Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

Smart Sheep Science
New Zealand is a world leader when it comes to science involving animal genetics,
with the likes of research consortium Ovita – which boasts the world’s largest database
of sheep pedigree and genetic history, and the largest sheep DNA library – at the
pinnacle of their field.
Ovita invests in scientific research and develops new products and services for the
benefit of New Zealand's sheep farmers, and also develops knowledge that can be
licensed for other applications such as animal and human pharmaceutical markets.
Ovita was formed in 2001 by Meat New Zealand, The New Zealand Wool Board and
Crown Research Institute AgResearch to manage a $90 million investment into
biotechnology research focusing on sheep biology, physiology and genomics. The
government is also an investor in Ovita through the Research Consortia scheme,
investing $8 million per annum over five years (2002-2007).
In the past five years, Ovita and spin-out company Catapult have launched five products
(Side Box)
onto the market to enhance sheep fertility and growth, and filed twelve new patent
Case Study applications. – Ovita: turning These products sheep IP include into commercial DNA tests for genes that lead to musclier, more
solutions
fertile and less fatty sheep. The knowledge that underpins these products is based on
many years of research and development by AgResearch scientists.
80,000 sheep were tested with Ovita’s genetic diagnostic products in 2005 alone, and
the DNA testing business recently expanded into Australia, the UK and Europe.
Also in the development pipeline are tests for resistance to internal parasites, improved
meat quality and facial eczema. Parasite research is continuing within Ovita spin-out
company Paraco Limited, which is developing a novel worm-killing medicine and a
vaccine candidate for controlling gastro-intestinal parasites in livestock. The muscle
growth and development research venture, focused on applications in humans and
based on the myostatin molecule, is also continuing within another spin-out company
called Orico Limited.
Visit www.ovita.co.nz
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Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research
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