Seolguk Farm announced on October 15 that one candidate sire bull from the farm has been selected in the Korean native cattle (Hanwoo) candidate sire bull evaluation, which is overseen by the Hanwoo Improvement Center of Nonghyup Agribusiness Group, a nationally certified sire bull evaluation agency.
The selected sire bull is the first case from a private company to utilize ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilization (OPU-IVF) and embryo transfer. OPU-IVF is a technology that collects oocytes from live cows and creates embryos, allowing for the production of a large number of offspring in a shorter period compared to artificial insemination.
Seolguk Farm participated in the consignment evaluation project by independently selecting offspring with excellent genomes, based on genomic analysis conducted in collaboration with Professor Lee Hakyo’s research team from the Department of Animal Biotechnology at Jeonbuk National University.
In the past, the selection of proven sire bulls was conducted by the National Institute of Animal Science under the Rural Development Administration through a nationwide genetic evaluation of Hanwoo. However, with the recent allowance of private sector participation, Seolguk Farm was able to submit a candidate sire bull.
With this selection, Seolguk Farm is now able to directly produce, sell, and distribute sire bull semen, and livestock farmers can now purchase high-quality semen from sources other than the Hanwoo Improvement Center of Nonghyup Agribusiness Group.
Jung Yeongil, CEO of Seolguk Farm, stated, "This selection is the result of years of effort, and we will continue to develop outstanding sire bulls to enhance the competitiveness of the Hanwoo industry."
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