Making “Once in a Lifetime” More Than Once

By Diane Broek

Like most livestock breeders and showmen, are you pursuing the elusive “great one”? Are you constantly seeking that once-in-a-lifetime steer, heifer, barrow, gilt, wether, doe, or ewe that becomes a rock star? Are you patiently waiting for that rock star who will bring home the hardware from state and national shows?

We understand this aspiration and have collaborated with numerous rock stars over the years. Our goal is to assist you in achieving “once in a lifetime” – more than once in a lifetime through our genetic preservation and cloning program.

So, how can we assist you?

Proactively prepare

First, we recommend obtaining a tissue sample from your rock star. Obtaining the tissue sample at home, before the show, is crucial. This proactive approach ensures an organized effort that can be carried out privately in your own show barn, with the option to repeat if necessary. 

Waiting until after the animal wins a show may prevent timely kit availability or sampling according to show regulations. To avoid missing this critical window, we strongly encourage discussing your deadline and available options at least one month before the major show.

Save on preservation services

Second, clients who proactively take their samples benefit from discounted preservation services. You can save $250 on Genetic Preservation and $100 on an Express Tissue Bank.

Cloning Services

Third, once preservation is completed, we offer cloning services. This means that all animals preserved through our services have the potential to have an identical twin born at a later date. We extend these services to cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.

Cloning these animals involves certain nuances. For instance, a castrated male will produce an intact identical twin, since castration occurs after birth. With cloned animals, any changes occurring after birth essentially create a new starting point for genetic twins. Should you desire a bull, boar, or buck from a neutered rock star, we can accommodate that request.

For further details on obtaining a kit and proactively collecting DNA samples from your rock stars, simply call 1-800-999-3586 or speak with a TOG customer service representative in your region. Alternatively, you can reach out to us via email at diane.broek@transova.com or brenna.jasper@transova.com. We are dedicated to making the irreplaceable… replaceable.