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Amrit Thoughts: Leeds Genetics, a subsidiary of the country's leading FMCG group BL Agro, is doing a major research on breed improvement of cows. Like Brazil, if this research is successful in India too, then the Ganga of milk will once again flow in the country. Under this project, such a breed of cows is being developed which will give approximately 40 liters of milk in a day. At the two-day “Cattle Genomics Summit” on Monday at “BL Kamdhenu Farms” in Bareilly, UP, Dr. Ghanshyam Khandelwal, Chairman, BL Agro, announced an investment of Rs 1500 crore in “Leads Genetics”. The investment aims to develop a 360-degree circular economy model by integrating genetics and reproductive technologies to improve animal breeding and ultimately the dairy industry in the country. Efforts are on to implement this model in other states including Maharashtra, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Big work on dairy improvement

The company will invest to develop an integrated dairy and genetics ecosystem in these states. This will include in-house integrated breed improvement farm, IVF-ET laboratory, Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET), Pathology Laboratory and Genomics Laboratory. With this, the entire value chain to breed improvement can be integrated at one place. This initiative is part of BL Agro's comprehensive vision of a 360-degree milk value chain, encompassing genetics, breeding, animal health, nutrition, milk production, processing and market linkages. It will also be supported by extension and outreach programs for farmers.

Chip will tell how much milk the cow will give

The two-day summit was the first of its kind organized by a corporate, presenting genomics, IVF, advanced sequencing, genetic evaluation and data-driven breeding on a single platform. Scientists, animal breeders, researchers and industry stakeholders participated in it. Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, Uttar Pradesh Livestock Minister Dharampal Singh and Forest and Environment Minister (Independent Charge) Arun Kumar Saxena participated in the program.

MP's Deputy CM arrived

MP Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said, “The work being done on such a large scale by Leads Genetics and BL Agro is highly commendable. I heartily appreciate the efforts of Dr. Ghanshyam Khandelwal and his companies, BL Agro and Leads Genetics, in carrying forward research and innovation in this field.

The company's focus on advancing modern animal genetics, breeding technologies and scientific research in India is a progressive step towards strengthening the country's dairy and livestock sector. “This initiative has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of the country, increase productivity and promote prosperity of farmers.”

Development of indigenous breeds: Livestock Minister

Commenting on the technological advancements showcased at the event, Cabinet Minister Dharampal Singh said, “It is encouraging to see India's progress in agri-tech, especially led by the private sector. India is the world's largest milk producer, but per animal productivity is still low and we are still dependent on imported germplasm for high-end genetics. Leads Genetics is making a mark in the country by producing elite bulls, embryos and sexed semen while strengthening the indigenous breeds. Contributing to building genetic self-sufficiency. Increasing milk production can also help in reducing methane emissions per liter of milk produced.”

The occasion also marked the arrival of the first zebu-optimized bovine SNP chip at Leeds Genetics and a live demonstration of next-generation sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq X platform. All these achievements are important steps towards the grassroots implementation of the India-Brazil Animal Genetics Partnership, which was formalized through an agreement signed in Brasília.

Genomic chip leads enable geneticists to assess an animal's DNA based on thousands of genetic markers. This helps in more accurate selection through genomic estimated breeding values. Unlike traditional breeding, in which improvements occur once in a generation and can take decades. Genomic chip technology enables early identification of animals that have superior potential for traits such as milk production, fertility, growth, health, heat tolerance, and resistance to ticks and parasites.

Many scientists engaged in research

This identification can be done even before traditional ancestry data are available. This technology, combined with IVF, embryo transfer and sex-sorted semen, will help in breeding and spreading improved genetics much faster than traditional methods and will work towards developing livestock populations adapted to Indian climatic conditions.

Chairman of BL Agro said…

Dr. Ghanshyam Khandelwal, Chairman, BL Agro, said, “Farmers are at the center of our 360-degree circular economy model. Improved genetics can improve milk production, fertility and long-term value of animals, while also creating additional income opportunities for farmers. Genetically selected cows are expected to produce high quality milk, with an average of 40–60 liters of milk production per cow per day. It is expected that this will improve the income sources of farmers. We believe that the strategic investment in Leads Genetics will help in capacity building, improvement in scientific dairy practices and generation of employment opportunities for rural youth.

Luck of cattle farmers will shine

Dr Ashish Dubey, Co-Founder, Leeds Genetics, said, “We are proud to have the opportunity to showcase the latest technologies. This is an important step towards our commitment to develop indigenous genomic capacity and strengthen animal breeding in tropical conditions. Our aim is to extend the benefits of advanced genetics derived from elite animals to farmers and ultimately to the broader livestock population of India. Genomics will allow us to more accurately identify genetic potential and scale it up rather than relying solely on traditional selection.” “Enables designing breeding programs based on traits. The future of dairy is not just limited to better nutrition and management, but equally important is better genetics.”

“The live birth of these genetically selected elite Gir calves is an important step towards building a strong indigenous breeding programme. Our focus is on linking advanced genetics with scientific farm management to improve the productivity, fertility and adaptability of Indian cattle to adverse conditions,” said Dr SK Aggarwal, VP Operations, Leeds Genetics.

Target of 15 thousand embryos every month

Dr. Saravannan Durairaj, Head – IVF- MOET, Leeds Genetics, said, “Our Center of Excellence is being developed with the aim of implementing advanced embryo production technologies on a larger scale and making better genetics available more widely. We aim to produce 15,000 embryos per month by the end of 2027. This will develop the capacity needed to accelerate the process of genetic improvement in India's dairy sector.”

The initiative by Leeds Genetics aims to produce elite bulls, embryos and sexed semen indigenously at a fraction of the import cost. Along with this, the company is also focusing on the conservation and improvement of India's indigenous breeds instead of eliminating them. Ultimately the aim is not just to improve the genetics of individual animals, but to build a more robust, productive and globally competitive Indian dairy sector.

About Leeds Genetics

Leeds Genetics is a biotech company working in the fields of genetics, genomics, artificial intelligence and advanced research. The company is focused on developing innovative solutions in three key areas—animal, plant and human genetics. It aims to use genomic science and AI to drive productivity, health, sustainability and better outcomes. Focusing on core research, technology and innovation, Leeds Genetics is working towards translating genomics advances into real-world applications in agriculture, livestock and human health.

BL Agro Group

BL Agro Group, based in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, is a diversified conglomerate promoting quality and sustainability in the fields of food products, agri-tech, earth sciences and dairy innovation. BL Agro Industries Limited, the group's flagship company, originally started with mustard business. Today it is a leading FMCG company and one of the largest networks of edible oils and food products in India. Its major brands are Bullock Kolhu and Nourish.

The group has two subsidiaries—Leeds Connect Services and Leeds Genetics. Leeds Connect is an agri-technology company specializing in data analysis, risk management and building a sustainable agri-business ecosystem. Leeds Genetics is a biotech company that aims to promote faster genetic progress, disease-free livestock and climate-resilient livestock development. Through both companies, BL Agro Group is committed to developing impactful solutions that empower consumers, farmers and businesses.