title: A protocol for the cryoconservation of breeds by low-cost emergency cell banks - a pilot study.
abstract: A protocol was developed for collection and storage of somatic cell samples under adverse conditions with little infrastructure, for somatic-cell banks as a backup for endangered livestock breeds. The procedure, which is uniform across species, includes sample collection with ear taggers with an integrated tag/vial system, and recording of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, digital images and breed information. In a pilot study, the procedures were tested on six local Vietnamese populations of pigs, sheep and goats. Initial investment was around €3000, while the total variable cost for sampling one breed with 25 females and 25 males was less than €1000. With support from local organisations, the sampling of six breeds with 300 animals was carried out in 2 months. The protocol and the complete workflow for setting up a somatic-cell bank, together with data collection, are described. The procedure has proved practicable and exceedingly cheap relative to the cryopreservation of semen or embryos.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute for Animal Breeding, Federal Agricultural Research Centre, Mariensee, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Groeneveld
authors.forename: Nguyen Huu
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Tinh
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kues
authors.forename: Nguyen Thi
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Vien