The World's source for Bovine Genetics
Select Sires and Infigen Sign Agreement For Future Cloning of Selected Bulls


DEFOREST, Wis., and PLAIN CITY, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2000 — Select Sires Inc., the nation’s leading supplier of cattle genetics, announced that it has signed an agreement with Genmark®, a division of Infigen Inc., for future cloning of selected bulls. The agreement will allow Select Sires to clone a bull whose demand exceeds production capabilities, assuring cattle producers worldwide of an adequate supply of semen from its top bulls.

Genmark is the agricultural marketing division of Infigen, the world leader in nuclear transfer cloning, cattle gene mapping, cryopreservation and other related genomic technologies.

In discussing the application of the cloning technology, Select Executive Vice President and General Manager David Thorbahn explained, "Elite sires drive genetic improvement in the cattle industry. History is littered with great sires whose semen production limitations diminished their impact and value to producers. Infigen's technology provides us an exciting opportunity to solve this problem. When Select Sires identifies a genetically elite bull whose semen supply is limited, we are poised to move quickly, if we so choose."

Infigen has combined research in farm animal genetics and reproduction processes to develop and provide commercial applications and products to the human healthcare and animal agriculture fields. The company was formed in 1997, the same year it produced Gene, the world's first cloned bovine from a non-embryo-derived cell.

"Genmark’s agricloning opens up a whole new world of opportunities for today's cattle producers," says Jesús Martínez, vice president of marketing for Infigen. "Genmark cloning technology, along with our other reproductive services and genetic tests, will offer producers ways to become more efficient, productive and profitable."

Infigen is a privately held biotechnology company with core competencies in nuclear transfer cloning, cattle gene mapping, semen sexing and cryopreservation. It currently employs 30 research and administrative support personnel and has other research and development collaborations with Pharming, NV, Leiden, The Netherlands, and Imutran, Ltd., Cambridge, England, a wholly owned subsidiary of Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland. Select Sires’ alliance with Infigen fits with the company's pledge to produce and deliver superior genetics of high fertility at reasonable prices to dairy and beef producers. Select Sires is committed to aggressively pursuing technological advances that benefit the farmer-patrons of its 10 farmer-owned and controlled cooperatives.





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