Cloning allows bullfighting legends to live on

Hit-and-miss process
Even in its traditional mode, bull breeding is a slow, hit-or-miss business. Studs are crossed with cows carefully selected for feistiness through simulated fights in the ring, albeit without bloodshed. Then the rancher has to wait a few years for the resulting bull to grow up, and see if it has the right stuff.

"Theoretically, two plus two are four. In this, when the time comes, it might not be four, but rather minus three. The results are very elastic," Miura said from his ranch outside Seville. "Time will tell if Victoriano is right."

"Indeed, it is an experiment," del Rio said of his cloning project. "We are going to investigate. Investigation always carries with it the possibility that you are wrong."

A ViaGen team will come to Spain in a few weeks to collect skin samples from Alcalde — the name means 'mayor' — and take them back to Texas to start preparing embryos. Fernandez's endeavor is at a more advanced stage; he said the embryos are already growing and will be implanted in cows this month in Mexico. Viagen is also in talks with other breeders in Spain.

Fernandez says about 20 percent of Mexican breeders dismiss his project as unworkable, arguing the clones would not be on par with Zalamero. At age 18 — ancient for a bull — yet another calf of his was born recently.

Fernandez says wait and see.

"I imagine I am building a bridge, and they tell me, 'hey, that bridge is not going to work. So I say let me finish, and if I cross the bridge, then it is OK. It held. If it doesn't hold, then you were right."

"At least we are trying," Fernandez said of himself and del Rio. "We are not waiting around to see someone else do it. We are trying."

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