First cloned Tibetan pig gives birth to nine purebred pigs

The first cloned indigenous Tibetan pig in southwestern China's autonomous region has just given birth to its first litter of nine purebred piglets.

According to regional media, nine piglets were born by the cloned mother on December 8, reaching an average weight of 0.55 kg to 0.7 kg/head. All 9 have dark black plumage, crystal eyes and limbs that are healthy and stable, and are assessed to be in good growth condition.

The first nine purebred native Tibetan pigs.

Indigenous Tibetan pig breed, mainly in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. This rare highland pig breed belongs to China's indigenous breed. They live in cold mountainous areas and are adapted to high altitude climates.

Previously, in December 2020, the first cloned Tibetan pig was born, marking the successful application of vegetative cell cloning technology for the first time in the highlands of Tibet.

This cloned pig was then successfully bred and conceived in mid-August 2021. Results after 114 days of gestation, the first piglets were born on December 8, 2021.

The birth of the somatic cell cloned Tibetan pig and the successful birth of offspring shows that Chinese livestock scientists have mastered the method of freezing somatic cells to protect the genetic resources of the breed. indigenous pigs as well as implementing long-term preservation and thawing of indigenous pig genetic material to build a more and more complete genetic protection technology system.