Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T06:36:34.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A ROLE FOR FERAL MAMMALS IN CONSERVING THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF LIVESTOCK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

M.R. Rudge
M.R. Rudge
Affiliation:
Ecology Division, DSIR Private Bag, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Get access

Summary

The rationale for conserving breeds of livestock may be extended to free-living populations which are descended from domestic stock (= feral). An important management difference is that feral animals are not maintained as fixed breeds, but are free to vary and adapt. Many feral populations are pests, and threaten the status of native flora and fauna. This means that they continue to diminish as a result of control operations. Nevertheless, some populations and herds of goats, cattle, horses, sheep and pigs have now been protected. Positive values of commercial and scientific Interest are emerging as animals of feral extraction are studied. Further work is needed to assess the contribution that feral animals can make to the cause of conserving genetic diversity in the world's livestock.

Resume

Le principe de la conservation des races de bétail peut atre étendu aux populations vivant en liberté qul descendent d'anlmaux domestiques (animaux retournés A l'état sauvage). Ils se distinguent essentiellement par le fait qu'il ne s'agit pas de races fixes, mais capables de varier et de s'adapter. Nombre de ces populations sont nuisibles et constituent une menace pour la faune et la flore locales. C'est pourquoi leurs effectifs ne cessent de diminuer à la suite d'opérations de contrble. Néanmoins, plusieurs populations et troupeaux de caprins, bovins, équins, ovins et porccins sont maintenant protégés. A mesure que l'on étudie de plus près les animaux retournés à l'état sauvage, on s'aperqoit qu'ils présentent on grand intérèt sur le plan commercial et scientifique. Un complement d'étude est nécessaire pour évaluer la contribution que ces animaux pourraient apporter à la conservation de la diversité génétique du cheptel mondial.

Resume

Los fundamentos de la conservación de las razas de ganado pueden extenderse a las poblaciones descendientes del ganado doméstico que vive en libertad (asilvestradas). Una diferencia Importante de la ordenación es que los animales asilvestrados no se mantienen como razas fijas, sino que pueden variar o adaptarse libremente. Muchas de las poblaciones asilvestradas constituyen plagas, y son una amenaza para las condiciones de la flora y fauna nativas. Esto significa que contengan disminuyendo, como consecuencla de operaciones de lucha. No obstante, en la actualidad se protegen algunas poblaciones y rebanos de cabras, ganado vacuno, caballos, ovejas y cerdos. A medida que se estudian los animales asilvestrados, van surgiendo valores positives de interés comercial y cientifico. Son precisos nuevos estudios para evaluar la posible contribución de los animales asilvestrados a la conservación de la diversidad genética del ganado del mundo.

Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 5 , April 1986 , pp. 9 - 25
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alderson, L. 1978. The chance to survive: rare breeds in a changing world. Cameron and Tayleur, London. 192p.Google Scholar
Anon, . 1972. Bantengs, a new source of genes. Turnoff 4(l): 6–8.Google Scholar
Batten, G.J. 1979. Controlling scrub weeds with goats. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture 139(4): 31–32.Google Scholar
Bigham, M.L. and Cockrem, F.R. 1982. Feral sheep: have they any value? New Zealand Journal of Agriculture 144(3): 3–4.Google Scholar
Bourne, W.R.P. 1975. Mammals on Islands. New Scientist 67, 963: 422–425.Google Scholar
Bowman, J.C. 1981. Conservation of farm animals. Biologist 28(4): 186–193.Google Scholar
Campbell, M.H., Holst, P.J., Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. 1979. Control of three pasture weeds using goats. Proceedings of the 7th Asian-Paclfic Weed Science Society Conference, Sydney, Australia. pp. 201–205.Google Scholar
Clarke, W.H.J. 1976. The feral goat herd of Faure Island. Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia 17(4): 102–106.Google Scholar
Cooper, B. 1979. The Scottish margin - a role for rare breeds. The Ark 6(11): 346–349.Google Scholar
Crouchley, G. 1980. Regrowth control by goats - plus useful meat returns. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture 141(5): 9–14.Google Scholar
Douglas, G. 1969. Draft checklist of Pacific Islands. Mlcroneslca 52(2)Google Scholar
Dry, F.W. 1955. The dominant N gene in New Zealand Romney sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 6: 725–769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO 1980. Animal genetic resources, conservation and management. FAO/UNEP Technical Consultation 2-6 June 1980. FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
FAO UNEP 1975. Pilot study on conservation of animal genetic resources. FAO, Rome.Google Scholar
Greig, J.C. and Cooper, B. 1970. The ‘wild’ sheep of Britain. Oryx 10(6): 383–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holst, P.J. and Whitelaw, R.A. 1980. Export of goat meat from Australia. International Goat and Sheep Research l(l): 48–54.Google Scholar
Howard, W.E. and Marsh, R. 1983. Ecological Implications and management of feral mammals In California. In, Feral mammals - problems and potential. Papers presented for the Workshop on feral mammals. Caprinae specialist subgroup of IUCN. I'FC III Helsinki 1982. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Hutton, J.B. 1976. Animal health. In, Whitaker, A.H. and Rudge, M.R. (eds) The val,tie of feral farm mammals in New Zealand. Department of Lands and Survey Information Series 1. 84p.Google Scholar
IUCN/UNEP/WWF 1978. Second draft of a world conservation strategy. IUCN/UNEP/WWF, Morges, Switzerland. xxi+96p.Google Scholar
IUCN 1984. Feral Mammals - problems and potential. Papers presented for the Workshop on feral mammals. Caprlnae specialist subgroup of IUCN. ITC III Helsinki 1982. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Jewell, P.A. 1971. The case for the preservation of rare breeds of domestic livestock. Veterinary Record 89: 524–527.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jewell, P.A., Milner, C. and Boyd, J.M. 1974. Island survivors: the ecology of the 1,;oay sheep of St Kilda. Athlone Press, London Univ. 386p.Google Scholar
Johns, A. 1980. Hokonul wild Merinos a unique gene pool. New Zealand Farmer 101(19): 156–159.Google Scholar
Kirton, A.H., Paterson, D.J. and Mackereth, V.J. 1977. Live weights of farmed feral goats(Capra hircus). New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 5(l): 7–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lever, C. 1977. The naturalised animals of the British Isles. Hutchinson, London. 600p.Google Scholar
Maijala, K., Cherekaev, A.V., Devillard, J-M., Reklewski, Z., Rognonl, G., Simon, D.L. and Steane, D.E. 1984. Conservation of animal genetic resources in Europe. Final report of an EAAP Working Party. Livestock Production Science 11: 3–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, I.L. 1979. Inventory of special herds (Draft). FAO/UNEP Project No. FP/1108-76-02(833) Conservation of animal genetic resources. FAO, Rome. 114p.Google Scholar
McIntosh, G.H. and Pointon, A. 1981. The Kangaroo Island strain of pig In biomedical research. Australian Veterinary Journal 57: 182–185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McKinnon, D. 1983. flokonul Merinos could have something to offer. New Zealand Farmer 104(9): 8–10.Google Scholar
McKnight, T. 1964. Feral livestock In Anglo-America. University of California Publications In Geography 16. 87p.Google Scholar
McKnight, T. 1969. The camel in Australia. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria. xiii+154p.Google Scholar
