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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Delivery of cloned offspring: experience in Zebu cattle (Bos indicus)

Flávio V. Meirelles A E , Eduardo H. Birgel Jr B , Felipe Perecin A , Marcelo Bertolini D , Anneliese S. Traldi B , José Rodrigo V. Pimentel B , Eliza R. Komninou B , Juliano R. Sangalli A , Paulo Fantinato Neto A , Mariana Tikuma Nunes B , Fábio Celidonio Pogliani B , Flávia D. P. Meirelles A , Flávia S. Kubrusly C , Camila I. Vannucchi B and Liege C. G. Silva B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225. Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil.

B Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87. Pirassununga, SP 05508-270, Brazil.

C Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500 São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil.

D Center of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, Santa Catarina State University, Av. Luiz de Camões, 2090. Lages, SC 88520-000, Brazil.

E Corresponding author. Email: meirellf@usp.br

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22(1) 88-97 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD09229
Published: 8 December 2009

Abstract

The production of a healthy cloned calf is dependent on a multitude of successful steps, including reprogramming mediated by the oocyte, the development of a functional placenta, adequate maternal–fetal interaction, the establishment of a physiological metabolic setting and the formation of a complete set of well-differentiated cells that will eventually result in well-characterised and fully competent tissues and organs. Although the efficiency of nuclear transfer has improved significantly since the first report of a somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived animal, there are many descriptions of anomalies concerning cloned calves leading to high perinatal morbidity and mortality. The present article discusses some our experience regarding perinatal and neonatal procedures for cloned Zebu cattle (B. indicus) that has led to improved survival rates in Nellore cloned calves following the application of such ‘labour-intensive technology’.

Additional keywords: bovine, nuclear transfer, parturition.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Lawrence C. Smith for his valuable comments on the text and Dr Isaias Raw from the Butantan Foundation for providing the surfactant used in our clone animals. Finally, the authors acknowledge the collaboration with Clonest Ltd and their clients, which provided the opportunity to deal with cloned animals.


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