| Genetic
conservation
During the 2001 Foot & Mouth
Disease scare the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, in conjunction
with the Belted Galloway Society, added a Belted Galloway genetic pool
to the gene bank started in 1986 to insure continuation of our genetics
in case of disaster. The parameters of the conservation project are:
(1) 10 unrelated bull
lines which are 5 or more generations pure. ‘Unrelated’ is defined as having
no grandparents in common.
(2) Contributions of 50 ampules
of semen per bull to ALBC are sought, as well as individual embryos.
(3) Donations of Belted Galloway
embryos are sought.
(4) Donors will receive charitable
contribution letters for tax purposes.
(5) Genetic material will be
held for long-term emergency use with donors having first use of the pool.

Steven Silberberg (NH) coordinated
efforts toward conservation of Belted Galloway genetics. Straws pledged
to the bank are held in several locations at breeders’ services such as
North American and Genex. Any Beltie breeder interested in supporting ALBC’s
conservation efforts may contact Steven at (603) 472-2205 or hhf18@aol.com. |