RBST Semen Collection Appeal 2008/09 Sheep and Goat Semen ...

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The Appeal Although the Trust had for many years collected, stored and distributed rare breed cattle semen, the need to expand the archive to include other species of rare breeds became urgent as a result of the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic. In 2002 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust applied successfully to the Tubney Charitable Trust for funding to establish a National Rare Breeds Semen Bank. Storage of ram and male goat semen will allow conservation breeding to take place and enable breeds to be re-established, should it be necessary in the future. Thus the conservation of our sheep and goat breeds will be optimised, both in the medium and the longer term, complementing the breeding programmes of rare breed owners ‘on the ground’. Aims of the Project The aim of the project is to collect a minimum of 70 straws from 25 rams/male goats from each of the 30 sheep and goat breeds that are recognised by the Trust. Selection will be carried out by the RBST in conjunction with owners and Breed Societies on the basis of pedigree, using both electronic and paper flock book records, to ensure that rams for collection are not closely related. This breed analysis will ensure that the 25 males collected represent the broad genetic diversity exhibited by the current live population. Semen Usage The semen collected will be divided as follows: 55% is to go into a permanent National Archive stored by the RBST 30% is to be stored for use in Conservation Breeding Programmes 15% will be available to the owner, free of charge Semen in the National Archive will remain in store in perpetuity. This means that, in future, if a breed were to be threatened and overcome by a catastrophe the semen could be used to avert disaster. The allocation destined for Conservation Breeding purposes is available to owners/breed societies (on application to the Trust). Any lambs or kids born as a result of this insemination would belong to the owner of the ewe but the RBST would retain the right to collect semen from any male born, or at a future date ova or embryos from females (technology and costs permitting). If an owner would like to make further collections over and above the proposed collection period, all costs after this time and any further health tests must be met in full by the owner. Innovis Ltd and the RBST would need to be notified of any intention to do this prior to semen collection beginning. The Costs Ram and male goat owners are asked to volunteer their animals for semen collection so that, in partnership with the RBST, the aims of the project are fulfilled for the benefit of the breed. There will be no monetary payment to the owner for the semen collected, however, 15% of the semen collected will be stored for sole use of the breeder, free of charge. The RBST will contribute to fuel costs (35p/ mile up to a maximum of £125) if you take the ram/male goat into the collection centre. Alternatively, if the collection of a ram is to be made for both the NSP and the RBST then the Ark Consortium (see below) will transport the ram to the collection centre. The RBST will cover all residency costs for the duration of the RBST project as well as the cost of semen collection and storage costs. Claire Barber, 28 June 2007
What happens next Stage One Fill in the Donor Form∗, and pass onto your Breed Society Breed Society sends the details to Dawn Teverson / Claire Barber at the RBST Dawn or Claire will make sure the genetics of the ram/male goat have not already been collected for the project Stage Two Claire will contact you, the Owner with the result of their checks If the ram/male goat is suitable for collection, Claire will contact Innovis Ltd and pass on the ram details Innovis Ltd contacts you, the Owner and a mutually convenient date is arranged for the ram(s) arrival at the centre Stage Three Ram/male goat arrives at the centre Semen is collected and stored** Ram/male goat returns home Stage Four Innovis Ltd will inform Claire of the number of straws collected Claire agrees the 3-way allocation of straws Claire contacts you, the Owner to inform you of your straw allocation Stage Five You write to Claire with your mileage claim. Claire agrees the amount to be reimbursed Claire sends you the appropriate amount ∗ Individual owners may also volunteer their animals directly to the RBST. ** A proportion of rams will fail to produce viable semen. Claire Barber, 28 June 2007
Page 1: RBST Semen Collection Appeal 2008/0
Page 5 and 6: APPENDIX A Ram/Male Goat Semen Coll

RBST Semen Collection Appeal 2008/09 Sheep and Goat Semen ...

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