Meat and milk compositions of bovine clones

Abstract

The technology is now available for commercial cloning of farm animals for food production, but is the food safe for consumers? Here, we provide data on >100 parameters that compare the composition of meat and milk from beef and dairy cattle derived from cloning to those of genetic-and breed-matched control animals from conventional reproduction. The cloned animals and the comparators were managed under the same conditions and received the same diet. The composition of the meat and milk from the clones were largely not statistically different from those of matched comparators, and all parameters examined were within the normal industry standards or previously reported values. The data generated from our match-controlled experiments provide science-based information desired by regulatory agencies to address public concerns about the safety of meat and milk from somatic animal clones.cloned cattle ͉ food safety ͉ clone health

Quality and safety of bovine clones and their products

“…In our conditions, the 3-year observation period did not reveal differences between a large number of clones and controls with regard to growth rate, food intake and clinical evaluation up to adulthood, confirming previous observations (Lanza et al, 2001;Heyman et al, 2004;Panarace et al, 2007). The data on lactation of clones are in agreement with previously published data on milk produced by a limited number of animals (Walsh et al, 2003;Tian et al, 2005). The absence of obvious deviation in the composition of the products, as recently reported for dairy products from clones (Laible et al, 2007), could be in favour of their use in the bovine industry despite concerns Heyman, Chavatte-Palmer, Fromentin, Berthelot, Jurie, Bas, Dubarry, Mialot, Remy, Richard, Martignat, Vignon and Renard expressed by regulatory agencies or renowned scientists (Wilmut, 2002).…”

“…Therefore, milk or meat from clones should be analysed together with the health and physiology of the cloned animal. Recent publications have focused on the composition of meat and milk from cloned or noncloned animals (Walsh et al, 2003;Tian et al, 2005). All parameters studied were in the normal range of the previously recorded industry standards and no significant difference was observed between clone products issued from a limited number of animals and their controls.…”

Comparison of cloned and non-cloned Holstein heifers in muscle contractile and metabolic characteristics

“…To our knowledge, only two studies report an evaluation of meat from cloned cattle (Takahashi and Ito, 2004;Tian et al, 2005). Biochemical and biological characteristics of meat were similar between cloned and control cattle (Takahashi and Ito, 2004) and if differences in the composition of the meat were observed they were within the normal industry standards (Tian et al, 2005).…”

“…Biochemical and biological characteristics of meat were similar between cloned and control cattle (Takahashi and Ito, 2004) and if differences in the composition of the meat were observed they were within the normal industry standards (Tian et al, 2005). These studies were limited by using samples from only one or two cloned animals slaughtered at 28 or 26 months of age.…”

“…Such assessments are carried out by national or international organisations such as US-FDA, EFSA. Previous publications have focused on the composition and nutritional value of meat derived from cloned animals (Takahashi and Ito, 2004;Tian et al, 2005;Yamaguchi et al, 2007). No obvious differences were found for the gross chemical composition of meat produced by cloned or noncloned animals but the contractile and metabolic muscle characteristics, which contribute to explain meat quality traits, were not studied.…”