|
The Department of Agricultural Sciences made headlines and history for its PrimeOne cloning project.
The department partnered with Viagen Inc. and other scientists to take genetic material
from Prime 1 Yield Grade 1 beef carcasses and create cloned calves.
The first clone, Alpha, a bull calf and three heifers, Gamma 1-2-3, were born in 2012.
During phase two of the research, offspring of the clones were born.
The initial nine bull and four heifer calves were the first offspring to be born to bovine clones.
Original clones and their offspring have been used in three commercial breeding projects
that demonstrated how innovative cattle selection methods can be used
to improve beef quality and efficiency.
The project is a culmination of the efforts of multiple faculty and students at WTAMU, including
Dr. Ty Lawrence, Caviness Davis Distinguished Chair in Meat Science and
Professor of Animal Science and Director of the Beef Carcass Research Center (BCRC),
Dr. Dean Hawkins, Former Dean of Agriculture and Natural Sciences
and Former Department Head & Professor of Animal Science,
Dr. David Lust, Department Head & Professor of Agricultural Science,
Dr. Tommy Perkins, Dean Hawkins Chair in Cow/Calf Management
and Associate Professor of Animal Science,
Landon Canterbury, M.S. Animal Science, now Beef Business Development Manager
at Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health North America,
and Kelly Jones, M.S. Animal Science, now Clinical Assistant Professor of Agriculture.
Additionally, Dr. Gregg Veneklasen, Timber Creek Veterinary Hospital Owner,
Jason Abraham of Canadian, TX, Todd Stroud of Hoofstock Genetics, Viagen Inc., Cactus Feeders, ABS Global, and Full Circle Jersey provided knowledge, experience, facilities, and collaboration
during the cloning and research processes.
| 
