Adorable Genetic Modification: Panda Cow Born in Colorado

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Ben the Miniature Panda Cow

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Despite his cuddly bear-like appearance, this newborn is 100% beef.

New Year’s Eve brought a small bundle of joy to Chris Jessen’s farm: a very rare panda cow. Named Ben, the miniature cow has a band of white around his middle and black circles around his eyes, making him one confusing little barnyard baby. Ben is thought to be one of only about 24 panda cows in the world.

(More on TIME.com: See video of barnyard animals in people’s backyards.)

Jessen raises miniature cattle on his farm 50 miles north of Denver. He says he wasn’t expecting Friday’s birth to yield such a rare breed. But he’s thrilled with the result, as is the Seattle scientist who’s works for decades to create the minature panda cow. Richard Gradwohl, a farmer in Covington, Wash., has put 44 years toward modifying cattle genes.

(More on TIME.com: See pictures of the animals of Kenya.)

Fortunately, unique little Ben will never find himself on someone’s dinner plate. Instead Jessen says the calf can live happily where the grass is greener, as somebody’s pet. But this is one expensive piece of meat: Jessen says a miniature panda cow can go for as much as $30,000.

(via 7NEWS Denver)