U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home News & Events News Articles Research News 2002





- ARS News & Events
- AgResearch Magazine
- Image Gallery
- News
- Search News & Events
- Pesticide Drift May Endanger Pollinators
- ARS Seeks a Fire Ant Fix
- Scientific Discoveries 2024
- ARS Featured Photos
- Down on the Farm
- Facebook Live Events
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- News Archive
- Science in Your Shopping Cart
- Scientific Discoveries
- Social Media
- Under the Microscope
- AgResearch magazine
- ARS at Work
- ARS Memorial Lectures
- ARS Science Hall of Fame
- Citrus Disease (Huanglongbing)
- Contact Office of Communications
- Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Mobile Apps
- Public Affairs Contacts
- Publications and Other Resources
- USDA Blog
- Videos

Archived Page
 This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
 Swine Germplasm Added to National Collection By David ElsteinMay 1, 2002 The National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) has officially added swine to its collection, a decision that could lead to better-quality animals and ultimately to improved pork products for consumers. In 1990, Congress mandated NAGP to be part of the Agricultural Research Service’s National Genetics Resources Program. Located at the ARS National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colo., NAGP received its first germplasm entry-- 40 chicken lines--in 2000. Industry consolidation has led to concerns about less genetic diversity in swine. By collecting swine germplasm, NAGP will help provide breeders with the genetic tools necessary to develop animals with disease resistance and other important traits, according to NAGP coordinator Harvey Blackburn. Researchers are also starting a national breed survey and have developed software to sample breeds. They are actively sampling two breeds a year and hope to repeat this process every 10 years. Research is also being conducted to improve germplasm cryopreservation, a process in which semen is preserved at extremely low temperatures. Semen that has undergone current techniques for cryopreservation results in very low conception rates and small litter size, compared to industry norms. NAGP helps coordinate research related to germplasm preservation, including enhancement of long-term germplasm storage, investigation of the effects of long-term storage on sperm and embryo viability and improved understanding of why certain semen will not successfully freeze. Within NAGP, there are also committees studying proper storage of germplasm for beef and dairy cattle, small ruminants and aquacultured species. More information about the program is available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/nag/ ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency.


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov