A commercial breeder withdrew the offspring of a cloned cow from auction because he feared negative publicity, a Bristol auctioneer has said.

Smiddiehill Holsteins hoped to sell Dundee Paradise and Dundee Paratrooper - whose mother was the clone of a prize-winning Holstein cow.

It has now been decided to sell the pair privately.

A spokesman for the auctioneers said adverse media coverage for the sale at Easter Compton had upset the owners.

Auctioneer Tom Brooksbank, of Norton & Brooksbank, said: “It’s a pity. It’s disappointing when what they’re doing is perfectly law-abiding.

“They will probably sell privately. While there’s nothing sinister about what they’re doing, cloned animals are still very much in debate.”

David Bostock, of Smiddiehill Holsteins, in Shropshire, confirmed the cattle had been withdrawn from the auction but declined to comment further.

Posted: 03|5|08 at 4:42 pm. Filed under: UK News.