Conservation of animal genetic resources: approaches and technologies for in situ and ex situ conservation

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 71-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Woolliams ◽  
O. Matika ◽  
J. Pattison
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
The Face ◽  
Livestock Products

SummaryLivestock production faces major challenges through the coincidence of major drivers of change, some with conflicting directions. These are:1. An unprecedented global change in demands for traditional livestock products such as meat, milk and eggs.2. Large changes in the demographic and regional distribution of these demands.3. The need to reduce poverty in rural communities by providing sustainable livelihoods.4. The possible emergence of new agricultural outputs such as bio-fuels making a significant impact upon traditional production systems.5. A growing awareness of the need to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production.6. The uncertainty in the scale and impact of climate change. This paper explores these challenges from a scientific perspective in the face of the large-scale and selective erosion of our animal genetic resources, and concludes thai there is a stronger and more urgent need than ever before to secure the livestock genetic resources available to humankind through a comprehensive global conservation programme.

Integrating policies for the management of animal genetic resources with demand for livestock products and environmental sustainability

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.D. Blackburn
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Livestock Products

SummaryGlobal recognition of the need to conserve animal genetic resources comes at a time when the livestock sector faces significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for livestock products and the mitigation of negative environmental impacts caused by livestock. In developing regions it would seem that portions of the growing demand for livestock products are being met by increasing animal numbers instead of achieving increases in production efficiency. Concurrently, extensive grazing and mixed crop-livestock production systems are largely responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of environmental degradation. Under the growing demand and environmental sustainability rubric there exists a need to garner maximum benefit from diverse animal genetic resources. These three areas; growing demand on animal products, environmental issues, and conservation of AnGR form a nexus that national policies must simultaneously consider. To advance this integration, a policy framework is proposed that consists of incentives to produce, a secure resource base (e.g., genetic resources, land tenure) and access to markets for outputs and inputs including technology. Within this framework a set of potential policies are suggested that promote conservation, livestock sector growth and environmental sustainability.

Dynamics of livestock production systems, drivers of change and prospects for animal genetic resources

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 3-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Seré ◽  
A. van der Zijpp ◽  
G. Persley ◽  
E. Rege
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Global Public Good ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
Global Drivers

SummaryThis overview analyses the key drivers of change in the global livestock sector and assesses how they are influencing current trends and future prospects in the world's diverse livestock production systems and market chains; and what are their consequent impacts on the management of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. The trends are occurring in both developing and industrialized countries, but the responses are different. In the developing world, the trends are affecting the ability of livestock to contribute to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty as well as the use of natural resources. In the industrialized world, the narrowing animal genetic resource base in industrial livestock production systems raises the need to maintain a broader range of animal genetic resources to be able to deal with future uncertainties, such as climate change and zoonotic diseases.This chapter discusses:• What are the global drivers of change for livestock systems? Economic development and globalization; changing market demands and the “livestock revolution”; environmental impacts including climate change; and science and technology trends.• How are the livestock production systems responding to the global drivers of change? Trends in the three main livestock production systems (industrial, crop-livestock and pastoral systems); the range and rate of changes occurring in different systems and how these affect animal genetic resources. The implications are that breeds cannot adapt in time to meet new circumstances. Hence new strategies and interventions are necessary to improve the management of animal genetic resources in situations where these genetic resources are most at risk.• What are the implications for animal genetic resources diversity and for future prospects of their use? - Industrial livestock production systems are expected to have a limited demand for biodiversity, while crop-livestock and pastoral systems will rely on biodiversity to produce genotypes of improved productivity under changing environmental and socio-economic conditions. All systems will rely on biodiversity, albeit to varying degrees, to cope with expected climate change.• What immediate steps are possible to improve animal genetic resources characterization, use and conservation? Appropriate institutional and policy frameworks are required to improve animal genetic resources management and these issues are being addressed at national and intergovernmental levels, in a process led by FAO to promote greater international collaboration on animal genetic resources. Based on an analysis of the current situation, the continuing loss of indigenous breeds and new developments in science and technology, there are several complementary actions that can begin to improve the management of animal genetic resources and maintain future options in an uncertain world.These are summarized here as:a. “Keep it on the hoof” - Encouraging the continuing sustainable use of traditional breeds and in situ conservation by providing market-driven incentives, public policy and This paper has benefited from inputs from several reviewers and other contributors, and we thank all for their thoughtful insights. We acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues at FAO, particularly Irene Hoffmann, Dafydd Pilling and Henning Steinfeld, and at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): Ade Freeman, Mario Herrero, Olivier Hanotte, Steve Kemp, Sandy McClintock, Sara McClintock, Margaret MacDonald-Levy, Susan MacMillan, Grace Ndungu, An Notenbaert, Mwai Okeyo and Robin Reid. other support to enable livestock keepers to maintain genetic diversity in their livestock populations.b. “Move it or lose it” - Enabling access to and the safe movement of animal genetic resources within and between countries, regions and continents is a key factor in use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources globally.c. “Match breeds to environments” - Understanding the match between livestock populations, breeds and genes with the physical, biological and economic landscape. This “landscape livestock genomics” approach offers the means to predict the genotypes most appropriate to a given environment and, in the longer term, to understand the genetic basis of adaptation of the genotype to the environment.d. “Put some in the bank” — New technologies make ex situ, in vitro conservation of animal genetic resources feasible for critical situations and are a way to provide long-term insurance against future shocks.The multiple values, functions and consequences of livestock production systems and their rapid rate of change lead to divergent interests within and between countries. Conversely, the uncertainty about the implications of rapid, multifaceted global change for each livestock production system and the resulting future changes in the required genetic make-up of animal genetic resources make collective action to tackle conservation of animal genetic resources a long-term, global public good. Conserving animal genetic resources will not by itself solve these problems, but it is an important first step towards maintaining future options.Advances in science and the technology, in areas such as reproductive technology, genomics and spatial analysis, as well as progress in conceptualization of global public good production for the future management of animal genetic resources, should enable the international community to address both the short- and long-term challenges in innovative ways.

