Conventional cloning uses very expensive equipment called micromanipulators. Dairy CRC researchers at Monash University and Genetics Australia developed a new simplified cloning technique called “handmade cloning”. The procedure simply involves using a thin blade to cut embryos in half - and then fusing the half without the nucleus with a cell containing the nucleus from the animal being cloned. This technology has been patented.

• Cloning offers the opportunity to rapidly improve the genetic makeup of a herd through reproduction of elite animals
•  As cloning techniques become more efficient, more clones are living to adult age and so their reproduction function can be studied. It appears that there is no difference in the health of cloned animals compared with non-cloned animals. 
• Cloning allows the reproduction of animals that have been genetically modified (eg for the production of medicines in milk).

• Research around the world demonstrates that in large animals, such as the cow, there have been abnormalities in the early stage of the clone’s development so many pregnancies terminate spontaneously.
• Abnormalities in cloned animals have been observed including tendon constrictions or respiratory difficulties. 
• Currently a large amount of research effort and money is needed to produce low yields of clones. 
• Whether food from clones will be safe to eat have to be determined by bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and FSANZ for the Australian and New Zealand marketplaces (see Questions of Safety). For investors, it may be a long time until products from cloned animals or their offspring are actually in the marketplace.
• The US and Europe have established voluntary withholding of cloned animal food products from public consumption. It is expected that Australia and New Zealand, through FSANZ, will adopt the generally held view that cloned animals need close evaluation before they should enter general livestock production.

In the past, the Australian dairy industry funded research in cloning initially through the Dairy Research and Development Corporation, in conjunction with Genetics Australia, Monash University and the Victorian Institute of Animal Science. This research was incorporated into the Dairy CRC but ceased in 2004 as it became apparent that the research was not going to deliver returns for the CRC and its stakeholders within the funding period. Currently, there is no investment in cloning research for the Australian dairy industry.

As part of the research,a number of cloned animals were produced. In 2000, the first cloned cow Suzi was born. Suzi gave birth in July 2002 to Suzitru. Suzi produced lots of good quality milk. Tests on the milk revealed it to be the same as that of any other cow. The milk was discarded after testing. Unfortunately Suzi died shortly after giving birth to her second calf in June 2004, apparently as a result of acute mastitis.

Several other clones have also been born. Rameses II, clone of the elite dairy bull Rameses, was born in July 2002. His semen was regularly collected and analysed, and demonstrated normal fertility. Another bull calf (Duncan) was produced in June 2002 from a new, simplified and patented cloning technique developed in CRC laboratories (see above Technologies). His identical twin Slim, another clone of the same elite adult dairy bull Raith, was born from a different surrogate mother on the same day.