Calves withdrawn over cloning row

A commercial breeder withdrew the offspring of a cloned cow from auction because he feared negative publicity, a Bristol auctioneer has said.

Smiddiehill Holsteins hoped to sell Dundee Paradise and Dundee Paratrooper - whose mother was the clone of a prize-winning Holstein cow.

It has now been decided to sell the pair privately.

A spokesman for the auctioneers said adverse media coverage for the sale at Easter Compton had upset the owners.

We are glad to hear they have been withdrawn but the whole subject has not gone away Peter Stevenson, CIWF

Auctioneer Tom Brooksbank, of Norton & Brooksbank, said: "It's a pity. It's disappointing when what they're doing is perfectly law-abiding.

"They will probably sell privately. While there's nothing sinister about what they're doing, cloned animals are still very much in debate."

David Bostock, of Smiddiehill Holsteins, in Shropshire, confirmed the cattle had been withdrawn from the auction but declined to comment further.

Campaign groups including Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) expressed concern over the proposed sale.

'Threat remains'

Peter Stevenson, chief policy adviser for CIWF, said: "The sale of the offspring of a cloned cow will bring cloning out of the laboratory and on to the farm.

"Before long, we will see meat and milk from the offspring of cloned animals on the supermarket shelf.

"We are glad to hear they have been withdrawn but the whole subject has not gone away - the threat remains and we are opposed to cloning on the basis of the animals' welfare.

"Also, the fact is there has not been enough research into whether or not there are dangers of the meat or milk entering the food chain."