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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157775
Title: COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF CLONING AND GENETIC MODIFICATION IN CATTLE

Author
item LEWIS, I - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA
item FRENCH, A - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA
item TECIRLIOGLU, R - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA
item VAJTA, G - DANISH INST AGRIC SCI
item MCCLINTOCK, A - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA
item NICHOLAS, K - UNIV OF MELBOURNE, AUST
item Zuelke, Kurt
item HOLLAND, M - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA
item TROUNSON, A - DAIRY CRC, AUSTRALIA

Submitted to: Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2003
Publication Date: 12/14/2004
Citation: Lewis, I.M., French, A.J., Tecirlioglu, R.T., Vajta, G., Mcclintock, A.E., Nicholas, K.R., Zuelke, K.A., Holland, M.K., Trounson, A.O. 2004. Commercial aspects of cloning and genetic modification in cattle. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. 44(11):1105-1111.

Interpretive Summary: A range of potential commercial applications of cloning and genetic modification in cattle have been suggested over the last decade. They include the rapid multiplication of elite genotypes, production of valuable human proteins, altered production characteristics, increased disease resistance and milk with improved nutritional value and processing capabilities. However, an economic return from the sale of product is far from reality in any of these areas. One impediment to achieving economic sustainability is the extremely low efficiency in producing healthy offspring from transferred cloned embryos due to embryonic, foetal and postnatal losses. Other significant impediments are society concerns surrounding such technologies, animal welfare issues, and regulatory requirements. This review will focus on current biological limitations and technical capabilities in commercial settings, the changes required to allow the production and sale of products at economically sustainable levels, cryopreservation and the progress towards automation of cloning techniques.

Technical Abstract: A range of potential commercial applications of cloning and genetic modification in cattle have been suggested over the last decade. They include the rapid multiplication of elite genotypes, production of valuable human proteins, altered production characteristics, increased disease resistance and milk with improved nutritional value and processing capabilities. However, an economic return from the sale of product is far from reality in any of these areas. One impediment to achieving economic sustainability is the extremely low efficiency in producing healthy offspring from transferred cloned embryos due to embryonic, foetal and postnatal losses. Other significant impediments are society concerns surrounding such technologies, animal welfare issues, and regulatory requirements. This review will focus on current biological limitations and technical capabilities in commercial settings, the changes required to allow the production and sale of products at economically sustainable levels, cryopreservation and the progress towards automation of cloning techniques.