There is an urgent need to document the diversity of our livestock genetic resources and to design strategies for their sustainable conservation and the main objective of this review is to exploring.
The world watch list for domestic animal diversity documents more than 6 300 breeds and 7616 breeds of livestock belonging to 30 domesticated species. These breeds were developed following domestication and natural and human selection over the past 12 000 years. The current number of breeds is likely an underestimation since a large proportion of indigenous livestock populations of the developing world, where most animal genetic resources are found today; have yet to be described at phenotypic and genetic levels. The predominant species include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, horses and buffalo.
Several other domesticated animals like camels, donkeys, elephants, reindeer and rabbits are also valuable to different regions of the world. Cattle, sheep, chickens, are predominantly found all over the world, while goats and pigs are less uniformly distributed. Livestock populations have evolved a unique adaptation to their agricultural production system and agro ecological environments. Their genetic diversity has provided the material for the very successful breeding improvement programmes of the developed world in the 19th and 20th century. This represents a unique resource to respond to the present and future needs of livestock production, both in developed and developing countries. Recognizes The well importance of animal production for food security and rural livelihoods and particularly AnGR supply over 30% of total human requirements for food and agriculture and contribute to the livelihood of 70% of the world’s rural poor. However, the purposes of raising livestock go beyond their direct output functions and include other significant economic and cultural roles. These include savings, insurance, cyclical buffering, accumulation and diversification, as well as various cultural roles related to status and the obligations of their owners.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Livestock and Biodiversity
2.2 The Importance and values of Animal Genetic Resources [AnGR]
2.3 Status and Trends of AnGR erosion and endangered Species
2.4 Status of endangerment of breeds and indicators
2. 5 the driving factors for AnGR erosion and the consequences
2.5.1 Methods of breeding strategies undertaken by the Livestock keepers / breeders
2.5.2 The climate and the Altitude
2.5.3 Infectious Diseases
2.6 Loss of farm animal genetic diversity and Genetic drift
2.7 Current State of AnGR and Extinction
3. Conservation strategies
3.1 Objectives for AnGR conservation
3.1. The breeds to conserve, priorities, and Categorization of Conservation
3.2 Priorities among strategies of active conservation
4. Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources
5. Conclusions and future scenarios
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this review is to explore the causes and consequences of the rapid erosion of animal genetic resources (AnGR) and to discuss sustainable conservation strategies necessary to prevent further loss of biodiversity in livestock populations globally.
- The role of livestock biodiversity in maintaining resilient agricultural production systems.
- Economic and cultural values of animal genetic resources for food security and rural livelihoods.
- Driving factors of genetic erosion, including climate change, infectious diseases, and intensive breeding practices.
- Methodological frameworks for prioritizing and implementing in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies.
- Global policy initiatives and future scenarios for the management of farm animal genetic diversity.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Livestock and Biodiversity
Biodiversity is considered to form the very basis of life on earth. The importance of biological diversity is for evolution and for maintaining life sustaining systems of the biosphere.” They affirm that “the conservation of biological diversity is a common concern of humankind” and that they are “aware that conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is of critical importance for meeting the food, health and other needs of the growing world population.” The Conference of the Parties (COP) Decision IV/10 acknowledges that “economic valuation of biodiversity and biological resources is an important tool for well-targeted and calibrated economic incentive measures.
Consistent with this is a view of biodiversity as insurance in the face of uncertainty. Because the value of biodiversity is not completely captured in markets, its conservation is often at loss in comparison to land-use developments for market goods and access. As some papers have recently outlined (e.g. Costanza et al., 1998; Norton et al., 1998), the natural capital is the very foundation of economics. In this perspective, valuing biodiversity is important because it makes markets and economics commensurate with the actual functioning of the world.
On the other hand, with regard to specific to livestock biodiversity, Livestock species are unlikely at danger of extinction themselves. The level of biodiversity which is of concern here is that of breeds and even populations within breeds. In fact, within- breed diversity account for 50 to 70% of total genetic variance (Hammond and Leitch, 1996). In the case of livestock, the anthropogenic impact on biodiversity is often the most important one, through controlled reproduction and selection, as well as introgression and production decisions impacting the demography of livestock populations.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the status of livestock diversity, highlighting the value of animal genetic resources for food security and the rapid rate of breed loss.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW: Examines the theoretical foundations of livestock biodiversity, the causes of genetic erosion, and the economic rationale for conservation efforts.
3. Conservation strategies: Evaluates different conservation approaches, distinguishing between in-situ and ex-situ methods and detailing priority-setting mechanisms.
4. Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources: Details the framework established by the FAO for promoting the sustainable management and conservation of genetic resources globally.
5. Conclusions and future scenarios: Summarizes the major drivers of genetic erosion and outlines future challenges, including the impact of globalization, climate change, and biotechnology on livestock diversity.
Keywords
Animal Genetic Resources, AnGR, Biodiversity, Livestock, Genetic Erosion, Conservation Strategies, In-situ Conservation, Ex-situ Conservation, Food Security, Rare Breeds, Genetic Diversity, Sustainability, Indigenous Breeds, Breed Extinction, Sustainable Breeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this publication?
This work provides a comprehensive review of the current status of animal genetic resources (AnGR), addressing the causes of their erosion and evaluating strategies for their conservation.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The text focuses on the importance of livestock biodiversity for food security, the diverse economic and cultural values of AnGR, and the identification of threats such as breed replacement, habitat change, and infectious diseases.
What is the main objective of the author?
The primary goal is to highlight the urgent need for documentation and sustainable management of livestock genetic resources to counteract the high rates of breed loss identified by the FAO.
What scientific methods are utilized in this review?
The document relies on a comprehensive literature review, synthesizing data from FAO global assessments, peer-reviewed economic and biological studies, and policy frameworks related to biodiversity.
What does the main body of the text focus on?
The main body covers the status and trends of genetic erosion, the specific factors contributing to the decline of indigenous breeds, and a detailed analysis of in-situ versus ex-situ conservation strategies.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include AnGR, genetic erosion, livestock biodiversity, conservation strategies, indigenous breeds, and food security.
Why are local or indigenous breeds considered particularly significant?
Local breeds often possess unique, evolved traits for resilience, disease resistance, and adaptation to marginal environments, making them vital buffers in the face of climate uncertainty.
What role does the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) play in these findings?
The CBD establishes the international framework for prioritizing conservation, specifically advocating for in-situ conservation as the preferred method to maintain breeds within their native environments.
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- Feyisa Lemessa (Autor:in), 2023, Animal Genetics Erosion, Endangerment, Extinctions and Conservation Strategies, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1394630
