First cloned buffalo doing fine

The first water buffalo, cloned from somatic cells in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is in good shape, the state media reported on Saturday.

The animal's heart rate, temperature and breathing were normal. About 30 minutes after birth on Thursday, the calf stood up and nursed, Dr Shi Deshun, research project head at Guangxi University, said.

The calf weighs 23 kg, is 86 cm long and 62.5 cm tall, Xinhua news agency reported. The calf was cloned with ovary cells taken from an adult native buffalo and were transplanted into the 12-year-old female buffalo on April 10, 2004.

"The birth of the calf proves that our somatic cell clone technology is mature. It will promote cattle breeding in China," Shi said.

"Our university has two more buffaloes pregnant with babies cloned with somatic cells. They are expected to be born this year," he said.

Last November, a buffalo gave birth to a cloned calf at the university but the calf suffocated when amniotic fluid choked its respiratory system shortly after birth.