John Thorley Opens New Innovis Centre
John Thorley OBE officially opened the new Innovis Centre near Malvern on the evening of Tuesday 1st August. In excess of 100 guests, representing organisations from right across the UK sheep industry attended the opening and were given a tour of the UK's largest sheep AI Centre.
In declaring the Centre open, John Thorley expressed his delight in the contribution that Innovis was making to support breed improvement in the UK.
John stated, "Nothing but good can come out of Innovis, and its connections, to stimulate improvement in breeding stock. The livestock business, not only in the UK but across the World, has already benefited from the thinking and work of Innovis, BUT this is just the start!"
Visitors to the Centre were both surprised and impressed by the scale of the operations witnessed at this state-of-the-art-facility. Peter Reynolds (EBLEX) described it as "A Centre of excellence that must be on any sheep specialists and breeders itinerary when visiting the UK, the Centre is a definite asset to the industry", and one veterinary officer was delighted to see that the facilities were as well resourced as the larger cattle AI centres".
For breeders it was a unique opportunity to see for themselves the Centre where their rams are sent for semen collection. Breeders and Breed Societies alike have given their "thumbs up" to the facilities, as well as the professional care and attention given to their rams by the Centre staff. Michelle Jones (Portland Breeder) stated that, "Having sent several Portland rams for the National Semen Archive, the individual care and attention the rams receive should encourage other breeders to offer their rams to the Archive."
The new Centre is located in the village of Bromesberrow just seven miles from the previous location in Malvern and has purpose-built facilities from which Innovis can deliver a range of artificial breeding services including:
Ø A ram stud which can accommodate up to 100 Maedi-Visna accredited & non-accredited rams.
Ø Export isolation facilities for the collection of semen to the various protocols required for export of semen and embryos right across the world
Ø A veterinary facility of on-centre AI and embryo transfer
Ø Semen processing and freezing laboratories which use the latest technology and equipment for high-quality semen storage
Ø Office and meeting room facilities
