The cloning of mammals is a relatively new technology that is starting to be applied in the breeding of elite cattle, pigs, goats and sheep, to restore dead pets particularly dogs and cats, to conserve rare breeds and even to resurrect extinct species, as well as in research using a variety of species. Losses are still considerable during the neonatal period and they impact on the welfare of the surrogate dam.
There is no evidence that food safety is adversely affected, but nevertheless the public are concerned for ethical and other reasons, such as: poor welfare due to a focus on agricultural productivity; a slippery slope towards human cloning; a reduction in genetic diversity, and environmental impact.