Animal genetic resources underpin the livestock sector's production and profitability. As a result livestock industries contribute billions of dollars to national economies. The Animal Germplasm Resources Information Network (A-GRIN) mission is to acquire, evaluate and preserve these strategic resources so that industry and the research community can have access to a broad array of genetic variability for: national security, introduction of genetic variation, corrective breeding, and various research initiatives. There are three major technical components:

• Information Systems to better understand genetic diversity in the collection of germplasm and live populations.
• Genetic Evaluation - understanding genetic diversity for the collection of germplasm and live populations.
• Cryobiology, the discipline that enables the program to store gametes and various tissues at ultra-low temperatures (about -196°C).

In addition this program interacts with a wide range of livestock producers, researchers, and various industry representatives. Users can drill down to explore the germplasm collection by species, breed, line, and individual; compare taxonomies; find animals that meet their criteria to make a germplasm request.

• Resource Title: National Animal Germplasm Program Website.

  File Name: Web Page, url: https://agrin.ars.usda.gov/main_webpage_dev/ars?language=EN&record_source=US

  The Agricultural Research Service’s National Animal Germplasm Program operates a gene bank for livestock, aquatic, poultry and insect genetic resources. Exploring these pages you will find information concerning the genetic resources collection and other issues related to genetic resources and how the program operates.