I received this letter some weeks ago from an ambitious young lad involved in agriculture. We need more Heath McPhersons.
Hello Jack,
I hope all is well in Texas. Recently I have been gearing up for a presentation to my animal ethics class about the handling of Autosomal Recessive Genetic Defects in Beef Cattle of the United States. Along with my rekindled interest in studying genetic defects, the project has kicked up an idea that I had quite some time ago. It is this idea that I would like to discuss with you. On the discussion board that I got your contact information, you had posted something to the effect that you don't rub elbows with the right crowd to bring about significant change through your findings. I have too often found that cattle breeders tend to feel out of the loop of influence when it comes to genetic defect incidences. I would like to give those breeders a resource in which they can confide in to gain knowledge about specific genetic defect incidences and give them a resounding voice to their breed associations. My idea is the foundation of a network of breeders, marketers, geneticists,and animal practioners in which address genetic defect issues, problems, and cases and work with breed associations to resolve genetic defect incidences.
The purpose of such an organization would be to centralize and verify genetic defect information, centralize genetic defect reporting (non-breed specific), standardize a code of conduct for genetic defect resolution, support research (by added manpower, fund raising, and collection of genetic materials), documentation of genetic defect cases (to preserve history), provide education to stakeholders (through training programs), protect the rights of breeders (through advising and assisting discussion board owners/operators and concerned stakeholders), strengthen communications of stakeholders (by bridging the gaps between breed associations and breeders or other associations), assist breeders in drafting a genetic defect plan (to aid in genetic defect prevention, resolution of current cases, and/or customer protection plan), promoting genetic diversity, to lobby for resonable and effective genetic defect policy, and developing incentives for reporting of affected calves and genetic defect carriers. There are probably more objectives that could be added to the list, that I have recently overlooked.
I believe such an organization could free breed associations from certain liabilities and add response time to genetic defect problems, minimizing their effects on breed economics and politics. It would also allow developing or struggling breed associations to develop a strong genetic defect policy without exhausting needed resources. It would raise the awareness of genetic defect policy among breeders of their respected breeds, therefore reducing panic and adding effeciency and effectiveness to resolution of specific cases.
My only concern is that I don't have any idea of how to organize this organization in a way that would preserve it's credibility over time, allowing for an impartial, non-conflicted staff or membership body. While the idea is idealistic it is, I believe, in fact practical. But it is an idea that needs alot of work.
As of current my idea for a name for such a group is "The L.P. McCann Institute," in which it would exemplify the objectives of the past Hereford Association Director of Research, which published The Battle of Bull Runts: Overcoming Dwarfism . Attatched to this email is a logo that I designed for the proposed group. If you don't mind please provide feedback on what you think of the idea; or ideas that you have for creating or maintaining such a group. Also if you would like feel free to forward this around or discuss the idea with others to obtain feedback from other individuals.
As always I enjoy visiting with you!
Heath McPherson