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A common base population of White Leghorn was "synthesized" for a joint project on the genetics of egg-laying, undertaken by animal breeding geneticists in 4 Scandinavian countries. After 6 to 7 generations of line selection for various egg-laying parameters, MHC typing was undertaken of both the selection lines in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden and the respective control lines representing the common base population. Ten MHC haplotypes were defined which jointly accounted for about 95% of the MHC gene pool of the base population. The 2 haplotypes which were predominant in the base population, B15 and B19, responded very differently to the selection pressures applied.

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1. Two-way selection was performed in a White Leghorn population for percentage residual food consumption, defined as the percentage deviation of the observed from the expected food consumption. Expected food consumption was estimated using a multiple regression equation including weight gain, egg production and metabolic body size as independent variables. 2. Three selection lines were established from a common population, two low lines and one high line. In addition, one control line was kept. The generation interval was one year and the experiment lasted for 4 generations. 3. The direct selection response was considerable and the realised heritability was close to 0.5. Food intake and food conversion (FCR) were lower in the low lines than in the high line. 4. The correlated selection responses showed no phenotypic or genetic correlations between percentage residual food consumption and egg production, but one of the low lines had a heavier adult body weight than the high line. No undesirable correlated responses were observed.

The Nordic Council of ministers decided in 1979 to finance a working party for coordinating the Nordic Animal-Gene Banks (NAGBs). This party has five members, one from each Nordic country and a part-time secretary. The working party has been in contact with several other researchers and institutions and is represented in the corresponding European working party. These links have provided possibilities for fruitful commication. on the initiative of the working party, the agricultural ministries reported on the national situation in their respective countries (maiiala et al., 1986). overall responsibility is considered as an official task. EacF- Kirnistry of Agriculture, in cooperation with other ministries, is responsible for animal conservation. That includes providing necessary investment funds and covering the operating expenses of gene banks.