STATEMENT regarding ABS Global cloning technology

    "The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) supports
biotechnology and genetic engineering research that can improve beef
production efficiency, develop disease resistant and product enhancement
traits, and provide humanitarian benefits."
    
     "The scientific development announced this week is interesting and
exciting. To the degree that such advances in science can enhance the
ability of the world's beef herd to resist disease, improve quality and
reduce costs for producers and for consumers, cattlemen will be watching
it carefully.
    
     "Technologies like splitting embryos to reproduce identical cattle
and artificial insemination have been available for decades. However,
except in the seedstock industry, the cost-effectiveness of these
technologies has limited their adoption in commercial beef cow herds.
While the new cloning technology can be a valuable research tool,
encouraging adoption of existing tools and practices long proven to
improve quality and efficiency is a more immediate priority for NCBA.
Whether or not this new technology is widely adopted in any segment of
the beef industry will depend primarily on its cost effectiveness."
    
     Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the
marketing organization and trade association for America's one million
cattle farmers and ranchers.  With offices in Denver, Chicago and
Washington D.C., NCBA is a consumer-focused, producer-directed
organization representing the largest segment of the nation's food and
fiber industry.

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