A collaborative framework is being established to enhance the breeding speed and efficiency of Yongam Hanwoo by combining research institutions' embryo production technology with the practical experience of local livestock cooperatives.
Yongam County announced on September 21 that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agricultural Technology Institute of Jeonnam-Gwangju and the Yongam Livestock Cooperative at the cooperative's meeting room.
The signing ceremony was attended by 12 officials, including Shin Hwan-jong, Director of the Agricultural Economy Bureau of Yongam County, Choi Jae-eun, Director of the Agricultural Technology Institute's Livestock Research Institute, and the chairman of the Yongam Livestock Cooperative.
Through this agreement, the three organizations aim to apply embryo production and transfer technology for superior genetic Hanwoo to local farms and expand the foundation for producing high-quality Hanwoo.
The areas of cooperation include the development and application of Hanwoo embryo production and transfer technology, training of specialized personnel, improvement of breeding efficiency, and the discovery of joint projects for the advancement of the Hanwoo industry.
The roles of each institution have also been clarified. The Agricultural Technology Institute's Livestock Research Institute will be responsible for research and technical support related to embryo production and transfer, while Yongam County will support the promotion of related projects and the establishment of inter-institutional cooperation.
The Yongam Livestock Cooperative will utilize the region's superior Hanwoo breeding base to produce and distribute embryos, collaborating to ensure that the developed technology can be effectively applied on farms.
Embryo transfer involves implanting embryos produced from genetically superior cows into other cows to produce calves. This method compensates for the limitations of the number of calves a single superior cow can produce through natural breeding, serving as a technology for expanding high-quality genetic resources in Hanwoo improvement. Related research has suggested that mass production of embryos from superior cows and their offspring could reduce the time required for genetic improvement.
Choi Jae-eun, Director of the Agricultural Technology Institute's Livestock Research Institute, stated, “We will work to integrate our embryo production and transfer technology and research capabilities into the field to assist in the improvement of Yongam Hanwoo and enhance breeding efficiency.”
Shin Hwan-jong, Director of the Agricultural Economy Bureau of Yongam County, remarked, “By connecting the technology of research institutions with the practical experience of the Yongam Livestock Cooperative, we will establish a foundation that can be practically utilized for producing high-quality Hanwoo. We will continue to collaborate among institutions to ensure the stable application of embryo production and transfer technology on farms.”
Meanwhile, the use of embryo transfer for Hanwoo improvement is also expanding in other regions. The Hapcheon Livestock Cooperative in Gyeongnam held a competition on September 16 exclusively for Hanwoo born through embryo transfer to evaluate improvement results and is promoting Hanwoo improvement projects utilizing superior embryos in collaboration with local governments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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