Date:26/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022601292000.htm

National

Now, Army facilitates test-tube foal

Garhmukhteshwar: India has become the seventh country to use in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques on horses successfully, with the birth of a "test tube foal" at the EIS Horse Centre at Babugarh near here in Uttara Pradesh.

"Over 100 scientists have been invited to the function at EIS Horse Centre on March 2 when Chief of the Army Staff General J.J. Singh will name the foal, delivered on February 17," Commandant of the Centre Brigadier Deepak Badiyal said.

He said the Rs. 77-lakh project involved using the IVF technique for horse- breeding. "With the birth of the foal, India has become the seventh country to use the test tube baby technique successfully on equine animals.

All the best breeds can be developed using the technique," he said. — PTI