Chinese scientists have successfully cloned ‘super cows’. But what is the need for it?
Three super cows that can produce 50% more milk than the typical cow in America have been created by Chinese scientists through the process of cloning. It's a significant advancement with potentially profound effects on the livestock sector.
In order to produce milk and beef of higher quality, the strategy entails making clones of the genetically desirable cows. The Global Times reports that scientists can modify cows to produce as much milk as they require by breeding a stable of genetically ideal cows.
These cloned super cows offer an alternative to China's reliance on imported dairy because the typical farm cow produces about 20 liters of milk per day. The ability of the cows to produce up to 50 liters of milk per day—a massive 150 percent increase in production—could also aid livestock farms around the world.
The actual cloning procedure is surprisingly simple. The choice of a cow whose genetic characteristics best suit their requirements is made by scientists first. After they've selected a cow, they take a piece of its tissue and take it to a lab where it is grown into an embryo of a super cow.
After a surrogate mother's uterus has been surgically implanted with the embryo, the super cow is delivered. Although this procedure has been around for a while, cow cloning science has recently made significant strides.
In addition to learning more about the genetic makeup of the cows, scientists are also developing methods to modify the process to get the desired outcomes, such as making the super cows more resistant to disease and even increasing their milk production.
Cow cloning and genetic modification as a whole are obviously hot-button issues. Nevertheless, there is no denying the advantages that breeding super cows can bring to the livestock sector.
Given that dairy is a cost-effective solution for farmers, it might also be a way to lessen global emissions.