How China is cloning pigs on an 'industrial level'

A report claims that China is cloning pigs on an industrial scale and produces 500 cloned versions of the animal per year.

13:30 14 January 2014

Beijing Genomics Institute is producing 500 cloned pigs per year according to a report, which highlights new techniques being used to mass produce cloned versions of animals.

BBC News now claims that this procedure makes China the world’s biggest centre for cloning animals and for the gene sequencing of animals, particularly those that are “cute” or “taste good.” When compared to Europe’s gene sequencing centre, which has 30 machines, China is far bigger with 156 machines.

The institute, which was founded in 1999, is considering replacing expansive machines with people for quicker and cheaper handmade cloning with the hope to produce better-tasting food and higher quality healthcare.

Lead scientist Dr Yutao Du confirmed: "We can do cloning on a very large scale. Thirty to fifty people together doing cloning so that we can make a cloning factory here."

In December, a deal between China and Britain was struck with the goal to see the UK exporting pig semen to Chinese farmers in a deal worth  £45 million.