Chinese scientists announced they have made progress in artificial propagation of Bactrian camels.

Bactrian camels.[File photo]

Zhang Li, a researcher with the livestock improvement station in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said they have succeeded in making the female Bactrian camel to produce three to five ova, instead of only one in normal circumstances, during the period a female Bactrian camel is in heat.

In addition, they have been able to get oosperms out of the female camel, paving the way for embryo transplantation.

Zhang Wenbin, director of Alxa Camel Research Institution, said Bactrian camels can adjust its body temperature by three degrees Celsius in a day and can cope with extreme drought. The gene that determines such performance is considered valuable in bioengineering.

Alxa League, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, boasts 80,000 of China's 280,000 Bactrian camels.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments