Herd improvement organisation CRV and VHLGenetics have signed a new, three-year cooperation contract. The scope of this cooperation includes genotyping of animals and embryos. CRV and VHLGenetics also see opportunities in the joint development of new commercial services based on DNA analysis.
International growth HerdOptimizer
The organisations have already cooperated intensively during the past three years. For example, VHLGenetics carries out the genomic tests on hair samples and ear-notches for CRV. These samples are increasingly sent from abroad. VHLGenetics is also responsible for genotyping embryos produced by the CRV breeding programme.
“VHLGenetics represents an important partner in our drive to achieve further international growth for our HerdOptimizer programme. This tool is used for female genomic testing,” says Tjebbe Huybrechts, Global Director Data at CRV. “We currently already process samples submitted from ten different countries and see opportunities ahead to consolidate and jointly expand our global services in the next few years,” he says.
Bringing DNA technology to everyday practice
“CRV makes an interesting partner for VHLGenetics as a way of bringing DNA technology to everyday practice,” says Daniel Mioch, CEO of VHLGenetics. “Together we are investigating the potential for introducing new applications commercially,” he explains.
Mioch mentions genotyping of animals that carry the A2A2 variant of the beta-casein protein as a practical example. Collaboration between CRV and VHLGenetics will enable immediate certification of this A2A2 genotyping in the future, enabling dairy farmers to easily meet the requirements of companies that buy A2A2 milk.
Access to the latest techniques
“By working with CRV, we can scale up the DNA technology we have developed and make it more widely available. And that will facilitate further progress in innovation,” says Daniel Mioch of VHLGenetics.
“This cooperation with VHLGenetics means we can offer national and international dairy farmers immediate access to the very latest DNA techniques. And support them in their efforts to improve and increase the sustainability of their herd management practice,” explains Tjebbe Huybrechts of CRV.