Establishing a National Focal Point for farm animal genetic resources in South Africa

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
K. Ramsay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
South African ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Farm Animal ◽  
National Committee ◽  
The South ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
Farm Animal Genetic Resources

SummaryThe recent call from FAO to take part in the process of preparing the First Report on the State of the World Animal Genetic Resources (SoW) stressed the need to develop management capacity at country level to facilitate the preparation of country reports (CRs). A key role is played by the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the National Coordinators (NCs).A national workshop was held in South Africa in 1998 and a National Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FanGR) was established. The existing Indigenous Livestock Committee was reviewed and adapted to make it more focused on the management of FAnGR. At the same time a National Coordinator was also identified and the Animal Improvement Institute was nominated as national coordinating institute for FAnGR.The collaboration with some NGOs was strongly suggested, particularly with:a) the Farm Animal Conservation Trust (FACT), to assist with the conservation of farm animal genetic resources. This NGO was modelled on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in the United Kingdom and on Rare Breeds International (RBI)b) The South African Stud Book and Livestock Improvement Association (SASB) andc) many Rural Communities and National and Provincial animal genetic resource centresThe institutional frame for AnGR conservation in South Africa is briefly described, together with the aims of the South African conservation activities.

scholarly journals Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1554) ◽  
pp. 2853-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip K. Thornton
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Future Production ◽  
The Future ◽  
Livestock Products

The livestock sector globally is highly dynamic. In developing countries, it is evolving in response to rapidly increasing demand for livestock products. In developed countries, demand for livestock products is stagnating, while many production systems are increasing their efficiency and environmental sustainability. Historical changes in the demand for livestock products have been largely driven by human population growth, income growth and urbanization and the production response in different livestock systems has been associated with science and technology as well as increases in animal numbers. In the future, production will increasingly be affected by competition for natural resources, particularly land and water, competition between food and feed and by the need to operate in a carbon-constrained economy. Developments in breeding, nutrition and animal health will continue to contribute to increasing potential production and further efficiency and genetic gains. Livestock production is likely to be increasingly affected by carbon constraints and environmental and animal welfare legislation. Demand for livestock products in the future could be heavily moderated by socio-economic factors such as human health concerns and changing socio-cultural values. There is considerable uncertainty as to how these factors will play out in different regions of the world in the coming decades.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF CONSERVING ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES

1984 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Smith
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
International Action ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Face

SUMMARYThe methods of preserving animal genetic resources and the benefits and disadvantages are reviewed. The economic value of preserving germplasm in the face of uncertain needs and opportunities for use in the future is calculated. The conclusion is that the benefits greatly exceed the costs, and in many conditions in developing countries it would be desirable both to preserve and to improve indigenous breeds. International action is desirable to maximize efficiency and minimize risk.

