After great breakthroughs in developing "super rice", hybrid high-yield rice strains, Chinese scientists now plan to produce "super animals" to increase stockbreeding output.

China's animal husbandry output can double with the same input, provided the fruits of the country's genome project are adopted in time, said Li Ning, top scientist on the genetic breeding and cloning of agricultural animals research project.

Li, from the state key laboratory of agricultural biotechnology under China's University of Agriculture, said the research project is currently focusing on producing "super pigs" and "super chickens".

The "super animal" project is being undertaken by the China Agriculture University, the Hydrobiology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Huazhong Agricultural University, CAS Kunming Zoology Institute and the Poultry Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Scientists are trying to find the genetic characteristics of livestock that relate to quality and quantity, said Li.

The project has recently finished investigating the variety of China's agricultural animals, collecting DNA samples, and proving the origin and evolution of many domestic animals, including 92 varieties of pig, 37 varieties of cattle, 11 types of yak, 18 types of sheep and 25 different sorts of goat across China, Li said.

"We already have abundant genetic resources which is of benefit to livestock breeding and the quality of pork, chicken and beef," said Li, adding that they will provide a basic foundation for cloning as the best way of increasing the breeding rate of high yield animals.

Li said the project is also beneficial to the country's species resources protection, and will contribute to life evolution research worldwide.

China faces a challenge in maintaining a secure food supply given its growing population. The government started the "super rice" project in 1996 to improve the production and quality of rice.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2006)