French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center

SYSAAF (Syndicat des Sélectionneurs Avicoles et Aquacoles Français/French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center) is a professional association with "Professional Syndicate" status (Law of 21 March 1884) which brings together companies and associations (35 in 2022) developing genetic improvement programs for commercial purposes or for the genetic management of populations, lines or breeds of poultry, aquaculture and entomoculture species.

SYSAAF's activities fall into 4 main categories:

  • Provide technical support for the implementation of genetic selection programs. This includes support for the implementation of appropriate selection systems and schemes, to ensure the proper management of genetic diversity and to enable the genetic evaluation of breeding candidates, followed by their selection and the establishment of specific mating plans.

  • Improving methods for selecting, disseminating and securing the genetic heritage of aquaculture, poultry and entomoculture species

  • R&D activities

  • Represent the interests of its members to our institutional and professional contacts

In addition, SYSAAF carry out audits for Label rouge or IGP accreditation and provide specific training and technical days for it’s members.

SYSAAF also works in reproductive biotechnology, studying methods of cryopreservation of avian germ cells. Specializing in the cryopreservation of spermatozoa and primordial germ cells.

Dr. Maxime Reverchon

My lab is currently working on finding a different technique for semen cryopreservation. Currently, the most common protocol uses cryoprotectant glycerol, which is spermicidal. Our objective is to define a protocol to freeze the avian semen with a non-toxic cryoprotectant for the spermatozoa. Meaning a cryoprotector we don’t need to remove when we unfroze the semen in contrast to glycerol. The goal is to facilitate the use of frozen avian semen like the breeding companies.

We are also looking for biomarkers correlated with fertility performance. The aim is to be able to phenotype these traits and use them as selection criteria to choose the animals that will participate in the renewal of pure breeds.

I will collaborate with UMR-BOA INRAE (Dr. Marina Govoroun) in the supervision of PhD 8.