Our Biobanking Model

Gamete & skin sample cryopreservation and regeneration

Our Biobanking Model

Gamete & skin sample cryopreservation and regeneration

At the UK National Livestock Biobank, our biobanking model is built upon gamete storage (sperm, egg & embryo) and skin sample cryopreservation & regeneration. For indefinite whole genetic profile conservation of livestock breeds & species

Our biobanking model enables us to;

1. Indefinitely preserve livestock genetics – so valuable livestock DNA can be stored beyond the lifespan of the original animal and stored for as long as needed, for future use.

2. Regeneratively store livestock DNA – we aim for all preserved samples to be capable of creating new life, to ensure breed & food security, at both the individual herd and national level.

What Is Biobanking?

A biobank is a collection of biological and genetic material. Biobanks can have several functions, including to aid in health & disease.

The UK National Livestock Biobank aims to provide a repository of genetic & reproductive material for livestock breeds & species, to provide them with reproductive resilience against future unknowns and population challenges.

The Biobanking Process

1. Skin & gamete sample submitted

2. Genetic Preservation

3. Cell Culture

4. Indefinite Storage

We hope to collect across all species, all genders and all age categories to create a systematic banking and a central database for the cataloging of banked genetics

The Power Of Skin Samples

At the National Livestock Biobank, we believe the future is skin.

1. Preservation of the whole genetic profile of an individual.

Skin samples contain the complete genetic profile of an individual. This is different to games (sperm and eggs) which contain 50% of the animals DNA. This means skin samples capture the complete DNA of an elite individual or genetically important production animal. Capturing the full genetics responsible for their performance / production output.

2. Preservation of female lines

Skin samples can be taken from all animals, whether entire or castrated males, females and from all age categories. Female lines are arguably most important as unlike entire males where semen can be frozen, there is variability in the success of female gamete preservation (egg cell freezing). Taking a skin sample is an easy alternative to dam line preservation.

3. Easy and cost-effective banking of genetics

All that is required is a small skin sample from the ear. Taken, chilled and posted to arrive with us within 5 days of the sample taking. (*NB full instructions should be requested before sample taking)

4. Skin Samples are an infinite resource

Unlike semen which will only ever be a set number of pregnancies, skin samples can be used to create cultured cells which can be replicated to ever increase the genetic resource.

5. Skin samples may be essential to national food security and breed protection.

In a changing world of climate, economics, consumer demand etc, we may need to call upon genetic resources that allow for increased precision breeding of our livestock. Skin samples provide the opportunity for improved precision breeding of our livestock versus semen which is comparatively fixed in its genetic expression.

Gamete Sample Storage

Alongside the preservation of skin samples, the UK National Livestock Biobank also provides for gamete sample storage. this includes frozen semen, embryos and eggs. This reproductive sample repository can be used to collate on farm semen collections to a central, cataloged system, enabling the capture of reproductive resources that could prove vital to future farming systems.

What samples are needed?

For indefinte and whole genetic preservation, all we need is a skin sample from the ear of the donor, taken at tagging or specifically for this purpose.

Sample and postage kit provided. Skin sample kept chilled following its taking and posted to arrive within 5 days.

Gamete samples can be processed upon request.

What samples are needed?

For indefinte and whole genetic preservation, all we need is a skin sample from the ear of the donor, taken at tagging or specifically for this purpose.

Sample and postage kit provided. Skin sample kept chilled following its taking and posted to arrive within 5 days.

Gamete samples can be processed upon request.