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How It Works
Cloning involves replacing the nucleus of an unfertilized egg from one horse with a nucleus from a cell from the body of another animal. This essentially fertilizes the egg with outside DNA. The egg is then implanted in the uterus of a female horse, eventually developing into a copy of the other animal. Many animals have been cloned in this way, according to SustainableTable.org. Although many people oppose the practice, it is not illegal in the U.S.
Pros
In 2006, two companies in Texas began cloning horses commercially. The price for the first clone of a horse was $150,000, according to Viagen.com. Proponents maintain that cloning is a way of preserving the genetic material of valuable or exceptional animals for the future. Some owners regard cloning as a way of duplicating their success with the original animal. The National Cutting Horse Association allows cloned horses to compete.
Cons
According to an April 2006 "National Geographic" article titled Champion Horse Cloned, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Jockey Club, which controls the registration of thoroughbred racehorses, do not allow cloning. Opponents of horse cloning say that it is merely a commercial exploitation of animals; that there may be harmful effects like birth defects and illnesses in clones; and that conventional breeding, which introduces new genetic material into a bloodline, is better for the breed and the health of the offspring.
Additional Information
The high cost of commercially cloning horses means that its appeal is restricted to wealthier customers. The United States is not the only country in which companies are marketing the procedure to clients who are able to afford it, such as those involved in equestrian sports including racing, jumping and polo, which are popular in many countries around the world. Owners of infertile or castrated horses, such as champion geldings, may be interested in cloning as a way of passing on their DNA.