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A healthy calf from Russia’s cloned cow
A group of scientists from the Russian Skoltech Institute cloned the cow in April 2020, altering genes in such a way as to remove proteins responsible for beta-lactoglobulin. Generic calf photo: Michel Zoeter.
Russia’s first cloned cow gave birth to a healthy calf at the end of last year, marking a significant milestone for the development of gene editing technologies in the country’s livestock industry.
A group of scientists from the Russian Skoltech Institute cloned the cow in April 2020, altering genes in such a way as to remove proteins responsible for beta-lactoglobulin. The researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 technology, cloning the cow using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The target was to create a cow to produce milk fit for consumers with lactose intolerance.
Studying reproduction system
The scientists explained that the gene-editing technology could have a broad application, as changing the genome could help boost yields or make animals more prone to heat stress. Still, confirming that the cow could have healthy offspring was essential.
“Genome-editing technology can only be developed when cloned animals are capable of giving birth to viable offspring. That is why the birth of the first calf by a cloned cow is a great achievement for Moscow-region scientists. The animals are well and are under round-the-clock supervision by veterinarians,” the press service quoted Georgy Filimonov, deputy prime minister of the Moscow region in charge of the agriculture and food ministry, as saying.
“Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) with the use of genetically modified somatic cells is seen today as a key technological platform for genome editing of cattle and other livestock. That is why specialists are conducting research to improve the critically important stages of the technological chain,” the ministry said.
Improved animals
Petr Sergiev, a professor at Skoltech Institute and one of the study’s authors, said that after the cloned cow gives birth to offspring, the scientists planned to proceed to the next stage: inseminating a herd of several dozen cows with embryos with the edited genes.
Sergiev also said that “genomic editing methods and reproductive technologies will soon lead to the creation of farm animals with improved properties. This technology should help create animals with improved characteristics, such as disease resistance.”
The scientists said they created a new breed of cows. However, it will be years before it can be available to Russian farmers, they added. Currently, no legislation regulates the sales of products from animals with altered genes in Russia. On the other hand, the country has a strict law regulating the turnover of food with genetically modified organisms.
Avian influenza reported in Argentina and Uruguay
Argentina and Uruguay confirmed their first cases of avian influenza amongst wild birds on 15 February, reinforcing that the disease is advancing in South America.
All countries in South America have confirmed cases of avian influenza, with the exception of Brazil, Guyana and Suriname. However, the proximity of productive regions in Brazil and the absence of major geographic barriers further increase probabilities of the virus reaching the largest chicken exporter in the world.
In the Uruguayan case, the virus was identified in a black-necked swan near Lagoa Garzón in the south coast of the country. In Argentina, the disease was identified in the province of Jujuy in Andean geese.
According to Uruguay’s El Observador newspaper, authorities from the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries are assessing the situation and appropriate measures will be taken.
An emergency meeting
Meanwhile, Argentina’s secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Juan José Bahillo, called an emergency meeting on the matter.
“The presence of the virus in Argentina puts all our services on alert, but it does not surprise us. We have already been working with different prevention organisations and territorial coverage to control the problem,” said the secretary.
According to him, the most common way of entry is through migratory birds, which is difficult to control. “Bird migrations brought the disease-causing virus from the northern hemisphere,” he adds.
Bird flu has wiped out millions of birds in Europe, North America and Asia in the months before its arrival in South America.
Brazil is on alert
In Brazil, after confirmation in neighbouring countries, the Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal (ABPA) issued a note in which it states that “it is monitoring the actions”.
The disease is devastating for birds and, according to a survey, could cause €2.4 billion in damage to the Brazilian poultry sector.
The Brazilian entity said it was in direct contact with the Asociación de Productores Avícolas Sur, the regional poultry representative, along with members of other organisations in Latin America.
The objective is, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, to monitor the situation.
Brazil remains free of avian influenza
In the note, ABPA reinforces the importance for Brazil – which remains free of avian influenza – of keeping biosecurity protocols, especially in the protection of its commercial herds.
“It is worth remembering that the situation registered in Uruguay (with wild birds) is an example of a case that would not suspend trade and exports of poultry products, in accordance with recommendations established by the World Organisation for Animal Health,” says the text.
