Innovis Sheep Genotyping Service
New Service Launched 12th January 2026
Check for Scrapie, and other gene markers in your flock
We have launched our improved sheep genotyping service, in partnership with GenomNZ, which is now available to all UK sheep breeders. With a simple test kit, we can identify the performance of your flock from muscle and fat growth to disease resistance, or verify parentage and pedigree.
All samples submitted are analysed in New Zealand using an 80,000 SNP assay developed by AgResearch, supported by decades of international research. The platform enables the UK sheep breeding industry to benefit from validated scientific discoveries across flocks, while ensuring full global SNP compatibility.
Innovis’ service operates with a six-week turnaround from the test kit dispatch date to the return of results. Samples are sent to New Zealand on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
How It Works
Step 1 – Get the Kit
Buy the sheep genotyping kit and applicator, then gather samples from your flock (1 sample per sheep).
Step 2 – Send Kit
Send us your samples, paid separately from the test kit purchase.
Step 3 – Await Results
We send your kit to the lab for analysis and send you the results as soon as the samples are processed.
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
What is the purpose of genotyping?
Genotyping identifies genetic traits for UK sheep breeders to identify healthy, breeding livestock that are resistant to scrapie and identifies 8 other gene markers. including myostatin, microphthalmia, yellow fat, and prolificacy genes.
Sheep genotyping also allows breeders to verify parentage, pedigree, and identify other genes in their flocks.
Sheep Genotypeing FAQ’s
Genotyping your sheep provides essential data to allow you to improve sheep breeding operations and profitability as a result. It is also very useful to determine your flock’s risk of contracting scrapie or genetic disorders and filter unsuitable sheep out of your breeding programme.
This test analyses several genetic markers that determine a sheep’s vulnerability to classic scrapie, a fatal and transmissible disease in sheep. It does not test for the presence of the disease, only the likelihood that the animal may contract or resist it.
Innovis’ service will categorise test results with a ranking between Type 1 and Type 5, where Type 1 is highly resistant to scrapie and Type 5 is highly susceptible.
- Scrapie check markers – We test a combination of genetic markers that contribute together to provide resistance to this fatal, incurable disease. Test results are reported as a genotype and a resistance type (Type 1 to Type 5).
- BCO2 (Yellow Fat) – If sheep have two copies of the variant of the BCO2 gene, the enzyme is not active, causing the pigment to build up in the animal’s cells, resulting in carcasses with yellow fat.
- GDF8 (Myostatin) – GDF8 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 (Lambs Born) – The GDF9 gene is associated with increased ovulation rate.
- PITX3 (Microphthalmia) – Two copies of a mutation in this gene, typically seen in the Texel breed and their crosses, cause extremely small or missing eyes and subsequently blindness.
- BMPR1B (Booroola) – Booroola sheep have a mutation in the BMPR1B gene that increases ovulation rate and litter size in sheep.
- FecXI (Inverdale) – The mutation occurs in the BMP15 gene on the X chromosome. One copy increases the ovulation rate and litter size in females, but two copies causes infertility.
- TMEM154 (Maedi Visna) – Studies have suggested that several mutations in this gene are associated with relative resistance or susceptibility to Maedi Visna infection. The two genotypes reported may reduce the probability of testing positive when the virus is known to be circulating in a flock.
- FecXG (Galway) – This mutation acts similarly to FecXI (Inverdale). One copy increases the ovulation rate in females, but two copies cause infertility
How do I take the samples myself?
To take the samples, you will need the Allflex TSU Test Kit and an Allflex Tissue Applicator, also available from Innovis. Other tissue sampling products may incur an extra charge.
Full instructions can be found here, and will also be provided with each sampling kit. Our staff can talk you through the process should you have any difficulties.
2026 Dispatch and Result dates
Innovis’ services operate with a six-week turnaround from the dispatch date of the test kit from Innovis to the lab, to the return of results.
Sheep Genotyping Prices
There are a few different elements associated with the new way of testing – all costs are outlined below and are excluding VAT.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Allflex TSU Test Kit | £1.50 (per sample) |
| Allflex Tissue Applicator (bought with kit) | £80 |
| Allflex Tissue Applicator (rented with kit) | £10 |
| Genotyping (<10 sheep) | £22.50 (per sample) |
| Genotyping (11+ sheep) | £18.50 (per sample) |
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 – £18.50 per sample