What is boviQuest

boviQuest is a joint venture between ViaLactia Biosciences (NZ) Ltd http://www.vialactia.com, which is Fonterra's wholly owned biotechnology subsidiary, and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) http://www.lic.co.nz.

The joint venture's focus is on discovering genes which will impact on the profitability and genetic gain of dairy cows anywhere in the world.

ViaLactia's expertise in bovine genomics (study of DNA, genes and their variation), including gene discovery and associated function definition and molecular biology is complemented by well developed skills in bovine genetics (inheritance patterns) at LIC.  Further, LIC is a valuable source of well defined and tested bovine germplasm.  This expertise and germplasm, together with the associated database of linked heritage, production and other phenotypic data is an essential starting point for boviQuest's gene discovery programme.