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European approaches to conservation of farm animal genetic resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

D.L. Simon
D.L. Simon
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Buenteweg 17p, 30559 Hanover, Germany
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Summary

Based on several sources of information an overview has been given on the development, present situation and problems of conservation of animal genetic resources in Europe.

Presently, 1 029 breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and asses are registered by the EAAP-Animal Genetic Data Bank, Hanover. 42.8 % of the breeds are classified as being ‘at risk’. More than 360 conservation programmes are underway, which, however, in many cases seem to be operated independently of the status of endangerment and of similar breeds in other countries.

The primary objectives of conservation in Europe, i.e. ‘conservation for potential use, later’ and ‘conservation for cultural reasons’, are different from the objective ‘conservation for sustainable use, now’, which is primarily expressed for developing countries. Different objectives call for different answers to questions, such as: are breeds appropriate units of genetic diversity, how should endangerment be defined, what should be conserved and is incrossing and selection compatible with conservation?

In view of the large number of breeds ‘at risk’ and of similar breeds existing in different countries as well as the high costs of conservation it is concluded that characterisation of breeds for genetic uniqueness is presently the most urgent task in conservation. This requires effective co-operation across national borders in Europe.

Résumé

Sur la base de différentes sources d'information on présente une révision sur le développement, la situation actuelle et les problèmes de la conservation des ressources génétiques animales en Europe.

Actuellement 1 029 races de bovins, ovins, caprins, porcins et équins sont enregistrés dans la Base de Données sur les Ressources Génétiques Animales de la FEZ à Hannover. Parmi ces races, 42,8% sont classées dans la catégorie “à risque”. En ce moment plus de 360 programmes de conservation sont en oeuvre, cependant, dans plusieurs des cas, ils semblent opérer indépendemment du niveau de danger de disparition et de la présence des mêmes races dans díautres pays.

Les objectifs principaux de la conservation en Europe, tels que “la conservation pour l'utilisation potentielle future” et “la conservation pour des raisons culturelles”, sont bien différents des objectifs de “conservation pour l'utilisation durable actuellement” présentés comme prioritaires par les pays en voie de développement. Les différents objectifs mènent à différentes réponses aux questions telles que: Est-ce que les races sont des unités appropriées pour la diversité génétique? Comment pourrait-on définir le niveau de danger? Que devrait-on conserver et est-ce que le croisement et la sélection sont compatible avec la conservation?

Etant donné le nombre de races “àrisque” et la présence de ces mêmes races dans d'autres pays, ainsi que le coût élevé de la conservation, on conclu que la caractérisation des races dans le seul but génétique est actuellement le thème plus urgent de la conservation. Ceci nécessite d'une coopération effective entre tous les pays européens.

Keywords

Genetic diversityFarm animalsEndangermentConservation programmesObjectivesEurope
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 25 , April 1999 , pp. 77 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1999

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