Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Olé! Breeder to Clone Prize Bull

US company to copy Alcalde's DNA

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Feb 24, 2008 2:16 PM CST

(Newser) – Alcalde is one in a million: The hulking black bull's sons have struck fear in the hearts of Spain's bravest matadors for more than a decade. But now, in his waning years, his famed breeder has commissioned a US company to make him two in a million—with the cloned bull taking Alcalde's place as sire to champions.

ViaGen has cloned beef cattle and winning racehorses before, the Independent reports. Next month, scientists will remove a piece of Alcalde's skin and graft a nucleus into a cow's egg. Alcalde is "beyond price," so breeder Vitoriano del Rio wants two or three clones to get the best match: the lesser clones will take their turn in the bull ring.

Alcalde's offspring has made many matadors famous in Spain
Alcalde's offspring has made many matadors famous in Spain   (Associated Press)
Vitoriano del Rio has commissioned a US company to clone Alcalde
Vitoriano del Rio has commissioned a US company to clone Alcalde   (Associated Press)
Alcalde's offspring is destined for the bullfighting rings of Spain.
Alcalde's offspring is destined for the bullfighting rings of Spain.   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Bullfighting Ends Today in Barcelona

Catalonia Bans Bullfights (Hemingway Saw It Coming)

Bull Gores Matador's Throat

Top Bullfighter Seriously Gored

Olé! Teen Matador Kills 6 Bulls


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne