A protocol for the cryoconservation of breeds by low-cost emergency cell banks – a pilot study

A protocol was developed for collection and storage of somatic cell samples under adverse conditions with little infrastructure, for somatic-cell banks as a backup for endangered livestock breeds. The procedure, which is uniform across species, includes sample collection with ear taggers with an integrated tag/vial system, and recording of global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, digital images and breed information. In a pilot study, the procedures were tested on six local Vietnamese populations of pigs, sheep and goats. Initial investment was around h3000, while the total variable cost for sampling one breed with 25 females and 25 males was less than h1000. With support from local organisations, the sampling of six breeds with 300 animals was carried out in 2 months. The protocol and the complete workflow for setting up a somatic-cell bank, together with data collection, are described. The procedure has proved practicable and exceedingly cheap relative to the cryopreservation of semen or embryos.