19:19 26 November 2015
China plans to build the world's largest animal cloning factory to produce millions of dogs, horses, and cattle a year, which will be sold on the open market.
The £20.5m plant, which is backed by Chinese biotechnology firm Boyalife and South Korea's Sooam Biotech, will begin production next year.
Boyalife chairman Xu Xiaochun said: "Chinese farmers are struggling to produce enough beef cattle to meet market demand."
China's plan has caused alarm and social media critics are sceptical as to whether consumers will want to consume cloned meat.
"Is this meat going to be sold in South Korea or China? If in China, please make our leaders eat it first," said one user.
Another commenter wrote sarcastically: "This beef definitely must first be saved just for the central government leaders; only after they and their families have eaten it for 10 years should they deign to give it to us, the people! Really can't wait!"