The Society for the Study of Animal Breeding (SSAB) is one of the oldest non-territorial divisions of the British Veterinary Association; it held its first meeting in 1951. The SSAB was founded by members of the A-One club, a group of veterinary surgeons working in the Artificial Insemination industry. The objectives of the SSAB were defined as A; the advancement of scientific knowledge in all aspects of animal breeding, B; the promotion of fellowship and discussion on problems of common interest amongst those concerned with animal breeding. In order to maintain and stimulate those objectives the SSAB has not remained parochial, it encourages membership from all scientists and technicians interested in animal breeding and from overseas. Thus the SSAB provides the interface for the research scientist and veterinarian in practice.

The subject of the Society's first meeting was genital vibriosis in cattle, reflecting the importance of the disease. The SSAB has continued to be a forum for the discussion of current and even controversial topics, for example embryo transfer, controlled breeding, immunisation procedures in reproduction, AI, Contagious Equine Metritis and fertility control schemes. For this reason the BVA and many other bodies have consulted the SSAB for an expert opinion on proposed legislation and other aspects of animal breeding.

A measure of the diversity of interest within the Society is illustrated in a typical meeting programme. Where could you find at one venue topics as diverse as the assessment of stallion fertility and the use of progesterone assays to determine the time of calving, to canine intersexuality and the control of corpus luteum formation in farm animals, to aspects of the reproductive endocrinology of the Rhinoceros.

For the past 45 years the SSAB has provided a lively forum for anyone interested in animal breeding, and will continue to do so in the future.