WASHINGTON — Ever wondered what is gene or bio banking and how it could help conserve your favorite heritage breed? We’ve got you covered. The Livestock Conservancy is partnering with Stallion AI Services & Nature’s Safe, Viagen Pet’s and Equine, Trans Ova Genetics, and Sexing Technologies to bring you an Genebanking Online Workshop on March 26 from 1-3 pm EST.

Date: March 26
Time: 1-3 pm EST
Cost: Free, but pre-registration required
Format: Zoom (link will be emailed to all pre-registered participants)

Topics include how gene or bio banking helps save breeds and species, how to choose the right animals for selection, the collection process, ownership of germplasm and drawing up contracts, how to find a lab, long term storage options, and future technologies on the horizon.

Speakers

• Tullis Matson & Lucy Morgan / Stallion AI Services & Nature’s Safe
• Blake Russell/Viagen Pet’s and Equine
• Diane Broek/Trans Ova Genetics
• David Kendall/Sexing Technologies
• Charlene Couch/The Livestock Conservancy

Register

This workshop is free and open to the public. Please pre-register for the online workshop so we can email you Zoom information.

Speaker Bios

Diane Broek

Diane has been with Trans Ova Genetics since they began in 1980 and has served in a variety of positions on the science and business side of the business that include embryologist, lab manager, area sales manager, general manager for our bovine joint venture with ViaGen, sales manager for ViaGen, and her current role which is Advanced Technology Sales and Production Manager for Trans Ova Genetics.  Since Trans Ova’s first cloned calf was born in 1998, Diane has embraced the genetic preservation and cloning side of the business which has been her focus for many years now as she manages the efforts to utilize these tools to produce elite animals in livestock species including cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. This also involves management of gene editing projects with a number of collaborators in those species. In addition, Diane has managed the animal husbandry of various private herds of cattle, including her own, which brings a client perspective and knowledge base to compliment the science and business components of her role.

Charlene Couch

Charlene is a Senior Program Manager for the Conservancy. She grew up on a small farm in western North Carolina with horses, beef cattle, goats, and chickens. Her doctoral degree is in Zoology with a biotechnology minor. Charlene has a keen interest in conservation of genetic diversity in equines and livestock. She currently keeps horses and Dominique chickens on her small farm in North Carolina.

David Kendall

David is the current Director of Genetic Advancement for STgenetics/Inguran. The Team David leads focuses on research in embryology, cell culture and advanced reproductive technologies directed at accelerating genetic improvement and bovine clone viability. David is a member of the Dairy Committee of the National Animal Germ Plasma, the Dairy Sire Evaluation Committee, Biomechanical Defect Committee  and Sire Evaluation for Fertility Committee of the National Association of Animal Breeders.  David is a past Board Member of the American Livestock Conservancy and Chair of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding.

Tullis Matson

Tullis has practiced Artificial Insemination (AI) in stallions and freezing semen for over 30 years. In 2000, Tullis formed Stallion AI Services Ltd – one of the most successful stallion collection centers in Europe. Tullis has been a long-standing ambassador for the plight of rare breed equines, working with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust since 2002. In 2011 he received the Marsh Christian Award for Conservation in Genetic Bio-Diversity which recognizes significant technical, scientific and practical contributions to the field of genetic bio-diversity. Tullis has recently established a charity, Nature’s SAFE, Europe’s only living Biobank, aimed at assisting in the conservation of the worlds’ most rare and endangered species through regenerative cryopreservation.

Lucy Morgan

Lucy is an Animal Health and Welfare graduate from Harper Adams University. Employed at Stallion AI Services since 2017, Lucy specializes in the cryopreservation of animal biological samples, for use in breeding programs and, via Gemini Genetics, for animal regeneration.

Blake Russell

ViaGen Pets and Equine’s work to deliver genetic preservation and cloning services to pet and horse owners worldwide is lead by Blake. Blake also personally runs an equine breeding program at his own ranch in North Texas, where he and his family take care of his prized cloned stallion Pure Tailor Fit–a clone of Tailor Fit–the two-time AQHA Racing World Champion.

Blake has had a successful 25 year career in the animal genetics business–working in more than fifteen countries–and has been responsible for sales, marketing, business development, general management and operations. Blake received his B.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and his MBA from Emory University.

–Livestock Conservancy