Scientists at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) are now into massive cloning of embryos of a superior breed of carabao following the unsuccessful transfer of the first batch of the cloned carabao embryos early this year.

The PCC’s target is to come up with the first genetically superior buffaloes using the cloning technology this year, but scientists said the statistically most probable, yet they least expected, happened, as the first batch of the clones experienced early embryonic death.

Speaking before reporters at the Department of Science and Technology monthly press conference at the Sulô Hotel on Wednesday, Dr. Edwin C. Atabay, supervising science research specialist of the PCC, said while there were signs that the implantation of the embryos was successful, all four surrogate mothers seem to have had a miscarriage.

He admitted that coming up with the cloned buffaloes is easier said than done, citing the very low survival rate in cloning by somatic- cell nuclear transfer.

The first batch of clones of the water buffaloes, from a superior host-breed imported from India which is almost twice the size of the local carabao, shows there’s a need to refine the somatic-cell nuclear transfer in water buffaloes protocol, Atabay said.

“The first batch died. There were signs that the implantations were successful. They appear to have died weeks after the transfer. The survival rate is only 5 percent, that’s why we need to work harder,” he said.

“We have to refine our protocol, to make sure that we are following the right processes,” he said.

The PCC is now eyeing to produce more clones, and is eyeing to clone 1,500 embryos from the “Super Bufallo” in the next 12 months, through somatic-cell nuclear transfer, to come up with the country’s first cloned carabao.

“Hopefully, within two years, we will be able to come up with the first cloned carabao,” he said.

At present, Atabay said they are now in the process of selecting potential surrogate mothers to receive the embryos, which, he said, will take some time.

The first cloned carabao, he said, will be backcrossed three to four times, to make sure the perfect breed is produced. The process, he said, is similar to that in backcrossing genetically engineered crops, such as what is currently being done in the Golden Rice, to make sure that the perfect variety is bred.

According to Atabay, it will take 15 to 20 years to be able to come up with the cloned carabaos ready for commercial release.

The PCC is tasked to come up with the “Super Buffaloes” that can produce more milk and meat to reduce the country’s import dependence on carabao meat, milk and dairy products.

Atabay said the Philippines is only 2-percent self-sufficient in producing the demand for milk and dairy products, and spends around P26.1 billion annually for imported milk and dairy products.

Domestic production of carabao meat, meanwhile, is only 59-percent sufficient, spending P2.4 billion a year to meet the local demand.

The water buffaloes from India can produce around 15 liters to 18 liters of milk every day, compared with the local breed, which can only produce 1.2 liters to 1.5 liters a day.