The investment in Leads Genetics will fund breed improvement farms, IVF-ET facilities, genomics labs and other infrastructure across the dairy value chain
FMCG company BL Agro plans to invest Rs 1,500 crore in its biotechnology subsidiary Leads Genetics to build an integrated dairy and cattle-genetics ecosystem, as the company seeks to strengthen breed improvement and scientific dairy practices. It is also in discussions with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh to replicate the model in other states.
The investment will be directed towards infrastructure covering multiple stages of the dairy and cattle-breeding value chain. This includes breed improvement farms, in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) centres, Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) facilities, along with pathology and genomics laboratories.
Leads Genetics is developing a Centre of Excellence in Bareilly, where it aims to scale its embryo production capacity to 15,000 embryos per month by the end of 2027. The company is using genomic testing, IVF, embryo transfer and sex-sorted semen to identify and multiply cattle based on traits such as milk productivity, fertility, heat tolerance and disease resistance.
“The genetically selected cows are expected to produce high-quality milk, with an average yield of 40–60 litres per cow per day,” said Ghanshyam Khandelwal, chairman, BL Agro.
The company said the integrated infrastructure will bring together genetics, breeding, animal health, nutrition, milk production and processing. BL Agro added that the investment is expected to support capacity building and the adoption of scientific dairy practices, while generating employment opportunities in rural areas.
