Eurofins Genomics and Weatherbys Ireland join forces to genotype one million cattle

Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), one of the world leaders in genomic services, and Weatherbys Ireland DNA Laboratories, one of Ireland's premier laboratories serving the domestic agri-industry, are pleased to announce that they have been jointly selected to test one million samples of beef for the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) over the next two years.

The ambitious project is the first anywhere in the world to genotype one million cattle. The test itself uses a microarray technology to measure 55,000 variable positions in the DNA of each animal. From this, scientists will use this information to predict traits such as fertility, milk yield and meat quality in individual animals. The work is part of the Beef Data Genomics Program (BDGP), running from 2015 to 2020, launched earlier this year by Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Food and Marine, Simon Coveney, TD. The ICBF is aiming to genotype one million cattle by 2017, and a further million by 2020.

Comment from Ronan Murphy, Weatherbys CEO: "This project is a huge step forward in agri-genomics and we are delighted to have been selected to carry out a testing regime that has never been done on this scale before. The microarray chip we will be using has taken two years of development by Weatherbys Ireland DNA laboratory, the ICBF and Teagasc (Irish agriculture and food development authority). By teaming up with Eurofins Genomics, we are able to provide expertise and accredited laboratories at the scale needed to provide customers with new and more efficient services for their animal breeding needs."

Comment from Bruno Poddevin, Senior Vice President, Eurofins Genomic Services: "Eurofins Genomics is proud and delighted to have been selected, together with Weatherbys' DNA Laboratory, to provide its expertise in the world's largest cattle genotyping project-to-date. Through our combined industrial capabilities and highly-skilled DNA experts, Eurofins aims to provide customers in the food and agri-genomics markets the highest quality and most cost-efficient solutions for their animal-breeding needs. We are excited to provide our unparalleled capabilities and lend our expertise in large-scale project, and help put Ireland and its farmers at the forefront of genetic testing globally".

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Notes for the editor:

Eurofins - a global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins Scientific is the world leader in food, environment and pharmaceutical products testing. It is also one of the global market leaders in agroscience, genomics, discovery pharmacology and central laboratory services. In addition, Eurofins is one of the key emerging players in specialty clinical diagnostic testing in Europe and the USA.

With over 20,000 staff and 200 laboratories across 39 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 130,000 reliable analytical methods for evaluating the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin and purity of biological substances and products, as well as for innovative clinical diagnostic. The Group provides its customers with high-quality services, accurate results on time and expert advice by its highly qualified staff.

Eurofins is committed to pursuing its dynamic growth strategy by expanding both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.

As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients' increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the expanding demands of regulatory authorities around the world.

The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0000038259, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).