 News
September 2010 - Performance Genomics Receives Funding to Field Test Its New DNA Test for Herd Life of Holsteins
TRURO, Nova Scotia, September, 2010 - Performance Genomics Inc. (PGI), a leading genomics research company developing genetic products for use in the fields of fertility, reproduction and reproductive longevity, was recently awarded funding assistance from the Canada Agricultural Adaption Program through Agri-Futures Nova Scotia. The funds, $95,000, will be used to support field testing of a proprietary DNA-based test to predict the reproductive potential of Holstein dairy cattle. The field test will evaluate this new product under commercial conditions utilizing DNA and performance information on a total of approximately 4,000 cows representing 42 Nova Scotia herds. The company’s product, consisting of a number of gene markers for fertility and reproductive longevity (stayability), will identify animals, at birth, with the ability to produce longer and more efficiently, resulting in increased profitability for farmers.
The field test will demonstrate to participants and other prospective users the value of the marker test, and also provide the company with technical information that can be used to improve its product. The project will also create awareness of this new technology. Following the field trial, the revised test panel will be introduced to the commercial market, beginning in Nova Scotia.
Based in Truro, Nova Scotia, Performance Genomics Inc is a spin-out of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. In 2008, the company identified approximately 50 genes with a major effect on reproductive longevity using a unique mouse model. It recently identified more than 400 variants within these genes that are strongly associated with herd life and fertility in Holstein cattle. The company is currently in this process of determining which of these variants are the most attractive for inclusion in its commercial test. The company plans to develop similar products for other dairy breeds, beef cattle and other livestock species.
Whereas selective breeding of Holstein cows focused on milk production has resulted in impressive gains over the past few decades, reproductive performance (herd life, or stayability) and robustness has deteriorated to the point where increased replacement rate seriously limits profitability. The test being developed will provide producers with a simple means of determining, at birth, an animal’s reproductive potential. This information can be used to optimize the production and use of superior animals to improve the overall efficiency of the herd.
Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Nova Scotia, this program is delivered by Agri-Futures Nova Scotia. The Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) is a five-year (2009-2014), $163 million program aimed at helping Canada’s agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. Eligible CAAP projects could be in areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and diseases, and more.
For more information on CAAP, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap. To learn more about Agri-Futures Nova Scotia, please visit http://www.agri-futures.ns.ca/.
For more information about the project contact:
Don Crober, CSO, Performance Genomics Inc
Phone: 902-890-0792 or info@performancegenomics.com
http://www.performancegenomics.ca/CMS/manage/uploads/Agri-Futures Press Release - website.doc
February 2010 PGI Funding Initiative
PGI is again seeking financial support for its ongoing R&D program through the Nova Scotia Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) program, with immediate focus on completion of the development of a marker index to identify Holstein cattle with superior fertility and reproductive longevity.
The CEDIF program was established by the Province of Nova Scotia to encourage residents to invest in Nova Scotia small businesses. Investment in a CEDIF provides a personal provincial non-refundable income tax credit of 35%, and an additional tax deferral may be possible if the investment is made through a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). Further tax benefits may be available if the investment is retained beyond the required five-year minimum holding period.
If you are a Nova Scotia resident and are interested in investing in PGI through the CEDIF program, or would like more information on this investment opportunity, please email info@performancegenomics.ca and we will pass along your enquiry to the fund administrators.
January 2010 - Holstein Cattle Breeding Marker Development Program
PGI recently completed Phase 1 of its program to develop a commercial breeding marker test for Holstein cattle. In this phase, we identified which of 25 genes that were found in the mouse to have a major effect on reproductive longevity behave in a similar fashion in Holsteins. We also determined which segments within these genes are the most important, and which genetic markers within these segments are the most promising. In phase 2, a total of 384 promising genetic markers will be validated in order to construct the marker panel to predict reproduction and herd life. (Click here for more information on the Phase 1 project.)
July 2008 - PGI appoints Hein vander Steen as CEO
Dr. Leslie MacLaren, PGI Board Chair announced the appointment of Hein van der Steen as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. In welcoming him to his new position, she noted that this is an exciting time in PGI’s development.
Dr. van der Steen, M.Sc. (Animal Science) and PhD (Animal Breeding), is a graduate of Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands where he was employed from 1975 to 1989 as Assistant then Associate Professor of Pig and Poultry Breeding. He then joined PIC as Technical Manager for Europe, moving to the US in 1998 as Director of Animal Science of Sygen International (formerly PIC) and SyAqua Technical Director, predominantly working on pig and shrimp breeding, quantitative sciences and genomic research programs across species. In 2006, he returned to the UK to establish Stonebridge Breeding Ltd, a consulting company operating at the interface of animal breeding and genomics, and involved in the development, validation, implementation and marketing of genomic technology across species with specific interest in fertility and robustness.
For the past year, Stonebridge has been collaborating with PGI in the development of genetic marker technology to improve reproductive longevity in livestock and poultry, co-ordinating the analysis of genomic data and organizing validation in livestock of putative markers developed by PGI.
July 2008 - PGI appoints Richard Ablett to its Board of Directors
Dr. Leslie MacLaren, PGI Chair, announced the appointment of Richard Ablett to PGI’s Board of Directors, effective July 17, 2008. A native of the UK, Dr. Ablett graduated from the University of Reading in zoology. He also has an MSc in aquaculture and fisheries management from the University of Sterling and a PhD in food science from Oregon State University.
After completing post-doctoral studies in mammalian physiology at the University of Toronto in 1983, Dr. Ablett joined the Technical University of Nova Scotia where he taught and conducted research in the areas of aquaculture production and seafood processing technologies.
In 1987, he was appointed Executive Director of the Prince Edward Island Food Technology Centre, University of Prince Edward Island, where he was responsible for establishing and developing state-of-art analytical and pilot plant facilities. In 2003, he was appointed Director, BioScience Development of TechPEI Incorporated where he developed an advanced food science and bioscience-based research and corporate cluster in Prince Edward Island which included the PEI Food Technology Centre and the NRC Institute of Nutrisciences and Health. He was involved in the establishment of a number of joint ventures in food science during this period.
Since 2005 he has been CEO of the Atlantic BioVenture Centre, and Professor, Bioscience Development at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. He is employing his impressive communication skills and extensive contacts in food science and aquaculture to establish technology transfer activity and commercial ventures in conversion and value addition relating to Nova Scotia agri-food, aqua-food and seafood bioresources.
Dr. Ablett has more than 45 scientific and professional articles in the areas of aquaculture and food science as well as several patents. He is a member of a number of national and international academic and professional organizations and currently has a number of corporate appointments.
August 2008 - PGI Completes Whole Genome Scan
on its Unique Mouse Lines
PGI has completed a whole genome scan of its proprietary mouse model which consists of markedly contrasting genetic lines with respect to reproductive longevity. Some 720 animals were genotyped for more than 9,000 molecular markers. The process employed the Illumina Infinium Assay on its ‘iSelect’ marker panel. Genotyping was carried out at the Centre for Applied Genomics at the Hospital for Children in Toronto. Click here for a summary of the results.
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