Trans Ova Livestock Cloning

We cannot clone from frozen sperm.  Sperm is haploid, it contains one set of chromosomes.  When it unites with the oocyte or egg, which is also haploid, it forms a diploid (2 sets of chromosomes) organism.  A diploid cell is needed in order to clone.  

You can place an order for a Genetic Preservation, Express Tissue Bank, or a cloning agreement by simply calling 1-800-999-3586 Ext 3104 for Diane Broek. An order can also be placed through your Trans Ova Genetics customer service representative.

In January 2008, the FDA released their Final Risk Assessment that stated that the products from cloned animals and their offspring are safe, that there is no difference in food produced from cloned animals and their offspring, thus there is no reason to require labeling on all products. The offspring of cloned animals are conventionally bred and are not cloned animals themselves.

As with all advanced reproductive technologies, cloning is part of a carefully planned and implemented genetic advancement program, uniquely defined to achieve individual client goals. For clients that have animals at the elite genetics level and marketing caliber for cloning, Trans Ova Genetics has dedicated their trained, professional team specialists to ensure the best possible care through the entire process.

For more than 40 years, Trans Ova Genetics has been working closely with livestock breeders on advanced reproductive technologies. We formed a joint venture with ViaGen in 2007 called Bovance, and purchased ViaGen in 2012. Today, Trans Ova Genetics provides cloning services for cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and deer. We also provide Genetic Preservation services to exotic species. The experience of Trans Ova Genetics is unparalleled. It involves more than 20 years of experience with cloning technologies and encompasses thousands of animals.

In the cloning process, the animal produced using cloning technology will carry a nuclear genome (DNA) that is a genetic match to the genetic donor animal. In other words, nuclear genotypes (as produced for breed registry DNA genotyping) of the cloned animal will be the same as the genetic donor that provided the tissue sample to produce the cell line or Genetic Preservation. If you are cloning a breed that utilizes genomic evaluations, the genomics of the cloned animal will also be the same as the genetic donor.

The word “cloning” is simply a term to describe Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). Once cells are produced from the tissue sample provided by a genetic donor, they are combined with an enucleated oocyte (unfertile egg with the nucleus removed) and fused together using a process called electrofusion. The resulting embryos are cultured and transferred into recipient mothers within one week, with variation per species. “Dolly the Sheep” was the first mammal to be produced using SCNT cloning technology more than 20 years ago.

A cloned animal is a genetic twin to an existing animal, just born at a later place in time.

An elite animal, the genetic donor, provides a tissue sample that will be cultured into a cell line or Genetic Preservation (GP). These cells will be cryopreserved or frozen until they are used in the cloning process at a later date. The tissue sample may come from the ear or tail of the genetic donor animal. An economical alternative, an Express Tissue Bank (ETB), is provided for those producers who wish to preserve a large amount of samples or simply are not certain they will move forward with the cloning process. In this program, the tissue sample is frozen intact. Ultimately, an ETB must be cultured into a GP, or cell line, if the client desires to clone at a later date.

Through the cloning process, progressive producers can duplicate the animals that contribute the most value in their herds and forward their goals to produce more efficient, healthier animals, and better quality food products. The influence of these animals, through breeding, can help create a more consistent supply of tender, flavorful beef, for example. Another example of a cloning application is in the case of an animal lost early in its breeding career due to death or injury; perhaps even before the value of its genetics were fully discovered. Cloning technology can also help extend an elite animal’s genetic influence to contribute to the improvement of food animal production, by increasing embryo or semen production through cloned animals. And cloning provides a unique opportunity for clients with superior castrated males (steers, geldings, barrows, and wethers) to produce an intact cloned male, for breeding purposes.

Not all animals have the same income potential. Whether your business is dairy cattle, beef cattle, bucking bulls, longhorns or exotic cattle, we help you identify, preserve and reproduce the genetics of your top-producing cattle. We can help you create multiple genetic ‘twins’ to your top-producing dam, thereby greatly increasing the number of embryos and offspring.

You also have the opportunity to simultaneously mate her genetic ‘twins’ to multiple sires, which can help you quickly identify the ‘magical mating’ that produces the next generation of exceptional genetics. Additional copies of a top-producing sire ensure that you’ll have enough semen supplies to meet demand and will expand your opportunities to offer natural service sires.

Some goats and sheep far outperform their peers. Trans Ova’s cloning services enable you to multiply the impact of these exceptional animals with superior performance and phenotype. By producing genetic ‘twins’, we can help you speed the production of the next generation of superior genetics, improving performance throughout the herd.

Whether you breed pigs for show or for food production, the ability to multiply the impact of exceptional animals on the breeding herd through conventional reproduction is limited. Trans Ova helps you more effectively leverage your most valuable pigs by creating genetic twins to enhance breeding efforts and improve performance throughout the herd.