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The conservation values of Yakutian Cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2011

U. Ovaska  and
K. Soini
U. Ovaska*
Affiliation:
MTT Economic Research, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
K. Soini
Affiliation:
MTT Economic Research, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland and University of Jyväskylä
*
Correspondence to: U. Ovaska, MTT Economic Research, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland. email: [email protected]
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Summary

The loss of biodiversity has become a major environmental issue during the course of the twentieth century. Numerous indigenous farm animal breeds have been replaced by commercial breeds in agricultural production processes in industrialized countries, sometimes resulting in complete breed loss and at other times placing the breed in an endangered status. Loss of breeds occurs mainly due to the striving for more intensive production, which often means that indigenous farm animal breeds are kept in conventional production only in marginal agricultural areas. One such endangered breed is the Yakutian Cattle, an indigenous Siberian cattle breed that is kept in the Russian Far East. The cattle have a low output but valuable characteristics that confer adaptation to the northern environment. This article addresses the socio-cultural and political context of conservation of the cattle at different levels in society. The conservation of animal genetic resources is embedded in the international agenda, and the Russian Federation has ratified conventions to protect them. The conservation is de facto organized at the republic level. The local communities carry out the conservation in practice by keeping and maintaining the cattle, although the conservation was initiated by the scientific community. We suggest that the conservation of Yakutian Cattle is based on national and local interests, rather than on global conventions on biological or cultural diversity. Furthermore, the reasons for conservation are different at different levels, which constitute both an advantage and a challenge for the future.

Résumé

Au cours du XXèmesiècle, la perte de la diversité biologique est devenue un problème d'environnement majeur. Dans les pays industrialisés, de nombreuses races indigènes d'animaux d’élevage ont été remplacées, dans les processus de production agricole, par des races commerciales. Ce remplacement a entraîné parfois la perte totale de la race et parfois la menace d'extinction. La raison principale de la perte des races est la recherche d'une production plus intensive. Cela signifie souvent que les races indigènes d'animaux d’élevage ne sont maintenues dans la production conventionnelle que dans les zones agricoles marginales. Un exemple de ces races en danger est représenté par les bovins de race yakoute, des bovins indigènes de la Sibérie qui sont élevés dans l'Extrême-Orient russe. Ces bovins ont un rendement faible, mais des caractéristiques précieuses qui les rendent tolérants aux conditions environnementales du nord. Cet article aborde le cadre socio-culturel et politique de la conservation des bovins aux différents niveaux de la société. La conservation des ressources zoogénétiques est inscrite aux programmes des conférences internationales, et la Fédération de Russie a ratifié les conventions qui les protègent. La conservation est de fait organisée au niveau de la république. Elle a été lancée par le milieu scientifique, mais les communautés locales la mettent en pratique, en élevant et en préservant les bovins. Nous suggérons que la conservation des bovins de race yakoute se base sur les intérêts nationaux et locaux, plutôt que sur les conventions mondiales en matière de diversité biologique ou culturelle. En outre, les raisons de la conservation sont distinctes aux différents niveaux, ce qui représente en même temps un avantage et un défi pour l'avenir.

Resumen

La pérdida de la biodiversidad se ha convertido en uno de los problemas medioambientales más importantes del siglo XX. Numerosas razas autóctonas de animales domésticos han sido reemplazadas por razas comerciales en los procesos de producción agrícola de los países industrializados, a veces, dando como resultado una pérdida completa de la misma y, otras, situándola al borde de la desaparición. La principal razón de la pérdida de razas es la lucha por una producción más intensiva, que, a menudo, va unida a una producción convencional con las razas autóctonas de animales domésticos, restringiendo a éstas y su cría a zonas agrícolas marginales. Una de estas razas en peligro de extinción es la raza bovina Yakutian, una raza autóctona de ganado siberiana que se mantiene en la zona más oriental de Rusia. La producción de este tipo de ganado es muy baja; sin embargo, posee características que le confieren una mejor adaptación al medio ambiente del norte. Este trabajo aborda el contexto socio-cultural y político de la conservación del ganado a diferentes niveles de la sociedad. La conservación de los recursos zooognéticos es un tema de calado en la agenda internacional, y la Federación Rusa ha ratificado las convenciones para la protección de los mismos. La conservación es de hecho organizada a nivel de república. Las comunidades locales llevan a cabo, en la práctica, la conservación y el mantenimiento del ganado, aunque la conservación se inició por la comunidad científica. Se apunta que la conservación del ganado de Yakutian se basa más en los intereses nacionales y locales, que en las convenciones mundiales sobre la diversidad biológica o cultural. Por lo tanto, las razones para la conservación son diferentes en los distintos niveles, constituyendo una ventaja y un reto de cara al futuro.

Keywords

animal genetic resourcesbiodiversity conservationcommunity-based managementindigenous breedssustainable community developmentconservation de la diversité biologiquedéveloppement communautaire durablegestion communautaireraces indigènesressources zoogénétiquesconservación de la biodiversidaddesarrollo sostenible de la comunidadgestión basada en la comunidadrazas autóctonasrecursos zoogenéticos
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 49 , December 2011 , pp. 97 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2011

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