The National Dairy Research Institute at Karnal (Haryana) has successfully cloned a buffalo calf, the world's second, through a new and advanced 'hand-guided cloning technique.'

NDRI, Karnal had also produced the world's first cloned buffalo calf on 6 February 2009, but it could not survive.

"The second cloned buffalo calf is a female and was born through caesarian operation at NDRI, Karnal. The baby calf had a weight of 43 kg at the time of birth. She is healthy and having normal weight gain like other naturally born calves." the release said.

This cloning technique developed at NDRI, Karnal, has a potential to create elite breed of buffaloes of desired sex which will contribute in further increasing India's milk production, the release said.

The cloning was done by a team of scientists headed by NDRI director and vice chancellor Dr A K Srivastav. Other members were Dr Suresh K Singla, Dr RS Manik, Dr MS Chauhan, Dr P Palta, Dr Shiv Prasad, Dr R A Shah and Dr Aman George.