162 • Technologies To Maintain Biological Diversity 



and expertise for collection, preparation for 

 shipment, and preservation of gametes and em- 

 bryos could be concentrated in such institu- 

 tions. Facilities for quarantine and diagnostic 

 testing using advanced technologies would 

 greatly facilitate germplasm transfer. To be ef- 

 fective, these centers would have to be well 

 funded and equipped on a continuing basis. 

 Ideally, they would address a range of biological 

 diversity issues, for wild as well as domestic 

 animals, including maintenance of information 

 centers and repositories for cryopreservation 

 of frozen semen and embryos of rare native 

 breeds. 



Losses off Genetic Diversity 

 Among and Witiiin Breeds 



Indiscriminate crossbreeding of so-called im- 

 proved breeds from industrial nations coupled 

 with increasing intensification within the poul- 

 try, swine, and dairy industries have resulted 

 in reductions in global breed diversity and may 

 lead to substantial losses of rare breeds. Within 

 some of the major commercial breeds of live- 

 stock, losses in genetic diversity may also be 

 occurring because of narrow selection goals 

 and intensified use of individual sires and their 

 sons through artificial insemination. 



A National Board for Domestic Animal Re- 

 sources could be established, composed of rep- 

 resentatives from USDA, universities, private 

 foundations, and industry. The board could pro- 

 vide a mechanism to coordinate animal germ- 

 plasm conservation activities. The program 

 could be established through a directive to a 

 lead agency such as USDA and would not re- 

 quire additional legislation. Such a board would 

 identify potential sources of foreign germplasm 

 for import and monitor the status of genetic 

 diversity within commercial breeds. It could 

 also monitor the status of rare breeds within 

 the United States and make recommendations 

 for their preservation and use. The board could 

 act as a liaison with institutions in other coun- 

 tries and show a U.S. commitment to mainte- 

 nance of domestic animal biological diversity. 



It would be primarily advisory in nature but 

 should possess some funding to implement its 

 recommendations to function effectively. 



An International Board on Domestic Animal 

 Resources could also be established. This board 

 could provide international coordination of 

 programs, set standards and coordinate the ex- 

 change and storage of germplasm, and provide 

 funds to support activities in developing coun- 

 tries, probably at the regional level. Some ef- 

 forts have already been made in this direction, 

 and the United States could support and ex- 

 pand these efforts. 



A program to identify, conserve, and use en- 

 dangered breeds of potential value worldwide 

 could be developed. It could identify rare breeds 

 of potential value worldwide, with subsequent 

 negotiation of procedures to protect and main- 

 tain the genetic integrity of these populations 

 within the country of origin. If maintenance 

 of such populations within the country of ori- 

 gin could not be assured, the United States 

 could support collection and cryogenic storage 

 of gametes and embryos. Semen of all mam- 

 malian livestock can be successfully frozen, as 

 can embryos of all mammalian livestock spe- 

 cies except the pig. Such storage could be lo- 

 cated in this country to ensure maximum safety 

 of the preserved material, and it would include 

 material that could not be imported as live ani- 

 mals under current animal health regulations. 

 Efforts such as these would require close co- 

 operation with the countries of origin of the 

 various breeds to avoid the perception of ex- 

 ploitation of foreign resources for the sole ben- 

 efit of the United States. 



A program like this could also monitor the 

 status of genetic diversity within commercial 

 populations in the United States. This moni- 

 toring would involve interacting with indus- 

 try to ensure maintenance of genetically diverse 

 poultry control strains, retaining semen from 

 a wide sample of dairy bulls as a reservoir of 

 genetic diversity, and monitoring the status of 

 other species. 



