Qamdo City, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Awang sheep, shepherd
2. Various of staff from Qamdo Awnag sheep embryo engineering technology center working, embryo freezer
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yang Zhiyong, director, Qamdo Awnag sheep embryo engineering technology center (starting with shot 2):
"Genetic resources are the core of animal husbandry. We select superior rams from the primary breeding areas of Awang sheep as our breeding rams, utilizing the genetic improvement potential of Awang sheep."
4. Aerial shots of sheep houses
5. Various of Awang sheep
6. Various of forage grass being processed for Awang sheep
7. Various of Awang sheep, shepherds
8. SOUNDBITE (Tibetan) Ngawang (full name not given), head, local village committee (starting with shot 7/ending with shot 9):
"In our village, there are over a thousand Awang sheep. By raising Awang sheep, we have earned income from grazing fees in recent years, ensuring a better quality of life for the local residents."
9. Aerial shot of mountainous area
10. Various of Awang sheep
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Wu Kangsheng, general manager, Gonjo County Zangdong Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. (ending with shot 12):
"Once Awang sheep reach the slaughtering criteria, we proceed with slaughter and 24-hour acid drainage, followed by overnight quick freezing. The next day we will cut and package, then utilize cold chain logistics to transport the meat to our cloud warehouse in Chengdu. From there, Awang sheep meat will reach our customers across the country swiftly."
12. Various of mutton products being packed in boxes
13. Various of boxes of mutton products being transported to vehicle
14. Aerial shot of mountainous area, Awang sheep

Prudent investments into genetic engineering have rapidly revived a once-bleak sheep industry in southwest China's Qamdo City, a mountainous area in the eastern part of the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Before 2015, Awang sheep in Qamdo were generally raised through nomadic grazing, relying on inbreeding and natural foraging. To restore the breed's vitality, Qamdo City empowered enterprises with scientific research while also carefully selecting and breeding high-quality varieties.

At the Embryo Engineering Technology Center in Qamdo City, researchers have been conducting embryo transplantation work for Awang sheep. Through embryo cultivation, freezing, and transplantation technologies, they are able to compensate for the natural limitation of single births, achieving rapid expansion of the population.

"Genetic resources are the core of animal husbandry. We select superior rams from the primary breeding areas of Awang sheep as our breeding rams, utilizing the genetic improvement potential of Awang sheep," said Yang Zhiyong, director of the center.

Advanced breeding and scientific cultivation techniques have quickly transitioned from the laboratory to Awang sheep farming enterprises.

Awang County in Qamdo's Gongjo County is the core breeding area for Awang sheep. According to sheepherders, some among their livestock are high-quality Awang sheep developed by researchers.

These sheep are characterized by their large size, fast growth, high meat production, and good profitability. They are highly favored by local farmers and herders, increasingly becoming the "leading sheep."

"In our village, there are over a thousand Awang sheep. By raising Awang sheep, we have earned income from grazing fees in recent years, ensuring a better quality of life for the local residents," said Ngawang, head of a local village committee.

With the continuous expansion of the population, local breeding enterprises have introduced a new foster breeding model, allowing herders to foster a portion of Awang sheep. Calculated at 100 sheep per herder, the monthly fostering income can exceed 5,000 yuan (about 780 U.S. dollars).

Currently, there are over 300,000 Awang sheep in inventory in Qamdo City. To tackle large-scale distribution, an integrated industry chain encompassing breeding, processing, cold chain logistics, and sales has been established.

"Once Awang sheep reach the slaughtering criteria, we proceed with slaughter and 24-hour acid drainage, followed by overnight quick freezing. The next day we will cut and package, then utilize cold chain logistics to transport the meat to our cloud warehouse in Chengdu. From there, Awang sheep meat will reach our customers across the country swiftly," said Wu Kangsheng, general manager of the Gonjo County Zangdong Biotechnology Development Company.