The unit promotes the conservation and sustainable utilization of animal genetic resources and purposes to provide a framework for acquisition, storage, processing and access to stored material for research and other purposes.
The Animal Genetic Evaluation and Testing Centre consists of infrastructure that houses laboratories and testing units for both the Regional Gene Bank and the National Gene Bank. It has well-equipped hi-tech laboratories that have up-to date testing equipment that are maintained and serviced periodically to ensure continued and proper functionality and well trained competent and motivated personnel who run the specific activities that involve collecting, transporting, processing, evaluating, testing and storage of both indigenous and imported animal genetics. It also has a well-constructed crush house used for restraining animals during collection of germplasm. It also has a data management, security and biosecurity/ bio-safety and quality assurance system in place.
The germplasm that is collected and tested includes semen, embryos, oocytes, somatic cells, DNA and whole blood samples that are further stored in Liquid Nitrogen at -196oc and in specialized temperature-controlled refrigerators to keep them viable for years. This facility has a well-designed conservation plan of animal genetic diversity through a more rational, complementary and cost-effective way.
