Innovis Genotyping Service
New Service Launching 12th January 2026
Innovis will be launching a new sheep genotyping service on 12th January 2026, in partnership with GenomNZ.
As part of the new service, all samples will be analysed in New Zealand using an 80,000 SNP assay developed by AgResearch and supported by decades of national and international research.
The platform enables the sheep industry to benefit from validated scientific discoveries across both New Zealand and UK flocks, while ensuring full global SNP compatibility.
The service will operate with a six-week turnaround from the dispatch date to the return of results. Samples will be sent to New Zealand on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, starting January 2026. All 2026 dates are set out below.
About Genotyping
Why should I genotype my sheep?
As part of the new service, customers will receive:
- Scrapie Genotypes
- Eight additional marker tests
- The ability to verify parentage and pedigree
- BCO2 – Yellow Fat
The BCO2 gene produces an enzyme that is required for the breakdown of yellow pigments absorbed through the animal’s diet. If sheep have two copies of the variant of the BCO2 gene, where the enzyme is not active causing the pigment to build up in the animal’s cells resulting in carcasses with yellow fat. - GDF8 – MyoMAX
The GDF8 gene regulates muscle growth. A specific variant of the gene originally from the Texel breed impairs this regulatory function and causes an increase in muscle production and a decrease in fat production. - GDF9 – Number of Lambs Born
The GDF9 gene has been found to be associated with increased ovulation rate in a number of sheep breeds. - PITX3 – Microphthalmia
A mutation in this gene, typically seen in the Texel breed and their crosses, causes extremely small or missing eyes and subsequently blindness if the animal carries two copies if the mutation. - BMPR1B – Booroola
Booroola sheep have a mutation that in the BMPR1B gene increases ovulation rate and litter size in sheep. - FecX(I) – Inverdale
The Inverdale FecXI mutation occurs in the BMP15 gene on the X chromosome and increases the ovulation rate and litter size in heterozygote females (one copy of FecXI) but causes infertility in homozygotes (two copies of FecXI). - TMEM154 – putative association with MV resistance/susceptibility
A number of studies have suggested that several mutations in this gene are associated with relative resistance or susceptibility to Maedi Visna infection. Evidence suggests that there is not an absolute relationship, but the two genotypes reported may reduce the probability of testing positive when virus is known to be circulating in a flock. - FecX(G) – prolificacy
FecXG (Galway) is a mutation in the BMP15 gene on the X chromosome that is associated with exceptional prolificacy in sheep, homozygotes (two copies of FecXG) causes infertility in females. This mutation behaves in a similar manner to the Inverdale mutation.
How do I take the samples myself?
To take the samples you will need the Allflex TSU (sent by Innovis) and an Allflex Tissue Applicator – other tissue sampling products may incur an extra charge.
Full instructions on how to load and take the sample can be found here, and they will also be provided with each sampling kit.
Our staff can talk you though the process should you have any difficulties.
2026 Dispatch and Result dates
| Dispatch Date | Predicted Result Date |
| 22 January | 5 March |
| 12 February | 26 March |
| 26 February | 9 April |
| 12 March | 23 April |
| 26 March | 7 May |
| 9 April | 21 May |
| 23 April | 4 June |
| 14 May | 25 June |
| 28 May | 9 July |
| 11 June | 23 July |
| 25 June | 6 August |
| 9 July | 20 August |
| 23 July | 3 September |
| 13 August | 17 September |
| 27 August | 8 October |
| 10 September | 22 October |
| 24 September | 5 November |
| 8 October | 19 November |
| 22 October | 3 December |
Genotyping Prices
There are a few different elements associated with the new way of testing – all costs are outlined below and are excluding VAT.
The Tissue Samples (TSUs)
To take the samples you will need 1 TSU per animal to test. These will need to be purchased at £1.50 per sample and will be sold in packs of 5 or 10.
The Allflex Applicator
An Allflex applicator can be purchased directly from Allflex for £85.29, however, if you purchase directly from Innovis when ordering your TSU’s we can offer the applicator at a price of £80.
We are able to offer an Allflex applicator on loan to you for £10. If the applicator is not returned within 30 days of you receiving the applicator, a cost of £80 will be charged.
Sampling
The sampling costs are as follows:
- up to 10 samples – £22.50 per sample
- 11+ samples – £18.00 per sample