Four Calves Born Using Advanced Reproductive Technologies to Save the Endangered Varzese Cattle Breed

A groundbreaking multi-year project led by the University of Milan has resulted in the birth of four calves of the endangered Varzese-Ottonese-Tortonese (VOT) breed, using advanced assisted reproduction techniques to preserve its genetic heritage.

These four VOT calves are the first tangible outcome of R-INNOVA, the second phase of the INNOVA project, coordinated by Professor Alberto Maria Luciano from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences at the University of Milan. The initiative aims to conserve the genetic resources of the VOT cattle, Lombardy’s only native cattle breed, which is currently classified as being at risk of extinction by the FAO, with fewer than 900 animals remaining across Italy.

Through a cutting-edge approach, the reproductive potential of 27 VOT cows was preserved via both in vivo intervention on farms and ex vivo genetic rescue techniques. The project was made possible through the collaboration between the University of Milan, the AVANTEA Center, VOT breeders, and the breed association ANABoRaRe, with support from the Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology of the National Research Council (IBBA-CNR) as a project partner.

Dr. Ludovica Donadini is presenting her study, entitled “Donor age as a limiting factor in the conservation of endangered cattle breeds through assisted reproductive technologies” (Poster 16), as a Flash Talk at the 41st International Meeting of the Association of Embryo Technology in Europe, taking place on September 4th and 5th in Cork, Ireland.

You can download the poster here: PosterAETE Donadini

Click here to see the running Four mousquetaires in July!

Click here to see the running Four mousquetaires in July!