A recently developed technology holds the promise of helping preserve key genetics from top bloodlines and rare breeds.

Canadian Animal Genetic Resources (CAGR) is a joint initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S), to preserve the genetic diversity of Canadian livestock and poultry breeds, and to develop new techniques to conserve germplasm. The three branches of CAGR include Genetic Diversity, Gamete and Embryo Biology, and Cryobiology.

“To ensure the genetic diversity of Canadian livestock and poultry, support environmentally friendly livestock and poultry production, and maintain food security, by acquiring, evaluating, and cryopreserving tissue and germplasm. Research is focused on genetic diversity, conservation and reproductive biology,” notes an article at www.agr.gc.ca

Dr. Carl Lessard, with the University of Saskatchewan explained the program at present is focusing on preserving the sperm of dead or recently castrated farm animals.

“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Animal Genetic Resources (CAGR) program has developed a method to salvage sperm cells from epididymis (reproductive organ sitting on the testes) from dead or castrated animals,” said Lessard, lead researcher at CAGR in a release. “If the gonadal tissue is packed properly for shipping, sperm cells can show a good movement up to 48 hours following the castration or the death of the animal, meaning that we can preserve this viable material in our gene bank.”

If packed properly, sperm can be viable for up to 48 hours, which means that producers of heritage breed animals across the country can preserve the genetic diversity of their heritage breed species by couriering scrotums to the CAGR facility in Saskatoon, he explained, adding while the technology works for most livestock varieties, it certainly has worked for swine.

“I’ve done pigs in the last year and it worked great as well,” Lessard told Prairie Hog Country, adding the same fundamental principles hold across multiple species.

CAGR preserves the material because loss of genetic diversity is a real threat to future production. Without preservation, characteristics such as the size variety of animals, their ability to thrive in heat or their resistance to disease could be lost.

Lessard said for producers the process is rather simple, but added there is a time factor. The material remains viable for only a short time after the death of the animal.

“The producer collects the scrotum when the animal passes away and sends it in,” he said, adding that must occur within 48 hours.

While preserving the genetics of rare breeds is an obvious role for the technology, it can be applied to preserving material from sires with highly desired genetics should that animal die unexpectedly.

Once collected and frozen the sperm can be used at some point in the future through artificial insemination. “We freeze it in nitrogen and we hope it keeps forever,” said Lessard.

Protecting rare breeds is important.

“CAGR exists to protect the biodiversity of Canada’s farm animal population. Over time, the agriculture industry has consolidated and focussed on the most productive animals for the time, such as goats that give the most milk or cattle that fatten the quickest. However, that means only a few breeds are being maintained in a large-scale way and that breeding animals are chosen because they have the desired traits, which increases the inbreeding rate. What happens if genetic diversity is lost?” detailed www.agr.gc.ca

“Loss of genetic diversity is a real threat to future production because without it, breeders have less natural variation to work with. For example, in an effort to produce the ideal milk goat, other characteristics are often lost such as size variety of the animals, ability to thrive in heat or resistance to disease – characteristics that could be very important for future needs. Enter Dr. Lessard’s team, and others who are interested in preserving biodiversity.”

Crissandra Auckland and Pamela Hind, technicians on Lessard’s team, often receive the special deliveries. “Producers will phone us to let us know a package is on the way, so we’re prepared to deal with the material as soon as it arrives,” said Hind at www.agr.gc.ca. “We open the package, examine the specimen to ensure that the material is not frozen and no biological fluid spills are present.”

“Then, the scrotum is peeled to reveal the testes and epididymides,” said Auckland in the same online article. “Matured sperm cells can be harvested into the epididymis (a matured sperm reservoir). We assess sperm cell movements and then freeze them following the standard procedures of cryopreservation for this species.”

In 2016, CAGR received scrotums from Guernsey and Lynch Lineback bulls, Shropshire and Nubian bucks, a Clydesdale stallion, and a Berkshire pig, which resulted in about 750 doses of viable sperm. As this is a collaborative process, they returned about 300 doses back to the producers for their future use. Lessard said he is pleased he has already used the new technology to preserve Large Black genetics, and is working with an Alberta producer on protecting Lacombe genetics, the only purebred swine breed developed in Canada.

The keys factors in the program are:

*Viable sperm cells can be harvested up to 48 hours after the death or castration of a majority of farm animals.

*Researchers at CAGR in Saskatoon receive scrotums in the mail, harvest the reproductive material, store some of it in their gene bank and share some back with the producer for his use.

*The CAGR team has developed a packing and shipping procedure for those interested in preserving the genetic material of their rare and heritage breeds of cattle, pig, sheep, goat and horse.

CAGR relies on donations of germplasm and DNA from the livestock and poultry industries, veterinarians, animal breeders and producers, as well as Canadian universities and conservation agencies. If you wish to participate and contribute to the conservation of Canada’s animal genetic resources, please do not hesitate to contact, Yves Plante, 306.956.7209, or email: yves.plante@agr.gc.ca. Your support is important and appreciated. •

— By Calvin Daniels