenogenesis and Cryopreservation of goat semen and embryo etc.

Animal Environment Interactions

• Environmnetal Physiology
• Shelter management
• Study of goat behavior

Mandate :

To enhance the productivity of goats through physiological and managemental interventions

Salient Achievements

1. Climatic Physiology : Conservation of Energy and Climatic Adaptation
• Benefits of predominantly black/dark coat color commonly found in desert goats through energy economy have been worked out.
• The breed variation in sustaining water deprivation and effect on field application has been worked out.
• Physiologically Sirohi goats are best suited to combat the thermal stress in semi-arid climate.
• The package of best management practices under both intensive and semi-intensive system has been developed
2. Female Reproduction
• Good quality embryos were successfully collected through non -surgical technique.
• Technologies have been perfected for collection and transfer of embryos for quick multiplication of superior goat germplasm.
• The conception rate in recipient does through surgical transfer varied from 20 to 40%.
• Thirty seven kids were born out of intra-cervical embryo transfer technique.
• Laparoscopic technique could be applied for oocyte recovery and application of collagenase enzyme proved to be beneficial in oocyte recovery.
• Caprine embryos could be successfully frozen at 4-12°C by vitrification technique.
• An eight cell in-vitro fertilized (IVF) embryo was transferred to a local goat and a healthy kid “Krishna” was born of a surrogate mother for the first time in the Country.
3. Male Reproduction
• Use of antioxidants and combination of cryoprotectant in the dilutor on freezability of goat semen was studied. A modified freezing protocol has been developed for ex-situ conservation of buck semen. Optimum number of live spermatozoa required per inseminating dose has been worked out.
• Post-thaw motility was found better in straws having lower sperm concentration of 50-100 m spermatozoa as compared to higher concentration of 150-200 m spermatozoa. Fertility rate with frozen semen using deep cervical technique ranged from 25-48 %.
4. Shelter Management
• Housing Requirements-Housing requirements for different categories of goats have been determined and shelter management techniques standardized.
• Feeding and Watering Devices - Sets of 11 Feeding and Watering devices suitable for Goat and Sheep Farms have been developed and/or modified. This technology has been adopted by several Commercial Goat Farmers in different parts of the country.