McKnight, T. 1976. Friendly vermin: a survey of feral livestock in Australia. University of California Press, London. vii+104p.Google Scholar
Morgan, K.G. 1982. A suggested commercial use for the Soay ram. The Ark 9(2): 65–66.Google Scholar
Munton, P.A., Cluttc)n-Brock, T. and Rtidge, M.R. 1984. Introduction to: Feral mammt problems and potential. Papers presented for the Workshop on feral mammals. Caprinae specialist subgroup of TUCN. ITC III Helsinki 1982. TTJCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Nozawa, K. 1980. Phylogtnetic on the native domestic animals in east and southeast Asia. In, Animal genetic resources in Asia and Oceania. Proceedings of a workshop of the Society for the Advancement of Breeding Researches in Asia and Oceania (SABPAO). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan. Pp. 23–43.Google Scholar
OliverW.I,.R. W.I,.R. 1983. Introduced feral pigs. In Feral mammals - problems and potential. Papers presented for the Workshop on feral mammal-. Caprinae specialist subgroup of LUCN. I'FC If[ Helsinki 1982. TTJCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Orwin, 1).F.G. and Whitaker, A.H. 1984. The feril sheep (Ovis aries L.) of Arapawa Island, Marlborough Sounds, and a comparison of their wool characteristics with those of four other feral flocks in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 11(2): 201–224.Google Scholar
Perry, R. 1969. Conservation problem,, in the Galapagos Islands. Micronesica 5(2): 275–281.Google Scholar
Regnatilt, W.R. 1976. Feral sheep: skin, wool and fleece characters. In, The value of feral farm mammals in New Zealand. Department of Lands and Survey Information Series 1. 84p. Rolls, E.C. 1969. They all ran wild. The story of pests on the land in Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. xx+444p.Google Scholar
Rolston, M.P., Lambert, M.G., Clark, D.A. and Devantler, B.P. 1981. Control of rushes and thistles la pasture by goat and sheep grazing. Proceedings of the 34th New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Conference. pp. 117–121.Google Scholar
Rudge, M.R. 1982. Conserving feral farm mammals in New Zealand. New Zealand Agricultural Science 16(3): pp. 157–160.Google Scholar
Rudge, M.R. 1983a. The occurrence ind status of populations of feral goats and sheep throughout the world. In, Feral mammals - problems and potential. Workshop on feral mammals. Caprfnae specialist subgroup of IUCN. ITC f-.11 Helsinki 1982. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.Google Scholar
Rudge, M.R. 1983b. A reserve for feral sheep on Pitt Island, Chathams group, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 10(4): 349–364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rudge, M.R. 1984. Possibilities and problems in conserving feral mammals in the Pacific region. In, Protection and Parks. Proceedings of Section A4e, 15th Pacific Science Congress, February 1983. Department of Lands and Survey Information Series 12. 66p.Google Scholar
Ryder, M.I,. 1970. Why preserve declining breeds of livestock? Report of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation 1970. 19–26.Google Scholar
Ryder, M.L. 1976. Why should rare breeds of livestock be saved? 1976 International Zoo Yearbook 16. pp. 244–249.Google Scholar
SABRAO 1980. Animal genetic resources in Asia and Oceania. Proceedings of a workshop of the Society for the Advancement of Breeding Researches in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan.Google Scholar
Sheppy, A.J. 1975. Scrtib-clearing St Kilda sheep. The Ark 2(12): 355.Google Scholar
Smith, I.D., Clarke, W.H., and Newton-Turner, H. 1973. The potential of feral goats in Austra1ia forc as hmere production. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science, June: 128–131.Google Scholar
Spatz, G. and Mueller-Dombois, D. 1973. The influence of feral goats on koa tree reproduction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Ecology 54(4): 870–876.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suckling, G.W. and Rudge, M.R. 1977. Changes with age in the length of central Incisor teeth and their clinical crowns in sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 20: 145–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tisdell, C.A. 1982. Wild pigs: environmental pest or economic resource. Pergamon Press, Sydney. viii+445p.Google Scholar
Whitaker, A.H. and Rudge, M.R. 1976. The value of feral farm mammals in New Zealand. Department of Lands and Survey Information Series 1. 84p.Google Scholar
Whitehead, G.K. 1972. The wild goats of Great Britain and Ireland. David & Charles, Newton Abbot. 184p.Google Scholar
Wickham, G.A. 1976. Animal husbandry. In, Whitaker, A.H. and Rudge, M.R. (eds) The value of feral farm mammals In New Zealand. Department of Lands and Survey Information Series 1. 84p.Google Scholar
Wodzicki, K.A 1950. Introduced mammals of New Zealand. DSIR Bulletin 98. 255p.Google Scholar