Scores of foetuses abort - 3 sad calves are born

PRESS RELEASE - GE FREE NZ - 12.6.01

Scores of foetuses abort as three sad calves are born.

Almost all of the genetically engineered foetuses, in an AgResearch experiment in Hamilton, New Zealand, designed to insert a human myelin gene into milk-producing cows, have aborted. Only three calves, of the sixty promised, are believed to have survived, and one was removed from the mother-cow by caesarian.

" Most of the surrogate mother-cows and their foetuses are now dead," said Jon Carapiet , a spokesperson for GE-Free New Zealand, who have opposed the experiment on both ethical,environmental and economic grounds.

"The attempt to play up the possibility of some medical benefit arising from the experiment will not change the fact that people do not want to eat these animals or their products," said Jon. " Sadly the promise to MS sufferers seems to be largely a hoax."

The future of New Zealands exports - it's image and position in the global marketplace is under threat from the damaging news that Kiwi cows have been given human genes.

" The fact that there is no market for GE foods made from transgenic cattle or their produce, may not be enough to stop this debacle contaminating the dairy industry's future.Instead of debating a merger, perhaps the farmers should be thinking about what is happening down in that Hamilton paddock right now . "

End tel Jon Carapiet on 09 815 3370 for comment

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