Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement Inc.

1. Acceptable sample format:

A. Liquid blood (2 to 5 mL) in EDTA tubes (purple top) (Preferred Format)

B. Semen (2 to 5 mL) in sample tubes

C. Tissue such as pig tail, sample from ear or Biotag

D. Blood card (can be obtained from Lab Services)

Avoid any potential cross contamination between samples.

Keep the samples at a cool temperature (4�C) for temporary storage. If the samples are to be stored for a long time, they should be frozen. In that case the blood should be taken in plastic EDTA tubes, since glass tubes may break after thawing.

2. Label the sample properly. The label should be permanent and clearly readable.�

3. Supply all the required sample information according to the following format (see example below in point 10):

A. The label on the sample can be different from the tattoo, but should not be longer than 5 digits.�

B. Please use the breed abbreviations in capital letters as listed below in point 9.

C. Only one digit (M or F) is accepted for sex.

D. Tattoo is exactly 10 digits, including spaces. First four digits for herd letters, next for the within herd ID and the last digit for year letter (see example below).

4. A hard copy of the completed form must accompany the samples; an electronic copy of the completed form in a Microsoft Excel file must be emailed to: DNAtest@lsd.uoguelph.ca prior to sample submission. The form can be downloaded as an Excel file from CCSI's website.

5. A cheque payable to "Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement" or "CCSI" for $75/sample must accompany the samples.

6. Send samples by courier to the address below:

IGF2 Program, Laboratory Services, University of Guelph

95 Stone Road West, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1H 8J7

Telephone: (519) 767-6210

7. Please contact the lab at (519) 767-6210 or "DNAtest@lsd.uoguelph.ca" for any questions regarding sampling, sample submission and results.

8. Please contact CCSI (613-233-8872) or pramod@ccsi.ca for any invoice issues or information requests regarding the IGF2 program.

9. Please use the following abbreviations for breed names:�

BE-Berkshire, DU-Duroc, HA-Hampshire, LA-Landrace,� LC-Lacombe, LW-Large White, PE-Pietrain, YO-Yorkshire, XX-crossbred, ZZ-TaiZumu.