WASHINGTON - AN INTERNATIONAL team of researchers has succeeded in decoding the genome sequence of cows, which could help lead to production of better quality milk and beef.

It took 300 scientists based in 25 countries six years to unlock the sequence, according to the results published on Thursday in Science magazine.

The genome of the domestic cow (Bos taurus) contains about 22,000 separate genes, 80 per cent of which are identical to human genes.

The researchers also found that the way chromosomes are organized in humans is closer to the pattern found in cows than in rats or mice - animals heavily used in laboratories for studying human illnesses and treatments.

The 'Bovine Genome Sequencing Project' was carried out on Hereford cows, which originated in Britain, but are now found all over the world. The medium sized cows are usually russet-brown in color and primarily used in beef production.

'The cattle industry is extremely important for US agriculture with more than 94 million cattle in the United States valued at 49 billion dollars,' said US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

'Understanding the cattle genome and having the sequence will allow researchers to understand the genetic basis for disease in domestic cattle and could result in healthier production of meat and milk while reducing producers' dependence on antibiotics,' he added.

The US$35 million (S$52.5 million) study was led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the US Agricultural Research Service.

'The domestic cattle genome sequence opens another window into our own genome,' said the acting director of the National Institutes of Health, Raynard Kington.

'By comparing the human genome to the genomes of many different species, such as the domestic cattle, we can gain a clearer view of how the human genome works in health and in disease.' -- AFP