Keeping livestock cool, so as not to lose any of the living elements

The CRB-Anim network brings together biobanks that keep the genetic and genomic resources of a multitude of animal species raised in France in cold storage. An essential research tool in its own right, but also a safety net for breeders in the face of health risks and the erosion of biodiversity.

Seeds, embryos, tissues... Several French biological resource centers (CRBs) store, analyze and distribute samples from livestock and companion animals. These banks of the living form a discreet but essential network for science, breeding and domestic biodiversity. As guardians of our zoogenetic heritage, they are a strategic asset for agricultural transitions and the sustainability of these key economic activities.

Contrary to popular belief, biological material does not sleep forever in liquid nitrogen or freezers. Every year, between 15,000 and 30,000 sample movements are recorded. “This is not a museum,” insists Michèle Tixier-Boichard, head of the IBiSA-certified CRB-Anim network. "It's a living, evolving collection. Initially designed to preserve endangered local breeds, cryoconservation now makes it possible to monitor the genetic evolution of animals, analyze their diversity within a species, characterize genetic anomalies or study diseases. Storage means anticipating and documenting living organisms over the long term.

National biodiversity under high protection

From cattle to scallops, fish, dogs, poultry and oysters, 25 species are currently covered by CRBs dedicated to livestock and domestic animals. Others could follow, such as quail and bees. But it's not that simple, as each species and tissue requires a specific sampling and freezing protocol.

Five IBiSA-certified CRBs are involved in this mission: the National Cryobank (CBN), specialized in the cryoconservation of reproductive material, aBRIDGe-Biobank, dedicated to the long-term conservation of tissues and genomic resources, CARARE in Guadeloupe, which conserves DNA and seeds of Creole breeds, CryAnim, which acts as a cryobank for dogs, but also in part for rabbits, and Cani-DNA, which has a large collection of DNA from all breeds of dog, whether they be breeding aids or human companions.

Together, these centers form a complete network, united around a common portal, enabling users, breeders, companies and researchers to access available samples according to the species or tissue required. But, as you will have gathered, storing is only one aspect of their activity.

The other challenge is to enable resources to be reused, sometimes years later, to study a disease, validate a method, or reintroduce a genetic trait that has disappeared. To achieve this, the sample is accompanied by precise data: origin, rearing conditions, date of collection, age of the animal and location. This information is crucial for cross-referencing genetic and environmental data or, for example, studying the adaptation factors of certain species to climate change.

Reacting to crises, preserving the future

The BRCs in the CRB-Anim network have mastered a complex know-how combining cell biology and conservation technologies. Cryoprotectors, temperature control down to the last degree, rigorous documentation: every step counts to guarantee the quality of a sample, whether used for research or reproduction.

These biological reserves, some of which have been active for several decades, are invaluable allies in the event of health crises. During a recent bird flu epidemic, for example, a local strain of Basque duck came close to extinction. This strain only existed in a confined area, with no preserved samples. It is now one of the species carefully recorded in the CRBs.

With this in mind, stored samples can be used to trace the history of an emerging disease. A latent virus that suddenly emerges could be detected in earlier samples, shedding light on its spread over time. In a world marked by epidemics, global warming and scarcity of resources, BRCs are therefore key pillars of agricultural resilience.

And their usefulness extends beyond livestock farming. The tools developed for livestock are also used in veterinary and biomedical research on dogs, cats, horses and donkeys. Companion animals are an equally active focus of the CRB-Anim network. Because in these tanks full of nitrogen, it's not just material that is preserved, but living things of interest to our society.