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SERVICE PROVIDER ANNOUNCED TO CONSERVE GENES FROM SCRAPIE SUSCEPTIBLE RAMS

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2004/040729c.htm

UK Agriculture and Rural Affairs Departments have announced that, following a competitive tender, ARK Consortium Ltd has been selected as a service provider for the Semen Archive to store genetic material from scrapie susceptible rams that are being bred out of the national flock. ARK Consortium Ltd consists of three leading providers of artificial insemination services in the UK (CBS Technologies, Britbreed and AI Services, NI).The archive is being established following industry concerns regarding the removal of Scrapie susceptible genes from the sheep population as a result of the National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain/Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan. Industry is concerned that breeding for Scrapie resistance could have adverse affects on biodiversity in some breeds. The establishment of the archive will mean that genotypes removed from the national flock can be reintroduced later if required.The archive – launched today at National Sheep Event 2004 in Malvern by the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Tony Edwards, and the chief executive of the National Sheep Association, John Thorley – will store semen from UK native and mainstream breeds.Welcoming the archive at the launch, Mr Edwards said: "It will give farmers the confidence to continue breeding for Scrapie resistance. I believe farmers with Scrapie-susceptible rams will play a crucial role in preserving the genetic heritage of the national flock."Mr Thorley encouraged breeders to offer their rams to the archive. He said: "It will help both the long term future of the national flock and, if the semen is ever needed, owners of donor rams will get 10 per cent of it for use in their own flocks."The sheep breeding industry has been actively involved in setting up the archive. Some breed societies have already started to identify rams of susceptible Scrapie genotypes (those carrying ARQ, ARH, AHQ and VRQ alleles). The establishment of the archive is an example of partnership with industry that demonstrates Defra's commitment to meeting the objectives of its Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.The costs of setting up the archive are being fully funded by Defra and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland (DARDNI). This includes transport, semen collection, and storage. During the first collection season, retention payments to keep selected donor rams while the archive is being set up may be available. Further information on the Semen Archive can be obtained by contacting the: Archive Breed Liaison Officer at ..., on 0845 006 008 NSP Helpline on 0845 601 4858 (in Northern Ireland on 028 9052 5275 for the NISP.)
Internet website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/nsp/SchemesInitiatives/semen_archive.htm Notes for editors1. Scrapie is a fatal neurological disease of sheep. It has been present in the national flock for over 250 years, but is not considered transmissible to humans. 2. The National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain and the Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan are programmes of breeding for genetic resistance. They encourage participating flock owners to breed from and use Scrapie resistant sheep.3. The Archive will be managed by the Semen Archive Management Board (SAMB), comprised of Government, Sheep Industry representatives with a Northern Ireland Sub-Group for NI breed society nominations. 4. Following a competitive tender, an offer of work has been made to ARK Consortium Ltd, subject to contract. ARK Consortium Ltd consists of the 3 leading providers of artificial insemination services in the UK (CBS Technologies, Britbreed and AI Services, NI). The Archive should be established and the collection of semen could begin by October/November 2004.5. The Archive will store semen from UK native and mainstream breeds. Further details on eligible breeds can be obtained from the Archive Breed Liaison Officer by email at ..., by telephone on 0845 006 008, or by emailing the Management Board at .... The Management Board will be willing to consider appeals in respect of breeds that are not currently eligible.6. Ram owners who have a potential donor ram to nominate should contact their breed society secretary whose nomination of donor rams will be ratified by the SAMB and by the NI sub group for NI breed society nominations. 7. Owners with flocks in the NSP/NISP that have a potential donor ram whose time allowed on the NSP 7 Slaughter Form has almost run out should contact the NSP Administration Centre on Tel: 0845 601 4858 or the NISP on Tel: 028 9052 5275 to gain a temporary derogation.8. There will be Archive collection/storage units located in Malvern (Worcestershire) and Ormiston, (Edinburgh) in GB and Newtownabbey (Co Antrim) in Northern Ireland with a further storage site in Crossgar (Co Down), Northern Ireland. 9. During the first collection season, retention payments to keep approved donor rams may be available while waiting for the semen to be collected. This will be determined by the Archive collection schedule.10. Further information about the NSP is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/nsp.