Cloning is now a reality. Thanks to current cloning procedures and techniques, it is now possible to obtain an almost identical copy of any animal. Through Ovoclone, our company specialized in cloning, we can clone dogs, horses, cats, and other species.
Recently, the news broke of the cloning in Europe of “Contara,” the dam of “Chacco Blue”, one of the most prominent horses in the world of show jumping. Although she passed away in 2012, “Chacco Blue” will always be remembered as one of the greatest jumping sires. His legacy lives on, and there’s hardly a competition without a “Chacco” descendant. Three sons and a grandson were present at the last European Show Jumping Championship in Milan. It’s clear that “Chacco-Blue” is a legend in jumping, which is why today breeders are looking to produce offspring through assisted reproduction techniques (OPU-ICSI and straw splitting) or through cloning.
The Importance of the Maternal Line and Cell Line Preservation
“Contara,” dam of “Chacco Blue” and daughter of the legendary “Contender,” is present in the genetics of many top-level horses. “Contara” has always been highly sought after as the mother of the “king” stallion. Although the initial idea was to obtain embryos from “Contara” through assisted reproduction techniques, due to her advanced age this was not possible—so cloning was chosen as a method to extend her legacy.
Now 29 years old, “Contara” gave birth to “Chacco Blue” at the age of 4, before starting her sporting career under rider André Plath (Germany), with whom she competed up to 1.50m international level. Plath has also ridden several of “Chacco Blue’s” sons.
At Ovohorse & Ovoclone, we can begin the cloning process through cryopreservation of cell lines. This innovative method implemented in our laboratories consists of obtaining a small tissue sample from the animal (biopsy) and storing it in our genetic bank with full security and guarantees. Thanks to the preservation of this genetic material, whenever the owner decides, we can produce the desired offspring from a legend like “Chacco Blue’s” family.
