1. Certification According to ISO 9001:2008

Here we are!  IFN Schönow accomplished its ISO 9001:2008 Certification. It qualifies us for  conducting high-level  laboratory procedures, research projects, education, and administrative management in all areas of reproduction of farm animals. We can now expand the scope of our services to partners and to clients.

2. Embryo Transfer in Horse Breeding

Since May 2009, the IFN Schönow manages a unit for embryo transfer based on article 17 of the Animal Breeding Law ( §17 TierZG). This new domain operates under the responsiblities of one of our executives Dr. Claudia Reppel, veterinarian.  The first embryos grown at this animal residence have been  transferred.  Indeed, we have the pleasure to announce the pregnancy of a receiver mare!

3. Betsy – The Institute is Growing

The bovine community at our biotechnology unit received a new member last March, Betsy,  the artificial cow from Australia. Betsy complements and  relieves our existing stock in the education program for practice and demonstration purposes in the areas of artificial insemination, gestation diagnosis, and embryo transfer. Betsy's presence contributes to the institute's animal protection practices.

Betsy's plastic anatomy is astonishingly realistic and thus useful for education purposes.

Anatomical parts, such as the uterus canal, are removable and exchangeable with parts serving different stages of growth and levels of instruction.

Betsy provides our course participants with prerequisite skills for contact with life stock. Pregnancy diagnosis teaching uses a variety of plastic uteri according to the advancing stages of pregnancy from the 4th week through the 7th month. In addition to the teaching of visual skills for getting to know the "inner life" of the animal, and crucial tactile skills for the gentle handling of the animal, Betsy's flexible parts allow practice with instruments used in artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, and embryo transfer.

4. Professional Training for Expert Farmers (FAW--Fachagrarwirt)

Dr. Osmers of Masterrind GmbH, first executive, and Dr. Jung of IFN Schönow e.V., vice-executive, were assigned by the Committee for Breeding Hygiene (Zuchthygieneausschuss) for heading the Advisory Committee for Artificial Insemination (Fachbeirat Besamungswesen). As a consequence of this reorganization and of last year's course cancellation, the IFN Schönow, from 2010 on and in close cooperation with the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Saxony, will mastermind the new course offering. The new instruction will increase its focus on clarity of contents and on their practical application. For reasons of economics, this courses will take place in Echem, Verden, Neustadt on Aisch, and in Schönow.

Your participation will teach us whether this professional training for Farmer Certification reaches above objectives. For inquiries, please contact:

IFN Schönow Inc.
Bernauer Allee 10
16321 Bernau near Berlin
Germany

Tel. 0049 (0) 3338 7098 0
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

5. SNP Standardization - Pilot Management at the IFN

The IFN Schönow is pleased to have been charged by the DHV with DNA preparations for SNP Standardization.This novel technology featuring genomic selection in breeding is achieving ever-increasing importance. Our objective is to provide our customers with optimal quality and speed of this process. For optimizing, the institute is currently exploring means for further shortening time spans between incoming and outgoing probes and for establishing its home-grown standardization laboratory in Bovine SNP50 Chip technology.

6. Basic and Continuing Education

Insemination Commissioners Basic Education--Cattle and Pig


Veterinarians: Ultrasound Pregnancy and Ovary Diagnostics


Insemination Commissioner Continued Education--Advanced practical skills for diagnosis of  potential for and for  implementation of insemination--Cattle

7. Cooperation with the Teaching and Testing Facilities for Animal Breeding and                  
Maintenance Inc. (LVAT Gross Kreutz e.V.)

LVAT Gross Kreutz Inc. and the IFN Schönow are starting intensive interaction in the continuing education of experts in reproduction and in fertility management of dairy cows.