High performance cows cloned in China

Scientists at Northwestern University A&F China have recently successfully bred three cow clones with desirable qualities, reports World of NAN.

The first calf weighed 56.7 kg, was 76 cm tall and 113 cm long at birth, and had the exact shape and skin pattern of the cloned individual. High-producing cows capable of producing 18 tons of milk per year and more than 100 tons of milk in a lifetime were used for the clones.

"This breakthrough is important for China because it keeps the best cows in the country," said Jin Yaping, project manager.

China is 70 percent dependent on foreign purchases. The country has about 6.6 million Holstein-Friesian cows that have been imported over the years. However, only five out of 10,000 cows are highly productive, long-lived and resistant to stress in China's environment.

The new cloning method will preserve the genes of the super cows, produce a concentrated herd and provide excellent resources for future breeding and selection.

"We plan to spend two to three years creating a herd of 1,000 super cows as a solid foundation to solve China's dependence on foreign dairy products," said Jin Yaping.

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