Chinese scientists clone 'super cows' to reduce milk imports

Experts say that milk from clones is no different from the production of their genetic parents.

According to the scientists, once the cloned calves reach two years of age, they will be able to begin supplying milk to the market. Three calves have already been born in Lingwu City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, ahead of the Spring Festival. Plans include raising a herd of 1,000 of these “supercows” within two to three years.

The “supercows” were cloned from somatic cells from the ears of a highly productive Dutch Holstein-Friesian breed of cow.

China continues to show significant advances in animal cloning, including the world's first cloned monkey in 2017 and the world's first cloned Arctic wolf in 2022. These achievements are designed to help reduce the country's dependence on imported dairy products.

Photo: China Daily