Scientists in China have produced a herd of genetically engineered cows that are better able to ward off bovine TB infection.
The long-term goal of the research is to avoid the need to cull livestock by breeding disease resistant cattle. Bovine TB is a risk in many areas, including New Zealand, England and Wales, and parts of Africa and Asia. In the UK over 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2013 at a cost to taxpayers of £100m.
However, whether this approach protects cows against TB infection when exposed to high doses of the pathogen remains to be determined, says Prof Heiner Niemann, of Institute of Farm Animal Genetics .
Researchers at the Ministry of Agriculture in Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China, used hi-tech genetic technology to insert a mouse gene into Holstein-Friesian cattle. The gene protected the animals against low levels of TB infection.
The long-term goal of the research is to avoid the need to cull livestock by breeding disease resistant cattle. Bovine TB is a risk in many areas, including New Zealand, England and Wales, and parts of Africa and Asia. In the UK over 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2013 at a cost to taxpayers of £100m.
However, whether this approach protects cows against TB infection when exposed to high doses of the pathogen remains to be determined, says Prof Heiner Niemann, of Institute of Farm Animal Genetics .
Researchers at the Ministry of Agriculture in Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China, used hi-tech genetic technology to insert a mouse gene into Holstein-Friesian cattle. The gene protected the animals against low levels of TB infection.
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