An Extinct Cow Breed With 60-Year-Old Sperm

Two farmers, Geordie and Julia Soutar, are a world-class farmer on their rural farm in Forfar, Scotland. genetic project is running. When only 20 cows were left among the animals in their farms that were not related to imported blood, they started to work to produce purebred cows.

Most of the animals on their farms at that time were old and calves from North American bulls. For this reason, they started to collect cows of other breeds and some old semen. by supplying they started the process. They currently have around 50 cows on their farm, and one of them was born from sperm from the 1960s. A 60-year-old frozen sperm has reanimated an extinct cow species, Aberdeen Angus.

“It’s the same as someone having IVF”

Native Aberdeen Angus cows began to be diluted with the commercial use of American beef in Britain in the 1970s. As a result of the studies carried out for the purpose of efficiency, over time, the pure breed faced the danger of extinction. In 1995, it was announced that there are only 9 domestic cow families registered by the Aberdeen Angus Society, and although the Aberdeen Angus breed is common in the meat industry, they do not belong to pure lineage. This is the Geordie and Julia Soutar couple at Kingston Farm. reproductive process started its work.

BoJo, liquid nitrogen in by freezing He was born after the sperm from 60 years ago was fertilized in the ovary of another purebred Aberdeen Angus on the farm. Soutar likens this process, which gives birth to the bull, to the in vitro fertilization process, “A person test tube baby It’s the same as having it done, you mix a little something with nature to get the result you want” said.

The bull, born last year, was inspired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has an undetermined number of children. “Boris the Dunlouise Champion” was named. Farmer Soutar, “We are not sure if he will be more fatherly than the other Boris” said.