Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec (Canada), 20 September 2000 - The Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) announces an important step in its history : the birth of Starbuck II which occurred on 7 September at 11:30 p.m. This young male calf is none other than a clone of the world-renowned Holstein sire Hanoverhill Starbuck. He was born after more than 50 years of remarkable achievements by CIAQ in the field of bovine genetic improvement.

This birth of a live cloned calf achieved through a line of frozen cells from an adult bull is a first in Canada and it takes on particular importance since it concerns none other than the exceptional Starbuck. It is also the result of combined efforts between CIAQ, L'Alliance Boviteq and the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire (FMV) de l'Université de Montréal.

Starbuck made his career at CIAQ during the 80s and the 90s and his female progeny estimated at 200 000 daughters distributed in over 50 countries around the world impressed breeders looking for high-performance individuals. In fact, the unequalled success of several of them at shows earned him all superlatives. Starbuck, thanks to his unique potential, has become an ambassador of Canadian genetics abroad and his numerous sons and grandsons are upholding his great qualities. He had the potential to sire sons that can transmit strong production levels along with high protein tests and remarkable type.

A month prior to his death which occurred on 17 September 1998, some cells were taken from the 19-year-old patriarch by Dr Daniel Bousquet of L'Alliance Boviteq, an embryo transfer research and development centre that was set up by CIAQ in 1986.

Knowing Starbuck's remarkable impact on the global bovine population, CIAQ's management wanted to again give dairy producers the possibility of benefiting from his characteristics. The importance that CIAQ's breeder board members gave to research as a background as well as the close partnership between L'Alliance Boviteq and the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire were key elements in the success of this process, especially on the scientific viewpoint.

A researcher of international reputation, Dr Lawrence Smith from the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire de l'Université de Montréal made the most of his knowledge and expertise to go through the delicate cloning stages leading to the production of embryos required to achieve the experience. The selected embryos that were transferred in some recipients of L'Alliance Boviteq finally lead to a normal pregnancy and to the birth of young Starbuck II who then weighed 54,2 kg (120 lb). The cow who acted as surrogate mother and the young calf are both doing very well.

Dr Raymond S. Roy, Dean of the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, comments : "This scientific achievement stresses the contribution of the Saint-Hyacinthe researchers to the economic development. All the milk producers in the world are in a position to appreciate the breakthrough that Starbuck's cloning represents".

The new offspring is therefore a copy of the famous sire that has simply been reproduced through the cloning technique and he possesses all of Starbuck's characteristics. Therefore we are not talking here about a genetically modified organism since there were no genetic modifications to the original organism.

"The success achieved with the present partnership confirms the importance of an applied research centre such as L'Alliance Boviteq acting as a link between basic research and the animal industry" states Dr Wilfried Holtmann, General Manager of L'Alliance Boviteq.

CIAQ's General Manager Michel-R. Saint-Pierre adds : "This accomplishment presents enormous possibilities in the field of breeding as well as in other sectors related to the dairy industry. We are proud that CIAQ and its partners have taken the leadership of this first in the history of the Canadian dairy cattle industry".

The Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec (CIAQ) is an organisation founded in 1948 that provides Québec breeders with the best sires available in order to contribute to the genetic improvement, renown and financial health of Québec breeding. It houses in its barns more than 800 bulls. The Tempo, Enhancer, Mason, Storm, Rudolph and of course Starbuck have allowed CIAQ to become nationally and internationally recognised. An agreement between CIAQ and three other artificial insemination centres has lead in 1997 to the creation of The Semex Alliance, an organisation that markets bull semen in about 60 countries.

In Canada, CIAQ holds 45 % of the A.I. market. In Québec, a high-quality insemination service is supplied by more than 200 technicians and CIAQ offers to its dairy and beef producer clients various programs and services allowing them to better reach their breeding objectives leading to farm profitability.

Information (Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec and L'Alliance Boviteq inc.)
Agathe Drolet, Assistant Manager, Marketing and Services, CIAQ
450-774-1141

Information (Faculté de médecine vétérinaire)
Marie Josée Godbout, Public Relations Officer
514-345-8521 extension 8140 (Montréal Island)
450-773-8521 extension 8140 (Saint-Hyacinthe)
Cellular : 450-223-9471