Development of Semen Preservation Protocol (Semen Banking)

1. Establishment of the first and only Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) laboratory in Nigeria. The importance of this research facility is to facilitate and support the domestication of UN FAO’s Global plan of action by countries on AnGR to mitigate the on-going genetic erosion and dilution within/among livestock species. The strategic approach to combat this menace is through characterization of countries’ indigenous livestock species for inventory and tracking purposes, sustainable use of genetic resources and planned to breed, conservation of animal genetic resources (in vivo and in vitro) and development of an institutional framework for data collation and sharing.
2. Objective: Facilitate and support Nigeria’s domestication of UN FAO’s Global plan of action by countries on AnGR to mitigate the on-going genetic erosion and dilution within/among livestock species.
3. Activities

1. Establishment of assisted reproductive biotechnology centre for deployment of livestock genomics solution, productivity and resilience researches, and development animal models.
2. Establishment of AnGR lab in Nigeria through office space remodeling
3. Procurement of basic livestock semen quantitative and subjective evaluation equipment.
4. Capacity building of 20 young scientists on livestock semen extender production, semen collection, and cryopreservation protocols.

1. Milestones
2. Hosting of the first expert meeting on Livestock semen collection and preservation protocol development in Nigeria.
3. Hosting of the first National stakeholders meeting on animal genetic resources (AnGR) in Nigeria.
4. Development of locally produced rabbit semen extender (18 product lines) using egg yolk plasma.
5. Procurement and husbandry management of 5 pure breeds of a rabbit as foundation stock of the modern breeding livestock model.
6. Production of rabbit artificial vagina for semen collection.

1. Impacts: Nigeria is a signatory to the Interlaken Declaration on AnGR which promote characterization and sustainable of AnGR across the Globe. The domestication of the Global Plan of action (GPA) on AnGR in Nigeria through this project makes it relevant as the benefit include but not limited to reversing the trends on livestock semen importation which is associated with exportation of job and importation of non-compatible semen and/or even diseases to the country.

• Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries of the project include the livestock industry, animal research laboratories and trainee scientist in the country.

• Future prospects and plans

1. Upgrading the present facility to National or regional laboratory facilities and provision of research workspaces for both local and international research/visiting scientist.
2. Cryopreservation of at least 1,000 straws of proven semen doses per indigenous species of livestock in 5 years (Conservation genetics) and 100,000 straws for commercialization and multiplication through spin-off companies.
3. Provision of assisted reproductive technology services to the Nigeria livestock industry through the strategic engagement of breeder associations.
4. Support full domestication of AnGR GPAs in Nigeria thereby repositioning the country livestock sector in the global space
5. Develop human resources capacities and competencies in different specialization areas required for project sustainability.
6. Partnership and collaboration with reputable national and international organization for peer review research platform and grant sourcing.
7. Development of pure breed nucleus herd for in situ conservation of the indigenous breeds of livestock by leveraging the bioresources development centres.
8. Livestock genomics and precision breeding to support livestock genetic improvement and climate-smart animal agriculture.
9. Leading livestock assisted reproductive biotechnology research for development including provision of Clearing Housing mechanism for livestock biotech product in Nigeria.

Research Name: Development of Semen Preservation Protocol (Semen Banking)

Research Year: