Some of the significant work of this National Program was recognized when several scientists at locations within the program received awards:
1) The Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, received the Vice President''s National Partnership for Reinventing the Government Award (Hammer Award) for enhancing genetic improvement for milk yield by reducing generation interval.
2) Annie Donoghue of the Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, received the Herbert L. Rothbart Early Career Scientist Award from ARS for her development of a fertility test for turkey semen and work with the poultry industry.
3) Duane Norman won an Outstanding Service Award from The Dairy Herd Improvement Association for his efforts with using the Dairy Herd records to provide genetic evaluation information back to the industry.

Significant meetings, workshops, and presentations included:
1) A summary presentation of a summary of the Animal Germplasm and Genomics Program to the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council.
2) Participation in a workshop to organize the National Animal Germplasm Program and set up the species committees. This workshop was organized and conducted in collaboration with USDA-CSREES and Purdue University.
3) The Livestock and Poultry Science Institute in Beltsville, Maryland, hosted a Beef Cattle Research Field day.
4) In-depth laboratory reviews were conducted for the Growth Biology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland.

A joint National Program Workshop for the Animal Genomes, Germplasm, Reproduction, and Development Program and the Animal Production Systems Program was held at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, February 1-3, 2000. The purpose of the Workshop was to develop long-term national policy and priorities for these programs.

In-depth laboratory reviews will be conducted for the Gene Evaluation and Mapping Laboratory, the Meat Science Research Laboratory, the Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory, all in Beltsville, Maryland. Steven Kappes was selected in July 1999 to be the National Program Leader for Animal Genomes, Germplasm, Reproduction, and Development. Dr Lawerence Johnson retired from ARS January 1, 2000, after 36 years of Federal service where he recently served as Research Leader of the Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory

Selected Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 1999 (listed by Component)

Animal Germplasm
Technology transfer of cryopreservation of Swine Embryos. To improve current genetics and maintain genetic diversity the swine industry needs methods for conserving and propagating germplasm. Successful methods of cryopreserving pig embryos will increase the availability and ensure the preservation of superior germplasm and provide a means to export embryos internationally. The technology to preserve pig embryos through cryopreservation and produce live piglets was accomplished in the Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, where scientists developed methods which protect the embryonic cytoskeleton during the freezing process and removed cytoplasmic lipids of early stage pig embryos and demonstrated the developmental competence of these embryos after cryopreservation. This year they have made an agreement with an agribusiness company to transfer the technology and make improvements in the cryopreservation process.

An improved selection tool for dairy producers. ARS scientists at Beltsville, Maryland, have been providing genetic information to the dairy industry that has been used to increase the efficiency and profitability of milk production. At the request of the diary industry, improvements in calculating genetic potential have been made that predict the net economic merit of dairy cows that produce for markets with various pricing formulas. Incomes and costs from feed, longevity, and mastitis resistance were combined with prices used in fluid and cheese markets. After implementation of the new genetic information in February 1999, dairy producers are now able to base their breeding decisions on information that incorporates the net price formulas that are closest to the price expected in about 5 years when offspring resulting from current matings would be lactating. This improved selection tool also enables suppliers of seed stock to select for long-term national or global demands instead of short-term local prices.

Animal Genome
Genetic linkage maps have been used to identify locations on chromosomes containing genes that affect production traits. The profitability and global competitiveness of U. S. animal agriculture can be improved by increasing production efficiency. Disease resistance, reproduction efficiency, growth, and carcass composition all influence production efficiency. Comprehensive genetic linkage maps for cattle, pigs, and chickens were developed several years ago by ARS and other scientists to identify locations on chromosomes that contain genes that affect production traits. This information will be used to select genetically-superior animals to increase profitability and production efficiency. ARS scientists at Clay Center, Nebraska, and East Lansing, Michigan, have identified a chromosome 5 region that influences muscling and growth in cattle. Two chromosome regions affect puberty, five affect ovulation rate and one affects uterine capacity in pigs, and 14 regions affect resistance to Marek''s disease in chickens. Marek''s disease is of particular concern to the poultry industry because the vaccination program is becoming less effective in controlling this disease. These bovine, porcine, and avian chromosomal regions will be evaluated to improve genetic selection for the respective traits and improve production efficiency.

A system to classify meat tenderness predicts tenderness in a number of beef cuts. A decline in consumer preference for red meat has been somewhat attributed to inconsistent quality, particularly tenderness. The Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) Beef Classification System enables the beef industry to market beef based on superior tenderness, thereby improving consumer satisfaction with beef. The Beef Classification System developed by ARS scientists in Clay Center, Nebraska, in cooperation with the National Cattlemen''s Beef Association and two supermarket chains, evaluated this system in a commercial setting. This system was also used to classify three other major muscles besides the ribeye steak. They have shown that beef carcass tenderness classification, based on ribeye tenderness, also accurately segregated other major muscles into different tenderness groups. This finding will increase the number of beef cuts that can be marketed as superior in tenderness and reduce the cost of applying tenderness classification by spreading it over a greater number of beef cuts.

Reproductive Efficiency
Demonstrated reduction in parasites in dairy cattle. Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections cause major losses to the American cattle industry (estimates of $2 to $8 billion annually) due to decreased productivity of infected animals. Scientists in the Immunology and Disease Resistance Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, have demonstrated that working dairies practicing intensive rotational grazing aimed at reducing pasture contamination are more effective in reducing parasite-related production losses than dairies using conventional animal medication strategies. Rotational grazing over a 2-year study increased milk yield by 2 to 3 pounds of milk/cow/day.

Technology transfer of a sire selection test for turkeys. Artificial insemination is used almost exclusively to produce turkeys in the U.S. Few semen evaluation tests are available for sire selection in turkeys which are predictive of fertility. Scientists in the Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, have modified a sperm motility test which is highly predictive of fertility and have simplified this test so that it is adaptable to on farm use. Field tests utilizing this sperm test were performed on commercial farms.

Identifying low libido in rams. Reproductive inefficiency in the sheep industry results in reduced dissemination of superior genetic material and lower producer profitability. Low libido rams which comprise 15 percent of a population based on ARS studies have a negative impact on flock productivity and profitability by causing longer lambing seasons and creating the need for surplus rams. Scientists at Dubois, Idaho, have determined that injection of the compound, naloxone, produces a hormonal response that can be used to diagnose rams with low libido. This may serve as the basis for a standardized test for ram sexual performance.

Increased litter size in swine through selection for ovulation rate and uterine capacity. The cost of producing pork can be reduced by increasing litter size, thereby spreading fixed costs associated with the breeding herd over more offspring marketed. The terminal phase of a long-term selection experiment (10-11 generations) was initiated at Clay Center, Nebraska. Results to date revealed that selection for heritable traits of ovulation rate and uterine capacity can increase litter size by an average of 1.7 and .75 piglets/litter, respectively.

National Animal Germplasm Database
The animal component of the Genetic Resources Information Network (GRIN)database is under further development by the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory scientists that are responsible for the plant GRIN database. They will design and implement the animal component of the database and Dr. Harvey Blackburn, (an ARS scientists) will enter and curate the information that is stored in the database. Animal Gene Bank/Repository
Central repository for animal germplasm. A taskforce met in may 1999 and suggested that the National Seed Storage Laboratory, in Ft. Collins, Colorado, should be used as the Central Repository for the National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP). The suggestion was implemented and an ARS scientist (Dr. Harvey Blackburn) was relocated to the Fort Collins facility to function as the Operations Coordinator for the NAGP. Germplasm from the ARS facility are getting moved to the National Seed Storage Laboratory for long-term storage.

Developed a Central Repository for Animal Germplasm at the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. An operations coordinator was selected to establish protocols and priorities and recommend germplasm preservation program needs for that species.