National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP)
Program Update – November 30, 2003
USDA Agricultural Research
Service
in cooperation with the
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education
and Extension Service
Committee Chairs
Swine
Terry Stewart
Purdue Univ.
tstewart@purdue.edu
Beef
Larry Cundiff
ARS/Clay Center
CUNDIFF@email.marc.usda.gov
Dairy
Les
Hansen
Univ. Minnesota
hanse009@tc.umn.edu
Poultry
Mary Delany
Univ. Calif.,
Davis
medelany@ucdavis.edu
Aquatic Species
Terry Tiersch
Louisiana State Univ.
ttiersch@agctr.lsu.edu
Small Ruminants
David Notter
Virginia Tech.
Univ.
drnotter@vt.edu
Contact NAGP
Harvey
Blackburn
1111 S. Mason St.
Ft. Collins, CO
970-495-3268
hblackbu@lamar.colostate.edu
Web
site
www.ars-grin.gov/animal/
Across Species
Breeder
Dynamics
A
social element to managing
genetic resources is the
length
of time an individual breeder
raises a
specific breed of
livestock. For breeds such as
the Navajo Churro
and the
Jacob sheep the breeder
turnover rates can range from
20% to 30% per year.
For
major
breeds, like Hereford
cattle, the turnover rate
is
approximately 12% per year.
Such a dynamic has
significant ramifications
for the
conservation of genetic
resources, particularly the
maintenance
of in-situ
populations.
It also
underscores
the need for a diverse collection
of
germplasm in the repository.
Committee Meetings
Swine
Dec.
5, 2003
Des Moines, IA
Small Ruminants
Feb.
16, 2004
Tulsa, OK
Aquatic Species
Mar. 1, 2004
World Aquaculture Society meeting
Honolulu, Hawaii
Beef, Dairy, Poultry
July 25-29, 2004 ASAS, ADSA, PSA meetings St.
Louis, MO. (exact meeting
dates & time will
be announced later.)
Collection At A Glance
At this time the collection consists of: o Over 1500 animals |
 D |
ADSA
Discover Conference
“Protecting and Managing Animal Genetic
Resources for Future Generations: The Next Steps” November 3-5, 2004 – Cheyenne,
WY.
In November 2004, it will be five years since the initial
Discover Conference on animal genetic resources was held in Indiana that
initiated
the NAGP program. We will take the opportunity in November 2004 to meet
again to assess the progress made in identifying, preserving and utilizing
the animal germplasm for each agriculturally important animal species
through the National Animal Germplasm Program. The conference will consider
current
biological diversity, available preservation technology, future technology
needs and the importance of protecting and preserving the available genetic
resources for food animal species. This will be a unique Discover Conference
due to the combination of scholarly presentations, in-depth interaction
among participants, working sessions and the opportunity to build upon
the results of the historic 1999 Discover Conference. Please plan to
join us.
Poultry – American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and NAGP have conducted a national survey of non-industrial chicken breeds. Survey results show that of the 70 breeds reported 20 are considered in ALBC’s Critical Condition (less than 500 breeding birds and less than 5 primary breeding flocks) with such small populations as to be threatened with extinction. To start addressing this issue NAGP has developed an agreement with Colorado State University to collect and cryopreserve roosters as well as transfer this type of technology to interested institutions or companies. NAGP worked with Cornell University to cryopreserve semen and blood from their S-10 population and submit it to the repository.
Swine – A University of Missouri scientist and ALBC conducted a workshop in Wichita, KS. on collecting boars and using AI to mate sows. By conducting such a workshop a cadre of breeders will have the expertise to collect boars for the repository and thereby ease the logistical issues associated with collecting rare breed boars. ARS scientists at Clay Center have been working with NAGP in collecting and cryopreserving Clay Center’s population of Meishan pigs; once the collection has been developed the line will be discontinued. Work is also proceeding with development of the Yorkshire and Hereford pig collections.
Small Ruminants --NAGP, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and the Navajo Churro Sheep Association have initiated efforts to collect Navajo Churro sheep in Arizona, New Mexico and the Navajo Indian Reservation. The initiative includes ram collections as well as seminars and demonstrations at Navajo high schools and technical colleges. Registration data for the Jacob Sheep Conservancy have been analyzed and it was determined that 47% of the Conservancy’s sheep have an inbreeding level that is greater than zero with the 2001 average inbreeding level at 2.3%. Sul Ross University, Virginia State University, and Prairie View A&M are working with NAGP on cryopreservation protocols for small ruminants.
Beef Cattle – Discussions have proceeded with the Beefmaster Breeders Universal concerning the initiation of a germplasm collection for that breed. The association is identifying families and bulls which they would like to have as part of the germplasm collection. The American Hereford Association has allowed NAGP access to its pedigree files to determine the level of inbreeding for that breed. The analysis indicates that approximately 95% of the cattle registered between 1990 and 2001 were inbred. The average inbreeding level in 2001 was 9.8%; one animal had a 76% inbreeding level.
Dairy – ARS/Animal Improvement Program Laboratory reports inbreeding levels are continuing to increase for most dairy breeds at rates similar to previous years. Based upon calf registrations the inbreeding levels by breed are: Holstein = 5.0%, Jersey = 6.8%, Aryshire = 5.7%, Brown Swiss = 5.4%, Guernsey = 6.0%, and Milking Shorthorn = 4.5%. Collection of the six primary dairy breeds continues through agreements with ABS Global, Select Sires, and Accelerated Genetics; all three companies have agreed to send samples from bulls entering their progeny testing programs to NAGP.
Aquatic Species – NAGP is beginning to acquire germplasm from aquatic species. Collections of catfish, tilapia and sunfish have been initiated. In addition, several committee members have been evaluating the shipment of unfrozen trout semen to NAGP for cryopreservation and evaluation of the germplasm’s post-thawed fertility.
While sperm of as many as 200 aquatic species have been cryopreserved, this agricultural sector does not have an organized cryopreservation industry to establish basic guidelines for germplasm cryopreservation. To address this void, the Aquatic Species Committee is starting to establish a minimum set of standards and protocols for germplasm entering and leaving the repository, as well as for commercial trade in the aquaculture industry. A first step in establishing such protocols and conventions is sample labeling and database establishment. The Aquatic Species Committee has been working with federal agencies, the private sector, and universities in the development of basic nomenclature for the storage vessels. The committee has consulted the National Association of Animal Breeders, which organized a similar structure for cattle.