Assessment of the impact of using cryopreserved rooster sperm from earlier generations on fertility and repopulation activities -- to conduct research that increases the capabilities of the national…

Assessment of the impact of using cryopreserved rooster sperm from earlier generations on fertility and repopulation activities -- to conduct research that increases the capabilities of the national animal germplasm program (nagp) to conserve and utilize chicken genetic resources. To that end, effective and efficient conservation requires understanding and/or use of live animal populations, genetics, cryopreservation, and information. The nagp addresses these genetic resource issues by the following elements: 1. Understanding the population dynamics of poultry breeds (both numerically and genetically). 2. Acquiring and storing cryopreserved germplasm (where possible) from food animal species. 3. Evaluating potential viability of germplasm in cryostorage as well as improving the efficacy of cryopreserving germplasm. Together, these 3 elements will be used to develop, optimize, and validate chicken assisted reproductive technologies and create a collection of secure genetic resources for U.S. Producers. The activities within this research will enable testing the efficacy and efficiency of using sample collected and stored in the national repository, testing their viability and fertility, determining the ability to transfer genotypes to subsequent generations, and then develop repopulation models from these activites.