Long term genetic preservation of the Elkhound has always been one of the key goals of Kamia Kennels. We have been working toward enough genetic depth and diversity to secure a long term future for existing genetics, but need to expand our plans in the next while to encompass more.
Future plans of Kamia Kennels
One of our long term goals is a preservation breeding, collection and storage clinic located in Alberta.
Our long term goal is to develop the Kamia Kennels Preservation Breeding and Genetic Storage facility. We believe that we can work toward this goal and develop the first of its kind in the world where we can collect, store and ensure genetics are saved for future.
It’s a bold dream of course, it’s not something that we take on lightly, but with dedication and passion all things can be achieved.
Michael and Sarah are fully onboard as well as all our other co-breeders and we are moving forward with our early development and strategy.
The concept is to secure a nice property of land, it should be large enough to have some available room when the dogs come to roam and exercise while at the clinic. It should be able to house multiple males and females at the same time. Ideally when we have a female that is in strong heat, if we can house many males we can then collect from all or many of them using the same female.
So our plans need to include enough space and distance to house them and give them room, if possible they can stay for a few days, we could take a couple collections so as to maximize the time spent, as getting them all there is a big deal. So we plan to have this facility.
The clinic itself will be a state of the art storage and collection facility, not unlike a vet clinic but not required to have vet’s themselves, simply technicians in the early stages as our plans will focus a fair bit on the collection of male semen.
As we get it operational we will have the clinic with the capability to then save the female side of the genetic match as well. This can be done after we get operational and things are fine tuned around the males, but once we are running well we can then see about storing eggs.
Long term semen storage will be our main goal, this technology already easily exists and we can house storage in a relatively small space, tanks hold many vials. So the clinic does not have to be extensive.
The main focus is to have a place and area for families to stay when the come, we can design into the property some guest facilities, a small lodge style, or some form of nice cabins as they will be there potentially for a few days.
Our main thoughts at this point is to be down in the foothills by Calgary, close to a large center for air travel yet, have the Springbank airport close as well. This allows plenty for the families to do while there as Calgary offer everything to those that have to stay for a day or so.
I am hoping some of my clients might want to help out with some design ideas for the clinic, perhaps even there are aspiring technicians that in the future might like to relocate and work at the clinic. We should have enough base in our Elkhound client family to have everyone we need. So for sure reach out on these ideas at anytime.
I have been looking at some great designs but I am wide open to thoughts on this. I have some preliminary plans on the layout of the male locations outside as of course I have a pretty good handle on that. So while I may have that sorted I could use design ideas for clinic itself.
I will try to locate it with a mountain view, so that might be useful for design thoughts. It doesn’t have to be a very big facility, a couple collection rooms, 1 tech room, and a potential for 2 other more indepth collection rooms. A second level would be truly awesome for the lounge area and a couple offices.
Ideas on the housing/cottage and or cabin style for housing for those that come, I am also wide open to ideas there.
So, to me, if we come together as a collective we can develop one of the most profound preservation clinics in the world and set an example for preservation breeding for all breeds really.
Our Full Blood revival program now ensures new genetic material, so we are no longer on a sliding scale completely, we do have some new genetics being introduced now which will greatly slow the genetic loss. Using all of our preservation breeding concepts and our plans for the future clinic is an important part of our long term plans.
Potential Clinic Design Idea – This is an existing vet clinic, but I like the design with a second level potentially available. Nice to look out at the mountains with this style.
