Country’s leading biotechnology company expands

The country’s leading biotechnology company focused on the cattle industry is now better equipped to service producers with its new Brisbane facility adding to a full suite of artificial breeding services.

Inventia Genetic Technologies (IGT) is the largest and longest running bovine IVF business in Australia, established in 2012 to provide advanced reproductive services for cattle producers to multiply their best genetics.

Increased demand for IVF has led to IGT’s new state of the art facility, which was recently opened at Alderley, Brisbane.

IGT’s first lab was at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research at Herston, then the business moved to a purpose-built lab in Newmarket, in 2021.

Due to high demand for comprehensive breeding services, IGT needed a significantly larger space, leading to the development of the new facility, according to Dr Cedric Wise —Chairman & Veterinarian of IGT.

The main commercial laboratory gives the company the capacity for three times the equipment installed from the previous premises, including 12 incubators and six laminar flow cabinets that create sterile work zones through a one-directional purified air flow and positive air pressure within the facility provides high standards of cleanliness.

The facility also has more space to offer training and a dedicated Research and Development space with the aim to improve embryo productions and quality, including the usage of automation systems coupled with Artificial Intelligence.

A viewing gallery of the laboratory and ample office and common spaces were created to better receive visitors and customers.

IGT is the most comprehensive IVF provider in the industry, performing a full range of services including OPU (oocyte pick up), ET (embryo transfer), embryo freezing and pregnancy testing.

“Although IGT freezes many embryos, transferring them fresh, 7 days after fertilization, gives the best results,” Mr Wise said.

“Doing this adds another layer of complexity to the very time sensitive logistical challenges that all IVF companies face but IGT now has a big enough team and the experience to do this whenever the client wishes to do so.

“Offering the complete process also means IGT provides greater accountability for results.

“The eggs are fertilised and grown over a week before being transported back to the client’s farm by IGTs embryo transfer technicians for implanting into recipient females.”

The business supports small cattle producers that are just building their herds through to some of the country’s largest corporate producers, with beef and dairy clients on the books.

IGT is capable of servicing clients in any state of Australia through its Brisbane laboratory. It isn’t uncommon for a field team to be servicing clients in QLD whilst another is in NSW or VIC.

“The use of IVF is growing rapidly around the world as it is in Australia whereas the conventional flushing or MOET (multiple ovulation and embryo transfer) has seen no growth for some years,” Mr Wise said.

There are several reasons for this including the fact that IVF can be performed without the use of hormones regimes in the donor which significantly reduces labour costs for the producer,

The ability to do an OPU on a donor every 14 days, from around 35 days post calving up until she is up to three months pregnant ensures the calving intervals of donors can be maintained while maximizing the number offspring, she produces is another significant advantage of this technology.

For more information visit igtivf.com.au.

Inventia Genetic Technologies (IGT) is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Great Northern Brahman Sale.