5 August 2010

2 minute read

Europe

The Agency has traced all of the calves born in the UK from eight embryos harvested from a cloned cow in the US. Four of these embryos resulted in male calves and four were female; all were the Holstein breed of cattle.

Two of these animals have entered the food chain, it was confirmed a third bull was slaughtered on 27 July 2010 and its meat has been prevented from entering the food chain.

The fourth male calf died at about one month old. No meat or products from this young animal entered the food chain and its carcase was disposed of in accordance with the law.

Of the four female cows, Dundee Paradise is alive on a UK dairy farm. Following a visit from local authority officials, the Agency has been informed that there is no evidence milk from this animal has entered the food chain.

The Agency has traced two other cows that it believea are being kept as part of dairy herds but at present it cannot confirm whether or not milk from these animals has entered the food chain. Local authority officials are visiting the farms on which these animals are kept.

The fourth female calf died at less than a month old.

The Agency has also been working to trace offspring from these eight animals. At present any offspring will be too young to be milked or to be used for breeding purposes. The Agency is reminding farmers with these animals that in order to produce food products from them they will need to seek authorisation under the Novel Food Regulations.

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