1,800Australian sheep embryos get surrogate mothers in China

A total of 1,800 Australian white sheep embryos have found surrogate mothers in China.
The 1,800 embryos of Australian white sheep have been impregnated into 1,605 Chinese recipient ewes, female sheep, in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. A total of 1,152 ewes have successfully conceived with a success rate of 71.8 per cent.
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 transferreduces 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, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

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.