First off, it wasn't a $15000 clone, it cost way more if you add in the 8 full clone sibs that DID NOT MAKE IT, yet cost the same to "develop". If you figure that in, it was more like a $100,000 animal. But since fabers basically are trans ova, then it was actually probably free. Only you and I are paying for it through their fees and "grant programs" (if they take any government money).
The quote is a good one. If the same animal can win in the show ring 2 years later, 5 years later, 10 years later, it means the beef breeding programs are stagnant and going nowhere, which is a fast track to the bankers window and even a faster track to the city employment line due to bankrupcy on the farm.
Can cloning be done? Yes. SHOULD it be done? Not so sure. There are a lot of things that CAN be done that SHOULDN'T be done.
As far as the "management" question cloning would actually be a very interesting and useful tool... take a group of 20 clones, give each exhibitor a calf, then in 10 months have a show. May the best manager win..... kinda like that idea myself!
Oh, and ask the exhibitors questions about their calf.... if the exhibitor actually cared for the calf, they should have no trouble answering questions about when, how much, and what they fed. Yep, I think I might be on to something!