DNA tests to identify cattle

by Carol Aloysius

Genotech, Sri Lanka’s pioneer and foremost genetic research laboratory, has developed a new technique of identifying cattle to establish the ownership of cattle gone missing or stolen, with DNA tests.

“For the past 12 years we have been only using DNA tests to ascertain the maternity or paternity of a child in cases referred to us by the Courts. This is a human specific test. It cannot be used for any other species”, Senior Scientist and Head of Molecular Forensics Genotech, Dr Ruwan Ileperuma told the Sunday Observer.

In recent years there had been a sharp rise in the number of disputes over cattle ownership. “The owners usually complain to the Police and the Police refer it to the civil courts.

To solve this problem and make it easier for the courts, we carried out research on developing a new technique with DNA tests to establish the genuine ownership of the cattle. We now can make accurate inferences about the biological parentage of cattle”, he said.

The new DNA technique could be applied to live and dead animals. “We recovered butchered flesh from a slaughter house in two instances and traced the correct owners using this same technique”.

Commenting on the methods of ear tag and branding (tattooing) of cattle used by cattle owners for identification purposes, he said many of these marks faded with time or were unclear leading to more disputes.

Since Genotech put its newly developed technique in place at the end of last year, it has helped trace the ownership of over 15 head of cattle to date. “Since the court decision is based on a valid scientific method, the owners are satisfied with the verdict given”, he said.