CGN is collecting genetic material and maintains gene bank collections of cattle, pigs, horses, sheep, goat and poultry. Both rare breeds and widely used, commercial breeds are represented in the gene bank.

There is a number of reason to conserve genetic material (ex situ) in a gene bank. Gene bank material can be used:

• In breeding programs in case genetic problems (drift, inbreeding, genetic defects) occur in live populations
• To reconstruct a breed in case of extinction or loss of a substantial number of animals
• To create new lines or breeds or to quickly modify or reorient selection of a breed
• For research purposes to gain insight on genetic diversity of populations

The genebank collections are stored at two locations. Main storage is located at one of the locations of the Animal Sciences Group ( www.asg.wur.nl) of Wageningen University and Research Centre in Lelystad. A duplicate storage site is located at the Veterinary Faculty of Utrecht University ( www.vet.uu.nl).

General objective of CGN is to conserve all rare domestic animal breeds of Dutch origin in the gene bank in the period 2004-2008. And also to stimulate animal breeders to back-up their commercial varieties in the genebank.

Genetic material from the gene bank is mostly used to support breeding of small populations or rare breeds.




Number of breeds/lines per species in the genebank (2005)

Semen for the gene bank can be collected in serveral ways:

• collect and freeze semen specifically for the gene bank.
• semen collection from the epididymis after castration or after slaughtering.
• storing a "snapshot" (limited number of doses) from commercial available frozen doses.

Collection and freezing of poultry semen:
Video: Collection and freezing of poultry semen

For more information:

• Henk Sulkers      phone: +31 (0) 320-238294
• Kees Zuidberg     phone: +31 (0) 320-238121