Frozen Storage of Jindo Dog and Sapsal Dog Semen

Cultural Heritage Administration Produces Frozen Genetic Resources of Livestock Natural Monuments
Distributed Preservation at Livestock Genetic Resources Center and Jeju Livestock Promotion Institute
Preparing for Extinction Due to Disease Spread with "Cutting-Edge Technology Discovery and Adoption"

Gyeongju Dog Donggyeong-i

On the 14th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it has established a system to produce frozen genetic resources of natural monument livestock and preserve them in a distributed manner at the National Institute of Animal Science's Livestock Genetic Resources Center and the Jeju Livestock Promotion Institute. Frozen genetic resources refer to resources such as animal sperm, eggs, embryos, and somatic cells that are frozen in a living state and stored permanently by being immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196℃. Although this is the only way to preserve animals permanently, the methods and survival rates vary by livestock species, making it difficult to secure the technology.

Livestock Genetic Resources Center Preservation Vault

Until now, all natural monument livestock in Korea have been preserved as living animals. These include Jindo Jindo dogs (No. 53), Yeonsan Hwaak-ri Ogye chickens (No. 265), Jeju Jeju horses (No. 347), Gyeongsan Sapsal dogs (No. 368), Jeju Black pigs (No. 550), Gyeongju Donggyeong dogs (No. 540), and Jeju Black cattle (No. 546). If diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease or avian influenza (AI) spread, they could face the risk of extinction. Accordingly, the Cultural Heritage Administration collected and froze 2,031 genetic resource samples (sperm) from 153 animals across seven species of natural monument livestock. Six species totaling 108 animals and 1,062 samples are stored at the Livestock Genetic Resources Center, and seven species totaling 86 animals and 969 samples are stored at the Jeju Livestock Promotion Institute, respectively, in a distributed manner.

Jeju Black Pork

A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We have established a preservation system separated between the mainland (Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam) and the island (Jeju)." They added, "We will continue to carry out collection, inspection, and replacement to maintain an appropriate amount of genetic resources." They also said, "We will discover and introduce cutting-edge technology to prevent loss and achieve effective permanent preservation."

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