Background

Worldwide industrialization of the agriculture sector has reduced the genetic diversity of many species, and the poultry industry is no exception. The intense selective pressure on broiler and layer breeds has considerably affected the gene pool available to poultry producers.  New technologies can be used, such as vitrification and transfer of gonads, to preserve the entire genome of a particular poultry breed,. These technologies use gonads from newly hatched birds, which can be a limiting factor for some breeds. The main objective of this project is to build on previous research conducted by AAFC scientists to evaluate the ability of adult gonads to be used in this preservation strategy.

Funding

$170,000 (CPRC $50,000, AAFC $120,000 (in-kind))