Bovine Intervention: India Bets On Super Cows Karan Fries & Vrindavani To Bring Dairy Deluge

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 04:14 IST

The government has registered the two high-yielding synthetic cattle breeds capable of producing over 3,000 kg of milk during a 10-month lactation period

The registration of these synthetic breeds is the culmination of decades of rigorous scientific research and stabilised breeding. (Representational image/AI-generated)

In a major boost to national dairy productivity, the Indian government has officially registered two high-yielding synthetic cattle breeds, Karan Fries and Vrindavani, which are capable of producing more than 3,000 kg of milk during a standard 10-month lactation period. This output significantly outpaces that of indigenous breeds, which typically yield between 1,000 and 2,000 kg. On Wednesday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the registration certificates for these breeds along with 14 other new livestock and poultry varieties, bringing the country’s total number of registered breeds to 246.

The registration of these synthetic breeds is the culmination of decades of rigorous scientific research and stabilised breeding. Karan Fries, developed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, Haryana, is a cross between the resilient indigenous Tharparkar cow and the high-yielding Holstein-Friesian bull. Meanwhile, Vrindavani was developed by the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, using a complex blend of exotic germplasm from Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Jersey breeds with the hardy indigenous Hariana cattle. These synthetic breeds have been engineered to maintain high milk production while successfully adapting to India’s challenging subtropical climate.

The new additions to the national registry include 14 indigenous breeds across various species, such as the Medini cattle from Jharkhand, the Rohilkhandi cattle from Uttar Pradesh, and the Melghati buffalo from Maharashtra. The list also features unique poultry and waterfowl like the Mala chicken and Kodo duck, alongside the Nagami Mithun from Nagaland. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), registering these breeds is essential for providing legal protection to native germplasm and facilitating region-specific development programmes aimed at uplifting rural livelihoods.

Minister Chouhan emphasised that this balanced approach—combining the development of high-performance synthetic breeds with the conservation of diverse indigenous resources—is central to the “Viksit Bharat" vision. As climate change poses new threats to livestock health, ICAR officials noted that preserving local genetic traits is vital for future agricultural resilience. With the formal recognition of Karan Fries and Vrindavani, the government aims to leverage these “stabiliser" cross-breeds to meet the growing domestic demand for milk, ensuring nutritional security through science-led livestock management.

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