The last surviving pure Maltese cow had to be put down on Friday because of old age.

The cow, which was about 17 years old when their life expectancy is 10, was used in breeding programmes in a bid to save the Maltese ox from extinction.

Carried out under the supervision of Mark Brincat, the programme has ensured there are now some 18 Maltese oxen that are up to 97 per cent pure.

Two bulls were purchased by the Agriculture Department and are 88 per cent and 92 per cent pure respectively.

The oxen were saved from extinction by herdsman Paul Saliba from Zejtun, who has a farm in Marsascala.

Prof. Brincat appealed to the government to reach an agreement with Mr Saliba to build a bigger farm with viewing galleries as there is quite a demand to see these oxen and they could assist in promoting agro-tourism.

"These species are as unique as the Neolithic temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim, except that they are living relics and we would do well to show them off," Prof. Brincat said.

He said that apart from the Saliba family, a number of people at the Department of Agriculture were instrumental in keeping the breed going.

"Karmenu Abela and Noel Azzopardi both took a personal interest in the project, and so did the milk producers co-operative," Prof Brincat said.

Alex Felice has taken various DNA samples from the cow's organs while the hide was saved and taxidermist Roger Degiorgio has been entrusted with stuffing and mounting the cow for the natural History Museum in Mdina.

Mr Degiorgo, an experienced taxidermist who has worked for various European museums, said there was a lot of work to be done. The skin had to be sent abroad to be tanned, a process that could not be done here. Once the skull will also be preserved for the museum, a cast of it has to be prepared.