January 9, 2024

 

China's progress in cloned 'super' cows project aims to revolutionise dairy industry

 
 

 

In Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a project involving cloned 'super' cows to enhance dairy production is advancing successfully, according to a scientist from the Northwest A&F University, Global Times reported.

 

Having passed a year since the university's announcement of the successful cloning of three 'super' cows, the project's goal is to establish a herd of highly productive cattle. The next phase involves utilising the cloned cattle for in vitro embryo production, as shared by Jin Yaping, the project's leader.

 

Initially hitting global headlines in January last year, Jin's team celebrated the birth of three cloned cows boasting highly desirable traits, referred to as 'super' cows capable of producing an impressive 100 tonnes of milk throughout their lifetime. This marked the first successful endeavour by Chinese scientists to collect, restore, and conserve the germplasm resource of such 'super' cows using the somatic cell nuclear transfer method.

 

Now, at 12 months old, the cloned 'super' cows, termed as super high-production long-lived cattle, are entering a crucial phase of producing embryos for in-vitro fertilisation.

 

Simultaneously, a separate project focusing on breeding high-output long-lived dairy cattle within a laboratory setting commenced in December. These cows, slightly inferior to the 'super' cows, can produce 14 tonnes of milk annually and contribute to four pregnancy cycles for milk production.

 

Highlighting the significance of high-production long-lived dairy cattle, Jin noted that the average milk production capacity of cattle in China is 9.2 tonnes per year, with most limited to three pregnancy cycles.

 

Research efforts for breeding these cows have been ongoing in Shaanxi Province and Ningxia, showing steady progress. The laboratory breeding incorporates a combination of technologies, including Ovum Pick Up/In Vitro Embryo Production, somatic cell cloning, stem cell techniques, and genome testing.

 

China's recent emphasis on self-reliance in vital genetic resources aligns with the country's broader efforts to enhance food security. Key breakthroughs have been witnessed in crucial sectors, such as corn, soybeans, broiler chickens, and breeding swine, reducing dependency on imports.

 

As of 2022, China's milk production exceeded 40 million tonnes for the first time, reaching 40.27 million tonnes. The nation's dairy industry has witnessed significant growth, with an average milk yield of 9.2 tonnes per cow, double the 2008 level.

 

-      Global Times

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