Imported Australian sheep embryos get surrogate mothers in China

TIANJIN - A total of 1,800 Australian sheep embryos have found surrogate mothers in northern China's Tianjin municipality.

The 1,800 embryos of Australian white sheep have been impregnated into 1,605 Chinese recipient ewes, among which 1,152 have successfully conceived, success rate of 71.8 percent.

Embryo transfer allows high genetic merit to pass more widely onto new generations. It is usually performed on cattle, sheep and goats.

Compared to directly importing sheep from overseas, embryo transfer reduces costs and the risk of transmission of disease and shortens the gestation period.

The Australian white sheep is a large breed of meat sheep.It is cold- and parasite-resistant, has high reproductive capabilities and produces quality meat.

To ensure the safety of the embryos, the Tianjin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau strictly monitored the selection of recipients, oversaw embryo storage and created profiles of each matching.