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Cloning

Cloning is an advanced reproductive technology that results in an animal that has the same genes as the donor animal, like an identical twin separated in time. ViaGen’s scientists are among the world’s foremost experts in animal cloning technologies. ViaGen clones cattle, horses, and pigs.

At top, an egg cell is held in place by suction, as a pipette approaches from the right. Below, the pipette pierces its outer membrane. The egg will be fused with a somatic cell from the donor animal as part of the cloning process.

By having multiple animals that are genetically identical to your top performers, you can:

  • Greatly expand their reproductive potential
  • Keep up with demand for offspring, embryos and semen
  • Produce an animal for stud that is genetically identical to your best steer, barrow or gelding
  • Reduce the impact of unexpected injury or death
  • Quickly improve quality and consistency within your herd
  • Expand your marketing opportunities

To clone an animal, ViaGen needs a sample of the animal’s genes, in the form of an ear punch or small biopsy sample. ViaGen provides a biopsy kit and a shipping container for transport of the biopsy sample to our lab. Once we receive the biopsy sample, we don’t need anything else from the customer.

At our lab we culture the animal’s cells, then transfer DNA from those cells into eggs from which we have removed the genetic material. We grow the resulting embryos in an incubator for several days, then transfer them to our recipient females using a traditional embryo transfer process. After a normal gestation period, the cloned calves, piglets, or foals are born.

We deliver calves at approximately seven months of age, pigs at approximately 40 pounds, and foals at 60 days of age. All animals are subjected to DNA testing to confirm their identities, and to veterinary examinations to confirm their health status.

Read some of the success stories of people who have used ViaGen’s services, including satisfied food animal producers, purebred seed stock producers, entertainment livestock producers, and horse owners.

We invite you to contact us to learn more or to place an order. For bovine orders in the US and Canada, please go to Bovance.com, the cattle cloning joint venture from ViaGen and Trans Ova Genetics.