Posted on 06/24/2005 6:22:46 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are busy cataloguing a valuable collection of genetic material that could help breeders preserve the genetic diversity of beef and dairy cattle.
Thousands of samples of bull semen were donated last year to ARS by ABS Global, a major livestock artificial insemination company based in DeForest, Wis. The company donated its historic bull semen collection to the ARS National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, in Fort Collins, Colo.
The company's collection, which dates from the 1960s, contains more than 200,000 units of semen from 6,000 bulls representing 43 beef and dairy breeds.
ARS , the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief in-house scientific research agency, is responsible for preserving genetic material--such as seeds, plant cuttings and semen--in germplasm repositories around the country.
ABS Global announced its donation last fall at the American Dairy Science Association conference on genetic resources in Cheyenne, Wyo. The NAGP received the collection in March. Since then, ARS animal geneticist Harvey D. Blackburn has been incorporating the donation into the germplasm system.
The new material will make it possible to research genetic changes in a breed over a 30-year period. Not only does it broaden the existing NAGP collection, it strengthens strategic germplasm reserves and provides DNA for bovine genome researchers and for industry partners to develop animals with key traits such as disease resistance and improved meat and milk production.
6 words that never should have shown up in a sentence together...
Oh, that's SO wrong.
But I had to post it. I had to.
OK, I promise not to mention the Laura Bush joke about George milking the male horse.
OK, no one said the process was pretty.
I have lived in midwest farm country much of my life. Have collected many "seed caps" from product vendors which I wear in a random rotation.
My wife always cringes when I step out of the house wearing my IBS cap from Eldora, Ia. IBS is the International Boar Semen company... The "ultimate" seed cap!
A friend of yours?
Sound off like you got a pair!
Oh dear.....She looks like she's having fun.
Most GOP Senators could use a set like that.
OK, this is another sorta, kinda 'eww' thread OR
"It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it".
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