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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

J.A. Woolliams ,
O. Matika  and
J. Pattison
J.A. Woolliams
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, United Kingdom
O. Matika
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, United Kingdom
J. Pattison
Affiliation:
Centre for African Studies, University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Studies, University of Edinburgh, 21 George Street, Edinburgh EH8 9LL, United Kingdom
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Summary

Livestock 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.

Résumé

La production animale se trouve face à des défis importants dus à la coïncidence de différents facteurs de changements, certains en évident conflit par rapport à leur orientation. C'est-à-dire:

1. Changement sans précédent de la demande au niveau mondial de produits traditionnels tels que la viande, le lait et les œufs.

2. Changements importants dans la distribution démographique et géographique de la demande.

3. Le besoin de réduire la pauvreté dans les communautés rurales en offrant un moyen d'existence durable.

4. L'émergence due à la possibilité de nouveaux produits de l'agriculture tels que le combustible biologique qui a un impact significatif sur les systèmes traditionnels de production.

5. Une majeure considération de la nécessité de réduire l'impact environnemental dû à la production animale.

6. L'incertitude sur le niveau et l'impact du changement climatique. Cet article étudie les défis du point de vue scientifique dans le cas d'une érosion sélective des ressources génétiques animales à large échelle. En conclusion, il existe plus que par le passé l'urgence d'assurer la disponibilité des ressources génétiques animales pour l'utilisation humaine à travers un programme mondial de conservation.

Resumen

La producción ganadera se enfrenta con importantes desafíos debido a la coincidencia de varios factores de cambio, algunos de los cuales en claro conflicto con respecto a su orientación. Estos son:

1. Un cambio sin precedentes en la demanda a nivel mundial de productos tradicionales tales come la carne, la leche y los huevos.

2. Importantes cambios en la distribución demográfica y geográfica de la demanda.

3. La necesidad de reducir la pobreza en las comunidades rurales ofreciendo una renta sostenible.

4. La emergencia debido a la posibilidad de nuevos productos de la agricultura tales como el combustible biológico que tienen un impacto significativo sobre los sistemas tradicionales de producción.

5. Una mayor conciencia de la necesidad de reducir el impacto ambiental debido a la producción ganadera.

6. La incertidumbre sobre el nivel y el impacto del cambio climático. Este artículo estudia estos desafíos desde un punto de vista científico en el caso de una amplia escala y erosión selectiva de los recursos zoogenéticos. En conclusión, existe más que nunca una fuerte y mayor urgencia de asegurar la disponibilidad de recursos zoogenéticos para uso humano a través un programa mundial de conservación.

Keywords

CryoconservationBreed erosionClimate changeGenomic revolutionManaging uncertaintyInbreedingSomatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 42 , April 2008 , pp. 71 - 85
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2008

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