The use of ex situ conserved plant genetic resources

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Hodgkin ◽  
V. Ramanatha Rao ◽  
Angélica Cibrian-Jaramillo ◽  
Samy Gaiji
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Recent Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Barriers To Use ◽  
The Many

AbstractPlant genetic resources are conserved so that they can be used to improve crop plant pro- duction and in other ways. However, it is often asserted that use of ex situ conserved germplasm is inadequate and that genetic diversity maintained in genebanks is underutilized. In part, this reflects an incomplete recognition of what constitutes use of plant genetic resources, and of the many different ways in which material from genebanks contributes to improved agricultural production. Based on recent information from surveys of distribution of germplasm from genebanks, and from surveys of users, we suggest that the evidence indicates that there is substantial use of ex situ conserved materials for a wide range of different uses. We suggest that barriers to use of ex situ conserved germplasm may often result from a lack in numbers of users, and from limitations in capacity to effectively utilize the genetic diversity present in genebanks to reduce genetic vulnerability and increase sustainability in modern production systems.

scholarly journals A framework for selectively breeding corals for assisted evolution

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Humanes ◽  
John Bythell ◽  
Elizabeth Beauchamp ◽  
Mitch Carl ◽  
Jamie Craggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Acropora Digitifera ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
The Face

AbstractCoral cover on tropical reefs has declined during the last three decades due to the combined effects of climate change, destructive fishing, pollution, and land use change. Drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions combined with effective coastal management and conservation strategies are essential to slow this decline. Innovative approaches, such as selective breeding for adaptive traits combined with large-scale sexual propagation, are being developed with the aim of pre-adapting reefs to increased ocean warming. However, there are still major gaps in our understanding of the technical and methodological constraints to producing corals for such restoration interventions. Here we propose a framework for selectively breeding corals and rearing them from eggs to 2.5-year old colonies using the coral Acropora digitifera as a model species. We present methods for choosing colonies for selective crossing, enhancing early survivorship in ex situ and in situ nurseries, and outplanting and monitoring colonies on natal reefs. We used a short-term (7-day) temperature stress assay to select parental colonies based on heat tolerance of excised branches. From six parental colonies, we produced 12 distinct crosses, and compared survivorship and growth of colonies transferred to in situ nurseries or outplanted to the reef at different ages. We demonstrate that selectively breeding and rearing coral colonies is technically feasible at small scales and could be upscaled as part of restorative assisted evolution initiatives. Nonetheless, there are still challenges to overcome before selective breeding can be implemented as a viable conservation tool, especially at the post-settlement and outplanting phases. Although interdisciplinary approaches will be needed to overcome many of the challenges identified in this study, selective breeding has the potential to be a viable tool within reef managers’ toolbox to support the persistence of selected reefs in the face of climate change.

scholarly journals Assessment of livestock components in crop-livestock production systems in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 101-113
Author(s):  
A. O. Sosina ◽  
O. J. Babayemi
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
The Government

The contribution of livestock in the livelihood activities to the farmers' household income is critical to food security in Nigeria. Against there is a paucity of information on the assessment of livestock components in integration production systems. The study tries to investigate the livestock component in the crop-livestock production system in Ido Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to elicit information from purposively selected 225 respondents with the Participatory Rural Appraisal method. Parameters measured were biodata, wealth status, average livestock holding/household (TLU), seasonality. Qualitative and quantitative data collected through questionnaire were transcribed into the Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) Excel macro program (www.ilri.org/feast) and were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The respondents' categories (%) landless, small, medium and large scale were 10, 42, 30, and 18, respectively. The average livestock holding/household (TLU) values were 0.08, 0.33, 0.37, 4.96, 5.68, 14.40, 28.80, and 67.68 poultry, sheep, goat, indigenous (female dairy calves, male calves, dairy heifers, dairy lactating cows, and dry dairy cows), respectively. The average livestock species holding/household values of 121.53, 10.50, 5.00, and 15.20 for indigenous dairy cattle, WAD goat, WAD sheep, and indigenous poultry, respectively. The average area of land put to the cultivation of these fodders was 8.80, 2.40, 0.80, 0.80, 0.40, and 0.30, respectively. The contribution of livelihood activities to household income (%) was livestock (60), agriculture (20), business (10), remittances (5), labor (3), and others (2). It can be concluded that since Ido LGA is an oasis for crop and livestock production enterprises due to the available quality and quantity of feed resources -FEAST can assist the government in policy formulation.     La contribution du bétail aux activités de subsistance au revenu des ménages des agriculteurs est essentielle à la sécurité alimentaire au Nigéria. Par contre, il y a un manqué d'informations sur l'évaluation des composants de l'élevage dans les systèmes de production d'intégration. L'étude tente d'étudier la composante élevage dans le système de production de cultures et de bétail dans la zone de gouvernement local d'Ido (le 'LGA') de l'État d'Oyo. Une technique d'échantillonnage à plusieurs degrés a été utilisée pour obtenir des informations auprès de 225 répondants sélectionnés à dessein avec la méthode d'évaluation rurale participative. Les paramètres mesurés étaient les données biologiques, l'état de richesse, la moyenne des exploitations / ménages, la saisonnalité. Les données qualitative et quantitatives collectées par le biais du questionnaire ont été transcrites dans le programme macro Excel de l'Outil d'évaluation de l'alimentation (le 'FEAST') (www.ilri.org/feast) et ont été analysées avec des statistiques descriptives. L'échelle était de 10, 42, 30 et 18, respectivement. Les valeurs moyennes des exploitations / ménages étaient de 0.08, 0.33, 0.37, 4.96, 5.68, 14.40, 28.80 et 67.68 volailles, ovins, caprins, indigènes (veaux laitiers femelles, veaux mâles, génisses laitières, vaches laitières en lactation, et vaches laitières séchées), respectivement. Les valeurs moyennes des espèces d'élevage / ménage sont respectivement de 121.53, 10.50, 5.00 et 15.20 pour les bovins laitiers indigènes, les chèvres WAD, les moutons WAD et la volaille indigène. La superficie moyenne des terres consacrée à la culture de ces fourrages était de 8.80, 2.40, 0.80, 0.80, 0.40 et 0.30, respectivement. La contribution des activités de subsistance au revenu des ménages (%) était l'élevage (60), l'agriculture (20), les affaires (10), les envois de fonds (5), la main-d'oeuvre (3) et autres (2). On peut en conclure que puisque la zone de gouvernement local d'Ido est une oasis pour les entreprises de production agricole et animale en raison de la qualité et de la quantité disponibles des ressources fourragères –le FEAST peut aider le gouvernement dans la formulation des politiques.

