Cloning is the process of creating an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. Cloning is accomplished through SCNT or Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, which makes it possible to produce many clones from a single donor. In regard to livestock, SCNT involves removing the nucleus from the cell of a selected animal and transferring it to an egg cell from which the nucleus has been removed. The egg cell, with its new nucleus, begins to divide and form an embryo, which is then implanted into a surrogate mother who carries the pregnancy to term.

The difference between natural fertilization and SCNT lies in where the two sets of chromosomes originate that are needed for fertilization to occur. Under natural circumstances a set of chromosomes from an egg cell combines with a set of chromosomes from a sperm cell to form an embryo that contains two sets of chromosomes – one from the mother and one from the father. In contrast, the embryo formed by cloning contains two sets of chromosomes from one parent.

In January 2008, the FDA determined that the meat and milk from cloned cattle, pigs and goats is safe and can be sold as food. However clones are very expensive and will primarily be used for breeding purposes. It will be the offspring of clones that will ultimately provide the meat and milk sold as food.

The FDA labeling policy requires that food be labeled only if it has undergone processes, or contains ingredients, that affect its nutritional qualities or other health related characteristics. Since the FDA has determined that the milk and meat from cloned livestock is nutritionally equivalent to that of naturally created animals, food from cloned animals will not be required to be labeled as such.

In December 2007 the companies that provide cloning technology developed an identification system that tracks a cloned animal through the entire food processing chain. This tracking system makes it possible for companies like Applegate Farms to ensure that the meat in our products is not from cloned animals and can be labeled as such.

At the present time there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine the long-term benefits of using clones. However, the theory behind using clones when raising animals for food is: If a particular animal produces more meat or milk than the others, then a barnyard full of its clones will significantly increase the output on the farm, and thereby increase the farm’s profitability.

The other benefit of cloning is its potential for preventing the extinction of endangered species.

Aside from the obvious moral and ethical issues that cloning raises, there are also health and safety concerns to consider. For instance, most attempts to clone an animal fail, and those that do survive are typically born with deformities and deficient immune systems, requiring sustained doses of antibiotics and other medications that would not be necessary under natural circumstances.

Another potential health risk with clones is they are genetically homogenous, and genetic diversity is necessary to prevent the spread of disease. For example, when a virus or disease is introduced into a population, genetics play a role in determining whether or not an organism will succumb to the pathogen. Since clones are genetically identical, a virus or disease has the potential to spread more easily and have a more devastating effect than it would in a diverse population.

Applegate Farms will not use the meat derived from clones in its products. We feel strongly that the practice of cloning is unnatural, and is therefore contrary to the sustainable and organic farming standards we set for breeding and raising animals for use in our products.