SCI-Cloned Calves Die At Calif. University Campus

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Apr 2, 2001 - 11:56 PM

Cloned Calves Die at Calif. University Campus By Audrey Cooper Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Two of three cloned calves under the care of university researchers have died in recent weeks, causing another delay in the race to clone livestock for commercial use. Researchers at California State University, Chico, believe the two calves died from an intestinal infection. Such immune problems are common in cloned calves, said Cynthia Daley, a professor heading the research.

A third clone nearly died from a similar infection, but has gained weight and seems to be absorbing antibodies from her surrogate mother's milk.

The calves were cloned as part of research sponsored by Cyagra Inc., a Kansas company studying livestock cloning's commercial prospects. The deaths reduce its cloned calf population to 10.

"It is going slower than we expected," Cyagra spokesman Audy Spell said. "It's a challenge because we don't experience the same problems with every calf, but I'm hoping that this will become affordable and reliable within five years."

The three Charolais calves in California were the only survivors among more than two dozen fertilized eggs planted in surrogate mothers.

Supporters of animal cloning say the technology could improve milk and beef production, produce much-needed enzymes that could improve human health, and eliminate maladies such as mad cow and foot-and-mouth disease.

Nationwide, cows have proven to be the most difficult farm animal to clone, said Rebecca Krisher, an assistant professor of animal reproduction at Purdue University in Indiana.

"Almost all of these animals, if born on a farm without a vet hospital, they probably wouldn't survive," Krisher said.

It is difficult to tell how many cloned animals there are worldwide, since many companies keep their successes and failures a closely guarded secret. Krisher estimates there are about 50 living clones.

Cyagra's Spell says his company has about a 6 percent birth rate. Of those calves, about half die soon after they are born.

While the company believes livestock cloning could be perfected in five years, Daley predicts it could take 20 to 30.

"It's not perfect yet by any stretch but we are working on it," the professor said. "Hopefully we will get to a point where it will be as predictable and reliable as artificial insemination."

AP-ES-04-02-01 2355EDT © Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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