# Project Summary:

The over-arching goal of the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) is
to increase the security of U.S. livestock genetic resources by the
development of a repository containing diverse livestock genetic
resources. This over-arching goal is accomplished by NAGP staff and six
"species" committees comprised of industry, university, and ARS
specialists. These committees help guide the collection process through
advice to NAGP and by the acquisition of tissue samples and research
activities. This interaction served the program well during the first
project cycle as evidenced by the collection's growth. To maintain
momentum and interaction the American Dairy Science Association
sponsored a Discover Conference meeting where members of the NAGP
Species Committees participated and provided guidance in the further
development of this program. Recommendations from that meeting are the
basis for the four objectives identified in this project plan. The
proposed objectives of this plan are important because they will:
strengthen the genetic diversity contained in the collection; improve
the ability and efficiency of reconstituting populations through
improved cryopreservation procedures and reconstitution strategies; and
provide potential collection users with a more comprehensive
understanding of what is contained in the collection through the GRIN
database. Executing these objectives will require the utilization of
quantitative and molecular genetics, reproductive biology,
cryopreservation, and information systems science. The beneficiaries of
this effort cover a wide spectrum including: livestock breeders;
researchers reconstituting populations and performing various types of
molecular studies; and the American public at large which benefits from
the increased food security the program provides.

**Objectives:**

In developing the objectives two customer/stakeholder consultations were
held. The first consultation occurred in 2004 at a Discover Conference
sponsored by the American Dairy Science Association. Approximately 80
U.S., Canadian and European participants evaluated the progress of the
NAGP and provided guidance for this new project plan (a summary document
of this meeting including the over-arching recommendations is provided
in appendix 1). The second set of inputs came during the 2006 NP101
Workshop. From these consultations the following objectives were
developed.

**Objective 1. Further develop and expand a scientifically based
germplasm and DNA/tissue collection**

> **Subobjective 1A.** *Continue to develop germplasm collections and
> associated information across species.*
>
> **Subobjective 1B.** *Evaluate, refine and implement pedigree
> clustering approach for germplasm collection.*
>
> **Subobjective 1C.** *Pursue approaches to compare collection to
> in-situ populations using quantitative and/or molecular approaches.*
>
> ***Subobjective 1D.** Develop collections of DNA and/or tissues
> containing DNA and associated information.*

**Objective 2: Further develop the animal section of the GRIN network.**

> ***Subobjective 2A:** Develop database information system that
> documents the germplasm/tissue collection (Version 2) and has
> multi-location capacity.*
>
> **Subobjective 2B:** Expand descriptors for all species as defined by
> species committees, and substantially increase data collection
> efforts.

**Objective 3: Develop methods for population regeneration:**
*Computationally determine approaches for population regeneration and
their management.*

**Objective 4: Improve cryopreservation methods for tissues.**

> **Sub-objective 4.A.** *Development of predictors/evaluation of
> post-thaw semen viability.*
>
> **Sub-objective 4.B.** *Procedures for collection and freezing of
> small ruminant and/or beef oocytes.*
>
> ***Subobjective 4C:** Determination of optimal semen cryopreservation
> diluents and freezing methodologies.*

**Need for Research:**

Problem to be solved -- the extinction of animal breeds in the U.S. FAO
(2000) estimated that 45% of the mammalian and avian breeds in North
America were at some level of risk of being lost and 13% had become
extinct. Despite the recognized need for genetic diversity there has
been a continuous and significant loss of genetic diversity in all
livestock species. The loss of genetic diversity is due to industrial
consolidation, combined use of highly effective genetic selection,
reproductive technologies, and changing economic conditions. The
principal problem to be addressed is the insufficient conservation of
animal genetic resources. Effectively accomplishing the program's
conservation mandate requires utilization of genetic information,
population data, cryopreservation techniques and information systems. It
also requires awareness and evaluation of live animal populations and
their genetic relationships. It is essential to conserve animal genetic
resources so breeders have the resources for molding livestock
populations to meet the growing global demand for food and fiber.

The ability to develop new and more efficient production systems and
change livestock products to meet consumer demands rests on genetic
diversity among and across breeds. The loss of genetic diversity can
result in American producers becoming less competitive in global
markets. In competitive markets companies intensely select for
economically desirable traits. In the past and when practiced to
extremes, intense selection has resulted in genetic abnormalities or
genetic combinations that lower viability and profitability. When
industry finds itself in such a situation, there is a need to have
alternative genetic stocks available. The 2001 outbreak of Foot and
Mouth Disease in Europe demonstrated how easily genetic resources can be
lost and result in long and short term economic loss. Reserves of
genetic material for reintroduction to industry, as needed, provide
protection to American producers and consumers. Furthermore, as new
disease challenges emerge, diverse genetic resources can be used to
develop genetically resistant lines. Development of a national animal
genetic repository system will enable ARS to respond quickly to national
concerns and threats by minimizing or alleviating the reduction of
genetic diversity.

Relevance to ARS National Program 101 Action Plan Component 1:
Understanding, improving and effectively using animal genetic and
genomic resources; and national program action plan Problem Statement
1C: Preserve and curate livestock and poultry genetic resources.

**Potential Benefits** -- An emergency reserve of cryopreserved
germplasm will be developed and available for use whenever the need
arises. The collection of germplasm can also be utilized by industry and
researchers as needs arise that may not be national emergencies.
Knowledge concerning the status of live animal populations will be
known, thereby enabling us to better maintain living,
genetically-diverse populations. Quantification of breed resources,
their location in the U.S. and their productivity levels in an
information system accessible on the Internet will provide essential and
timely information for decision-makers. The repository also serves as a
source of genetic material for genomic studies by the public and private
sector.

**Anticipated Products** -- The products of this project include
preserved germplasm for all major livestock and aquatic species. An
information system that inventories preserved germplasm (and other
tissues), phenotypic parameters, census data on live populations and
will be functional at several locations. A national system comprised of
ARS, university and industry collaborators has been developed and will
be expanded upon to facilitate the development of these products. A more
complete understanding or the genetic resources contained in the
collection and its genetic diversity. Improved cryopreservation
protocols will be developed that enables NAGP to broaden the tissue
types collected and stored.

**Customers** -- Immediate benefits apply to: 1) livestock producers who
will have a strategic genetic (germplasm) reserve and 2) researchers who
will use the data or the working collection of germplasm stored to
characterize the genome, to find genes or gene combinations that confer
disease resistance or increase levels of production, or to evaluate long
term effects of cryopreservation on germplasm or other tissues.
Ultimately the U.S. public benefits from the increased food security
this program provides.