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Industry takes action to conserve sheep genetics

   

NEWS RELEASE

Ref: 393/08
Date: 18 December 2008

Defra will in the coming days hand over responsibility for the National Scrapie Plan (NSP) sheep semen archive to the National Sheep Association (NSA) and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) who will maintain the archive together. 

The archive is the largest known repository of sheep genetics. It holds over 540,000 straws of semen from over 1,400 rams from 75 UK native and mainstream sheep breeds. The NSA and RBST played a leading role on the management board that provided advice to UK Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments, the archive service provider, breed societies, and ram owners on the establishment of the archive.

The Archive was originally established to encourage sheep breeders to take part in the voluntary NSP Ram Genotyping Scheme (RGS) with the understanding that it would eventually transfer to industry. As the RGS is closing in 2009 NSA and RBST will take over the archive now that it is no longer needed for that purpose.

Jane Kennedy, Farming Minister said:

“We have a wonderfully diverse sheep industry with over 90 breeds farmed in the UK.  The NSA and RBST play a vital role in promoting that diversity and the viability of our native, rare, and economically important breeds. I congratulate them both on their initiative in agreeing to take over this important archive which was set up to encourage farmers to participate in the voluntary RGS and has certainly achieved its purpose.”

Peter Morris, NSA Chief Executive said:

“NSA looks forward to working closely with the RBST to ensure we maintain the archive in a way that supports future research and conservation projects in the best interests of our industry. We are looking forward to consulting and working with many breed societies and sheep industry organisations on this project to ensure that the whole industry feels that it has a stake in this valuable resource. We also anticipate consulting the National Standing Committee on UK Farm Animal Genetic Resources who have highlighted the importance of developing co‑ordinated conservation strategies and the need for genetic diversity studies for which this archive will be a key resource.”

Richard Clarke, RBST Chief Executive said:

“There are a significant number of native breeds represented in this archive and the acquisition and management of the archive complements The Trust’s work already undertaken in the conservation of native breed diversity through our ReGeneration Appeal.”

Notes to editors

  1. The Archive holds 544,600 frozen semen straws, collected from 1,463 rams from 75 breeds. Collections took place between 2004/08. It cost £3.5m to establish. The semen is stored by ARK Consortium Limited in centres in Malvern and Edinburgh (90%), and Belfast (10%).
  2. The NSA and RBST along with the Sheep Trust advised the 4 UK Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments on the establishment of the Archive through their participation in the Semen Archive Management Board (SAMB), chaired by Peter Baber, former NSA Chairman and a member of the FAnGR NSC.
  3. The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast has consulted in Northern Ireland on the future of the NI element of the semen archive under their Responsibility and Cost Sharing agenda.  The consultation has now closed and responses are being analysed.  A decision on the future of the Northern Ireland part of the semen archive will not take place until 2009.
  4. Information on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and its ReGeneration appeal can be found at: www.rbst.org.uk/regeneration/sheep_goat
  5. Information on the National Sheep Association and native / mainstream breeds can be found at: www.nationalsheep.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=9&Itemid=41
  6. The UK National Action Plan on Farm Animal Genetic Resources is published at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/livestock/strategy/genetic-res/pdf/fangr-actionplan.pdf

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Page published: 18 December 2008