Three cloned foals mark a major scientific achievement by researchers at the Estonian University of Life Sciences

All three cloned foals were born healthy and are growing at a stable in Luunja. They are genetic copies of the former sport stallion Wodan M, a highly successful competition horse and breeding stallion owned by Urmas Raag.

The horses were cloned using an advanced somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique, in which the nucleus of an egg cell is removed and replaced with the nucleus of a body cell from the animal being cloned. This technology has not previously been used to clone horses.

“The embryos developed in the laboratory were transferred into recipient mares, which carried the pregnancies to term. The birth of these three foals confirms that the technology we developed works. Our cloning success rate was 50 per cent – a result that has not been achieved anywhere before,” said Elina Tsopp, embryologist at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.

Alongside Italy, Estonia is now the second country in Europe where cloned foals have been born. This scientific achievement was made possible through a strong research team and international collaboration. The horse cloning research group includes Elina Tsopp, Anni Viljaste-Seera, Andres Reilent and Felipe Corrêa from the Estonian University of Life Sciences, as well as Andrès Gambini from the University of Queensland.

A long-standing partner of the Estonian University of Life Sciences is Luunja Stud Ltd., led by Sven Šois and Urmas Raag. Together, they have developed unique expertise in Estonia covering the entire chain of advanced equine reproductive technologies, from in vitro embryo production to cloning and embryo transfer. The same technology also has significant potential for the conservation of endangered horse breeds.