scholarly journals Livestock resources and their conservation facing climate change

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Moisés Morales-Crispín ◽  
Cesáreo Landeros-Sánchez ◽  
Rodolfo Canseco-Sedano ◽  
Juan Prisciliano Zárate-Martínez ◽  
Carlos Miguel Becerril-Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Tropical Zone ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Livestock Breeding ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Local Race

Objective: To analyze the importance of local livestock resources facing climate change. Methodology: A review of studies referenced in scientific databases disclosed in the livestock sector and animal genetic resources was made within the context of climate change. Results: Livestock breeding is an economic activity that contributes to the food security of the country; in view of its importance, technologies and necessary changes to perform this according to the accelerated changes that occur in the environment, brought by human activity, should be implemented. Implications: Using highly productive races that depend on external inputs and are not adapted to face the effects of climate change, make it a priority to appraise the use of local races that contribute to production under adverse conditions that prevail in warm weathers in the inter-tropical zone. Conclusions: Adapted local race breeders should preserve local animal genetic resources so that they perform as a climate change adaptation alternative that will have repercussions on livestock production systems.

scholarly journals What's on the menu? Options for strengthening the policy and regulatory framework for the exchange, use and conservation of animal genetic resources

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Hiemstra ◽  
A.G. Drucker ◽  
M.W. Tvedt ◽  
N. Louwaars ◽  
J.K. Oldenbroek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Intellectual Property Rights ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Animal Genetic Resources ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Special Circumstances

SummaryThis paper addresses major issues and challenges for Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) and the livestock sector, as well as options for further development of policies or regulatory approaches. Three main areas were identified, i) how we can halt the further erosion of genetic diversity and promote sustainable breeding and use, ii) whether there is a need to regulate the exchange of genetic material and iii) how to balance different systems of rights (e.g. sovereign rights of nations, intellectual property rights, communal rights or rights of livestock keepers).To halt further erosion, complementary ex-situ and in-situ conservation approaches are needed and breeding and marketing of local breeds should be strengthened. Secondly, recognizing the importance of the exchange of AnGR, broad access and responsible and equitable exchange mechanisms should be further promoted. Thirdly, regarding intellectual property rights, there is a need to adapt the application of the patent system to the special circumstances inherent in animal breeding. Moreover, possible sui generis systems should be further explored in order to better balance different rights systems.Rather than developing a new or adapted internationally legally binding framework, the intergovernmental process under FAO may instead wish to focus, in the first instance, on the development of voluntary instruments to strengthen national policies and the implementation of action at national levels.Debates and developments related to international agreements in the crop sector have also tended to frame the debate for AnGR. However, before launching into a discussion on whether or not an ‘FAO Animal Treaty’ would be needed, one should first of all clarify the problems to be dealt with and regulated via an international regime.

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