Placement year at Innovis Ltd at Malvern and Aberystwyth

Gwen Thomas BSc Animal Science

10035400@live.harper.ac.uk

The CompanyInnovis is a sheep breeding company which is split into two main sections: • Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer (Sheep and dogs)• Sheep Breeding e.g. Aberfield, AberMax etc.The company consists of four centres situated at Malvern, Aberystwyth, Edinburgh and Belfast with a dedicated pig centre also in Norfolk. Innovis also works with companies such as Fecpak and IMV technologies.

Innovis Sheep BreedingThe other aspect of the business is sheep breeding.The centre which is based in Aberystwyth is the leading supplier of sheep genetics within the UK. Innovis have a selection of maternal and terminal sires. Aberfield and the Aberdale are regarded as a maternal sire and produce exceptional cross bred ewes. The terminal sires include the AberMax and the AberTex which are used to improve the finished lamb production. These sires should be used by clients to improve areas such as:• A sustainable sheep farming business• Increase lamb productivity on marginal land or drought prone

areas• Improved efficiency• Easier lambing outdoors• Reduced labour costs• Top carcass specification from a reduced cost base• Improved returns that use proven technologies

Ai and ETAI is used to enable a tighter breeding season and a higher use of a sire within a certain period. Also allows the client to know the quality of semen being used to reduce ewes repeating. Up to 300 ewes can be inseminated within a day by a vet. With good quality fresh semen from a ram able to be used on up to 150 ewes. Frozen or fresh semen can be used. Frozen semen with 60 – 70% conception rate and 75 – 85% conception rate being seen with fresh semen. The procedure is done under a laparoscopic procedure therefore a vet must carry out the service.

Embryo transfer is used to increase the flocks breeding potential through their female line. The procedure involves flushing fertilized embryos from a donor ewe and then implanting them within recipients or the embryos are frozen.A course of super – ovulating hormones are given to the donor ewe to increase the number of embryos produced. And the recipients are programmed alongside them to allow synchronization.

Skills Learnt from Placement • Ram and goat semen collection• Assessing and processing of semen• Anaesthesia of ewes and goats• Communicating with farmers/clients• AI/ ET technician • Lambing • Administrating drugs intramuscular and intravenous.• Using Farm IT for recording lambs• The understanding of what hormones are needed to achieve

successful AI and ET plus the right timing.

Innovis Breeding ServicesThis side of the business have three centres located at Malvern, Belfast and Edinburgh. The company offers the current services: • Artificial Insemination • Embryo transfer• Semen/ Embryo freezing and storage• Import and Export of embryos and semen Innovis has a team of dedicated veterinary specialists and technical staff to provide the client with a high quality of service on-farm and on-centre.

My Role at both centresMy role at Malvern involved me doing the following tasks:• Collecting semen from rams• Ai technician• Assessing and processing semen• Anaesthesia of ewes • General Farm hand of studMy duties as an Ai + ET technician required me to travel the UK as part of a vet team visiting farms and performing our service during the season (July – October).

My role at Aberystwyth involved me doing the following tasks:• Lambing• Farm hand• Working with the cattle• Recording using Farm ITI was situated on the wind farm Mynydd Gorddu throughout my placement and sometimes worked down on the lowland farm Peithyll.

Innovis Ltd, Aubreys Farm, Albright Lane, Bromesberrow, Ledbury, Herefordshire. HR8 1RZ. Tel: 0844 800 9050 enquiries@innovis.org.uk