"If you ask me about this project from a technical point of view, in terms of genetic progress it serves no purpose whatsoever," Canon said.
Even in its traditional mode, bull breeding is a slow, hit-or-miss business. Studs are crossed with cows carefully selected for feistiness through simulated fights in the ring, albeit without bloodshed. Then the rancher has to wait a few years for the resulting bull to grow up, and see if it has the right stuff.
"Theoretically, two plus two are four. In this, when the time comes, it might not be four, but rather minus three. The results are very elastic," Miura said from his ranch outside Seville.
"Indeed, it is an experiment," Del Rio said of his cloning project. "We are going to investigate. Investigation always carries with it the possibility that you are wrong."
A ViaGen team will come to Spain in a few weeks to collect skin samples from Alcalde and take them back to Texas to start preparing embryos. Fernandez's endeavor is at a more advanced stage; he said the embryos are already growing and will be implanted in cows this month in Mexico. ViaGen is also in talks with other breeders in Spain.
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