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 people
More
than a gynaecologist
Director
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mark Brincat, tells NADINE BRINCAT
how he finds time between looking after pregnant women to help preserve
some of Malta's endangered cattle
Mark Brincat has monitored many a mum-to-be's pregnancy and helped
bring countless babies into the world, but his energy is also currently
being channelled into a very different, albeit interesting project.
The Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Health
Service is at present playing a major role in helping to preserve
species of traditional Maltese cattle that are threatened by extinction.
"Unfortunately, the importance of ensuring our traditional
cattle and other species do not perish forever has not been recognised
until far down the line," he admitted. "Now we are doing
our best to preserve them, but it is certainly a challenge."
Prof. Brincat's medical career started when he graduated
at King's College in London, and specialised in reproductive medicine
with a doctorate in 1986. In 1990 he was a consultant, in 1991 moved
on as Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and later became a
Professor at the University of Nottingham. In 1997 his academic
efforts paid off when he became a Dean of Medicine.
Together with a team of experts, Prof. Brincat applied for
a grant through the Fifth EU Framework Protocol, last week, when
they left for Nottingham to negotiate the grant.
He explained that throughout Europe, cattle as a breed have
recently regained importance, and hence their breeding is being
monitored and safeguarded. He recounted that when the project to
start breeding the Maltese ox was initiated, the Agriculture Department
only had three specimens, all of which were females.
"This posed a clear problem to the breeding issue,"
he said. "Maltese cattle were a very extensive breed for thousands
of years, but have now become a rare species in danger of extinction."
The Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology stressed that
local cattle are considered important in that being biologically
Maltese animals, they form an integral part of our culture.
"Our local cattle have also taken prominence in the
heritage issue, as experts have come to believe that the bull reproductions
on the walls of our age-old Neolithic temples are actually the Maltese
species," he added.
In fact, Prof. Brincat believes the species also bears some
importance in the tourism sector for a market interested in Malta's
history and cultural heritage, particularly when it comes to pre-historical
artefacts.
"People who come to Malta for these reasons see the
Maltese cattle as a living artefact, proof of our great heritage,"
he added.
Mr Psaila, from the Farmers' Co-operative was initially
contacted by the Agriculture Department to inseminate the cows with
a related species, giving birth to a 75 per cent Maltese bull.
Prof. Brincat was then asked to help with back breeding,
to increase the purity of the herd. The final result was Wenzu,
an 88 per cent Maltese ox, who now has a nephew, which is 93 per
cent Maltese origin.
The back-breeding programme was pursued, producing calves
of up to 96 per cent purity. The herd, which is all above 88 per
cent purity, is now composed of 10 cows and two bulls.
Prof. Brincat spoke of the Mediterranean culture as epitomised by
the bull, using the mighty four-hoofed animal for its survival in
ploughing the land, providing for food, clothing and as a working
animal, carrying heavy loads over long distances. He highlighted
cattle as being of primary importance to the fertility of the land,
as well as to fertility in general.
"Their shape is unique," he continued. "They
have a very strong build, making them ideal for farm work, and are
useful scientifically, for their unique gene pool. The King's College
graduate clarified that in science, one never knows what will be
needed. Once such a unique animal is extinct, its gene pool and
all that comes with it, is lost for good."
Prof. Brincat explained the threat of extinction crept up
during the past 20 years, when "some nameless official decided
that these animals were not economically viable to maintain".
"It is a shame to let an indigenous animal slip away unnoticed,"
he said. "It was near extinction, when people realised the
gravity of the situation, so I am particularly happy that things
turned out so well."
The Maltese ox derives from two species, the chiamina, an
old English species, and the Argentinean ox.
The Maltese cattle were originally in the hands of a private
owner, Pawlu Saliba, from Zejtun, who accepted help with the breeding
process.
The cattle were later bought from the Saliba family by the
Agriculture Department, while the back breeding process has been
in the hands of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department for the
past six years, helped by Godfrey Camilleri, Karm Abela, and Linda
Ennix.
The project marked the first government funding for the
purchasing of an animal.
Prof. Brincat warned that there are other animals of local
origin in danger of extinction include the Maltese donkey, of which
only 12 specimens are left, the goat and the hunting dog.
"We would like people to get involved, we want to encourage
interest in locally originating fauna," he added.
He also said that despite the success of the project, the
Maltese ox is still in danger of extinction.
"Since we are not EU members, we are not eligible for
research grants," he said. "Perhaps we might be eligible
for some other things, since we are an applicant country now."
As regards human programmes, Prof. Brincat is working on
the issues of menopause, and the effects on hormones, when it comes
to bone density and skin.
Another project he has been actively involved with for the
past four years is an estrogens substitute, derived from a local
seaweed, grown on our seabed, and a molecule (padina) is extracted
from it.
Prof. Brincat is also studying recurrent miscarriages, as
well as endometriosis, while his research on polysystic ovaries,
and diabetes is well underway
When asked about awareness of female specific conditions
and diseases, Prof. Brincat said that Maltese women, were in general,
well aware of such issues.
"However, there is always more to be done in this area,
particularly when it comes to awareness," he admitted.
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