Present & Future: Bovine Genetic & Reproductive Technologies - Dr. Mark Allan, Director Marketing and Genomics, Trans Ova Genetics, from the 2014 NIAA Annual Conference titled 'The Precautionary Principle: How Agriculture Will Thrive', March 31 - April 2, 2014, Omaha, NE, USA. More presentations at http://www.trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2014_niaa_how_animal_agriculture_will_thrive

1. Present & Future: Bovine Genetic &
Reproductive Technologies
Dr. Mark Allan
Director Marketing and Genomics
Trans Ova Genetics

2. The Value of Our Technology!
• By 2045 the world’s
population reaches 9+
Billion
• Animal protein (milk) needs
double as developing
countries improve nutrition
• 70% of the increase must
come from technology

3. Outline
• Review of genomics & genetic gain
• Toolbox of Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ART)
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Applications
• Cloning Applications
• Bio Medical Applications
• Genetic Modified Cattle -Gene Editing
• Conclusion

4. Why use ART?
• Assisted reproduction tools coupled with
Genomic Selection will accelerate:
genetic gain 2X – 8X
– AI started in 1950’s
– ET started in 1970’s
– IVF started in 1990’s
– GP/Cloning started in 1990’s
– SS started in 2000’s
GG = Var x Acc x Selection Intensity
Gen. Interval

5. The Toolbox
Embryo Transfer
In Vitro Fertilization
Cloning
Gene Editing
Sorted Semen
Reproductive Toolbox
Recipient Solutions
Genetic Resources

6. TOG’s IVF Centers and
Satellite Locations

7. Donor & Recipient

8. Collection & Handling

9. Live Calf

10. IVF
• IVF provides embryo
production on open,
pregnant, subfertile and
pre-puberal females
• Best place to use Sexed Semen
• More than one calf per year out of those really good cows and heifers
• ….of the sex you desire most.

11. Transvaginal Ovum Pick-up
(OPU)

12. Sexed Semen
•Semen can be Sexed/Sorted.
•Over 90% accuracy for sex
•Reverse sorted semen for IVF

13. 1) Qualify donors via high density
genomic chips
2) Collect juvenile donors
4) Gestate all embryos
3) IVF with sexed semen
Today’s Elite Genetic Selection

14. Cloning

15. Why Do Dairy Producers
Use this Technology?
Maximizing Production
• Multiple copies of elite animals
Continuing Influence of Compromised
• Genetic donor in poor health. Cloning used to
produce a healthy bull with excellent semen
production.
• Estimate >100,000 units produced
and sold domestically &internationally.

16. Why do Beef Producers Use
this Technology?
Maximizing Production from Outliers
• The leading terminal sire 10 yrs.
Contributing to the Genetic Pool
• Genetic Outlier that died young.
Eliminating Recessive Genes
• Going back to a “free” founder.
Extending Reach of Rare Genetics
• Proven performer in high demand.

17. What About Product Safety?
• FDA Cloning Risk Assessment (2008)
o Food from clones of cattle, swine and goats are safe and do
not require any more regulation than food from
conventionally produced animals.
o France, Japan, New Zealand and EFSA have had similar
findings.
• Supply Chain Management Program
o We operated this program from 2008 to 2012. Competitors
would not participate in our SCM.
o In five years, it was never once accessed by industry. Nor
did we make one animal incentive refund.
o Ineffective. Discontinued.

18. Additional Applications of
Biotechnology
TOG also produces animals with
applications in Biomedical:
• Pharmaceutical production in milk
• Recombinant human albumen
• Human Antibodies
• Pigs as medical models
• Organ transplant
• Medical devices

19. Genetically Enhance Crops

20. Genetic Engineering: Agricultural applications
Lactoferrin, Lysozyme Dairy Cattle
(Mastitis Resistance,Nutraceutical)
Polled
Prion KO cattle, BSE Resistance
Influenza resistant swine

21. Near Future Genetic Selection
Select Juvenile donors genomic enhanced
Collect juvenile donors
IVF with sexed semen
Biopsy – freeze embryos
Screen embryos via genomic chips
Transfer selected embryos
GG = Var x Acc x Selection Intensity
Gen. Interval

22. The value of our technology
Consumer benefits:
– Animal health via disease
resistance
– Animal soundness and welfare
– Animal longevity
– Product quality
• Decreased external fat
• Increased marbling/quality
• Improved tenderness/taste
• Lower somatic cell counts in milk
• Selection for favorable fatty acid profile
– Decreased product cost via
improved efficiency and health
– Diminished environmental
footprint
– Bio-medical models,
pharmaceuticals,
xenotransplantation

23. Biotechnololgy Has Always
Faced Acceptance Challenges
WHICH TECHNOLOGY DO THESE QUOTES REFERENCE?
• “It is unknown what long term health consequences may unfold.
The studies are not adequate. Furthermore, this will likely not be
available or cost effective for small farmers, it will decrease product
acceptance and consumption, and will be catastrophic to small
farming operations”.
• (Quote from the introduction of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance in 1924)
• “We are talking about the possibility of human-animal hybrids,
monstrous babies and reproductive engineering” “Children
conceived this way will have no soul.”
• (Quotes in 1978 following the birth of baby Louise Brown….and proceeding
the birth of over 2M IVF babies)

24. QUESTIONS?
www.transova.com
www.viagen.com