Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research
Project Number: 3012-31000-007-003-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
End Date: Aug 31, 2022
Objective:
Objective 1 is to collect swine genetic resources from various Midwest producers for shipment and cryopreservation by the National Animal Germplasm Program. Objective 2 entails the evaluation of genetic variability and/or cryopreservation protocols by Animal Science students.
Approach:
The National Animal Germplasm Program seeks assistance in acquiring germplasm samples from various pig breeders located in the U.S. Midwest. Collaborating scientists will facilitate and execute collection activities. The result being viable germplasm collected on site and shipped via commercial courier to the ARS laboratory in Fort Collins. The collaborators will target both commercially important and rare swine breeds. For commercially important populations targeted herds will include those without representation in the national collection. The collaborator may engage swine reproductive specialists from other land grant or HBCU institutions. In addition to germplasm acquisition the collaborator will identify promising animal science students and engage them in genetic or reproductive physiological projects. Selected students may perform a summer internship with the National Animal Germplasm Program. During this time the students will be engaged in an ongoing research project as well as germplasm preservation with an ending goal of an abstract presented at a regional animal science meeting.
