Another cloning success shows technology being used by everyday graziers – ABC Online

Updated February 24, 2017 14:05:37

Graziers in central Queensland have cloned a prize cow, moving the technology from the lab to the paddock.

Owner of the new cloned calf, Bill Geddes, said the technology was becoming more viable for everyday producers and more graziers were using it.

Born via caesarean one week ago, Dasha was created by Richard Fry, of Clone International in Victoria.

He used a method called nuclear transfer, and his creation is the exact genetic copy of a cow from the Brangus breed (a cross between an Angus and a Brahman).

Mr Geddes said the decision to create a cloned calf rather than naturally breed an animal was made in an attempt to preserve the grey-colouring and Angus bloodline of the original Brangus cow.

"Over the years, we've bred quite a lot of calves from this old cow, and been able to breed her a number of different ways," he said.

"With the knowledge of what we've got and what we've bred, we thought it'd be a great opportunity to clone her, then breed from the new [cow], with the knowledge we learned from the old cow."

The Brangus's skin samples were taken to Melbourne and grown as embryos, before being impregnated through IVF into a recipient mother.

Of the 12 embryos implanted, only one survived, and went on to become Dasha.

"The percentage rate is always very low with the clones," Mr Geddes said.

"If you get one, you're very lucky and we got one."

Mr Geddes said he could see the potential for cloning in other areas of the commercial production cattle industry and he would not be surprised if the practice became more common.

He said there was great value in being able to re-create an animal after it had been processed through the abattoir and its full potential was known.

"With the [ability to] clone, they could slaughter the animal, find the one really good bull, and still be able to clone and breed from it," Mr Geddes said.

After the success of his first cloned calf on the property, Mr Geddes said he would definitely consider cloning in the future.

"You'd have to have an exceptional purpose to do it because it's quite expensive you wouldn't do it for practice," he said.

Topics: beef-cattle, cloning, rural, livestock, rockhampton-4700, vic

First posted February 24, 2017 08:39:00

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Another cloning success shows technology being used by everyday graziers - ABC Online