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.