World`s first cloned buffalo in good shape

  • 19/03/2005

  • Hindu (New Delhi)

The world's first water buffalo, cloned from somatic cells in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is in good shape and healthy, the state media reported today.The buffalo's heart rate, temperature and breathing were normal, it said.About 30 minutes after birth on Thursday, the calf stood up and nursed, the head of the research project at Guangxi University, Shi Deshun, said.The calf weighs 23 kg and is 86 cm long and 62.5 cm tall, Xinhua news agency reported.The calf was cloned with ovary cells that were taken from an adult native buffalo and were transplanted into the 12-year-old female buffalo on April 10, 2004.