"Chinese parents usually make meticulous plans to have their baby born in the most desirable environment given in most areas one couple is only allowed to have one child. But selective birth in lucky years such as the millennium and the pig year will worsen the shortage of social resources like education and jobs," Yu added.

Relating the animal signs with luck in life is a long-standing Chinese custom, with certain years like dragon, monkey and pig deemed lucky and others like the goat and snake are regarded as the opposite.

Some parents have even used medicines and caesarean sections to rush their babies into the world in a desirable year, leading many to criticize these actions as being outdated superstitious beliefs.

"A person's fate can't be decided by which year he or she was born," said Shanghai resident Gong Rong.

"It's irresponsible and vane of parents to blindly follow so-called tradition," said Cao Kai, a 25-year-old journalist in Beijing.

According to Chen Jing, director of the Folk Culture Research Center in Nanjing University, China's celebrity files are rife with big names born in "bad" years like the goat year, but they prove just as lucky, successful and long-living as anyone else.

A large number of "goats" have made a name as high-ranking officials, scientists, sportsmen and movie stars, including He Guoqiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, top mathematician Wu Wenjun, female basketball player Zheng Haixia and gymnast Mo Huilan.

"Parents may want golden pig babies out of a wish for happiness but these traditional customs should not be used as an excuse for abuses," Chen said.

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