Development of national animal genetic resource programs

Area of Science:

• Animal genetics
• Conservation biology
• Zoology

Background:

• Global economic forces are leading to a contraction of animal genetic resources.
• The 1990s saw a significant increase in national animal genetic resource activities, with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations playing a key role.
• National conservation programs integrate in situ, ex situ, and information-exchange efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of cryopreserved germplasm collections in national conservation efforts.
• To emphasize the importance of strategic animal selection for cryopreserved collections to capture rare alleles.
• To identify major challenges in repository development and genetic conservation.

Main Methods:

• Initiation of national programs for animal genetic resource conservation.
• Development of multispecies cryopreserved germplasm collections.
• Focus on selecting animals with minimal genetic relationships for cryopreservation.

Main Results:

• Several countries have established substantial multispecies cryopreserved germplasm collections.
• Animal selection for cryopreservation prioritizes minimizing genetic relationships and capturing rare alleles.
• Identification of key challenges including the need for genetic diversity management across all breeds.

Conclusions:

• Cryopreserved germplasm collections are vital for national conservation of animal genetic resources.
• Effective conservation requires managing genetic diversity in all breeds and understanding in situ population dynamics.
• Repository collections offer long-term value for diverse users and emergency situations.