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"
The so-called random shooting at the Montana borders is actually
eliminating or depleting entire maternal lineages, therefore
this action will cause an irreversible crippling of the gene
pool. Continued removal of genetic lineages will change the
genetic makeup of the herd, thus it will not represent the animal
of 1910 or earlier. It would be a travesty to have people look
back and say we were "idiots" for not understanding
the gene pool." Bison have developed a natural resistance
genetically as long as thay have enough to eat, limited stress
and are not consumed by other disease. There is no magic bullet
in wildlife disease, Therefore management is important. Vaccines
are one management tool and one component, but genetic structure
is neccessary for future management. Every animal which is removed
from the breeding population can no longer contribute to the
genetic variability of the herd."
Remarks made by Dr. Joe Templeton, Texas A& M University,
Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology, to the GYIBC on May 21, 1998.
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