244. Development and utilization of the United States gene bank collection

Abstract

A large and substantial collection genetic resources, exceeding 59,000 animals and over 1.15 million samples, has been acquired by the national gene bank. Approximately 11,000 animals from the collection have been used for reconstituting genetic diversity and genomic studies. As an example, previous research showed in situU.S. Holstein had only two different ancestral Y chromosome linages. It was determined two additional Y Chromosome linages were present in the gene bank and they were reintroduced to the in situpopulation. Reintroducing these two lost Y chromosomes from collection animals representing 1950’s genetics illustrated how the collection can be used to address contracting genetic diversity, like limited Y chromosomes. The relatively high PTA measures for net merit and daughter lactation performance suggest gene bank collections may have broader uses than originally thought. Challenges still exist to increase gene bank collection use and to better quantify the diversity captured.