Se describe el origen, antecedentes históricos y situación censal del poney gallego, así como los sistemas de explotación en libertad. Se realiza una descripción de sus características etnológicas, parámetros biométricos y estructura genética, además de las características productivas y planes de conservación.

The Ladakh plateau is an arctic desert in the Western Himalaya having an annual rainfall of 8 to 9 cm. Extreme environmental conditions and persistent hypoxia affect the human and livestock populations. Limited grazing resources are the other limiting factor. Despite these hardships, a great variety of livestock species are available in Ladakh. The yak is the most important species for highlanders providing them subsistence in terms of milk, meat, fibres, skin and hides. It is an excellent pack and transport animal in snow bound passes. Male Yak hybrids with local cattle are excellent bullocks under the hypoxic environment. The small population of local hill cattle is endangered due to large scale crossbreeding with yaks and exotic cattle. The majority of goatsoin Ladakh are Pashmmina type. The Changthangi is an important goat breed. Local small sized sheep yield fine carpet type wool and resemble the Tibetan sheep. Zaniskari horses are in danger of extinction. Other horses and ponies available in Ladakh appeared similar to the Tibetan ponies. The local donkeys have a large bulging head with long hair. Only 54 Bacterin camels are left in the region. Poultry and pigs are not popular in Ladakh. Almost all livestock species have long body hair to survive in extreme climatic conditions.

Plans to improve the milk production ability of the Criollo in Bolivia are outlined. The background problems are stated, and experiments to improve by crossbreeding are described. The Criollo improvement project which makes use of the purebred Criollo was planned in two stages. The first was the attempt to measure the performance of Criollo cows purchased from commercial herds, and milked without their calves. The second stage was the comparison of performance with the results of the crossbred trial. The intentions and plans to progeny test the Criollo bulls are summarized and the hopes of producing bulls for sale and use on temperate breeds of cow are described. The problems encountered in the project are stated, and the results are viewed in the context of work with Criollo in other countries.

In recent years, Galician autochthonous cattle populations have declined to a situation of vulnerability, between the critical status (less than 100 breeding females, very reduced genetic variability) and the endangered status (from 100 to 1 000 breeding females, which is not sufficient to survive). In order to prevent eventual extinction, an Operative Programme to maintain a germplasm bank (semen and embryos) and animals in situ (cattle farms and natural reserves) has been established to ensure preservation and facilitate study from the ethnological, productive and reproductive point of view. Five herds of Cachena, Caldelana, Frieiresa, Limiana and Vianesa breeds, have been studied for census, habitat, morphological characters, animal breeding, productive character, seminal quality of bulls and reproductive performances.

Characterisations are given of the little-known Sabi sheep and the local population of the Small East African goat in two areas in NE Zimbabwe. The southern area had been more affected by drought in 1991–92. For sheep (both areas combined; n = 28 in 10 flocks) the mean declared age of breeding females and the median age at first parturition were surprisingly high (6.1 years and 4 years respectively). Breeding female goats in the southern area were younger (4.9 vs. 6.4 years), and their age at first kidding was lower (3 years vs. 5 years), than in the north (n = 122 in 25 flocks total). These advanced ages could be an after-effect of the drought. Juvenile mortality and the proportions of young that were ultimately marketed were similar to what has been found elsewhere in semi-arid Africa. Breeding females were found to be smaller than their counterparts in semi-arid areas in West Africa with mean withers heights of 56.5 cm (n = 112 goats) and 60.4 cm (n = 36 sheep). Conditions in this area appear difficult for small ruminants and the populations sampled may be well adapted to marginal environments and thus worthy of conservation.

Pastoral habitats in the County of Devon in southwest England range from lowland temporary pastures to upland rough grazing. These habitats have resulted in the development of locally adapted livestock types. In 2010, Devon is repository to two cattle, five sheep and two equine breeds: Historically there were sheep, equine and pig breeds now extinct or subsumed into existing types. Breed origins are discussed and physical descriptions and main production characteristics are provided. Information is given on organizations in England and overseas that promote the breeds and are responsible for maintaining pedigree records. Available numerical data are presented and conservation status discussed. All sheep and equine breeds are at risk because of low numbers or restricted geographical distribution. The government provides no direct assistance for conservation or preservation although there is limited support for native breeds from agrienvironmental schemes. Owner awareness of breed values, “designer” made for thriftiness under harsh conditions, supported by civil society organizations, will render them “fit for purpose” for new uses in conservation grazing in environmentally sensitive areas, maintenance of plant diversity and sustainable production, and assist in ensuring survival of these invaluable genetic resources.

Some countries have introduced a requirement for genetic impact assessments prior to granting permission for the import of new exotic livestock breeds. However, the merits of such a system are not universally accepted. During February 2007 a discussion on the subject took place on FAO's Domestic Animal Diversity Network (DAD-Net) electronic forum. This paper presents a description of how the discussion developed, and a summary of the issues raised. Arguments both for and against requiring impact assessments were put forward. Those opposing such measures focused on the risks of limiting access to animal genetic resources (AnGR), and questioned the benefits of government interference. Practical constraints to implementation and enforcement were also noted. Counter arguments pointed to the potential for avoiding the loss of valuable AnGR, and stressed governments' responsibilities to intervene where necessary to promote sustainable development, to defend the interests of the poor, or to protect national heritage. The debate ranged more widely — encompassing the respective roles of local and exotic AnGR in different regions of the world and in different production systems.

The contraction of animal genetic resources on a global scale has motivated countries to establish gene banks as a mechanism to conserve national resources. Gene banks should establish a set of policies that ensure they are complying with national laws. The two primary areas of consideration are how gene banks interact with the owners of the livestock from which they are collecting samples and the relevant national or international health standards. With respect to dealing with livestock breeders for the purpose of germplasm acquisition, private property rights are the most common legal issue that will come into consideration while building collections and distributing stored material. National animal health standards may determine which animals may or may not be collected and to what extent the germplasm can be used. Internationally, the country's overall health status will determine the type of testing necessary before, during and after collection to ensure the movement of germplasm across international boundaries and through the normal protocols of animal germplasm transfer. Policy-makers will need to evaluate if the current structure of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) regulations will allow the development of bilateral backup collections or if waivers should be given to facilitate the genetic security afforded through gene banking.

The native sheep of Sri Lanka is described, and its growth and reproductive parameters under traditional management systems are reported. The need to evaluate this sheep under optimal nutritional and husbandry conditions is highlighted.

Development of China's animal production in the last twenty years regarding farm animal diversity and the risk it faces in China are presented. The approaches of animal genetic resources conservation to satisfy a sustained development for animal production in future are expressed. Six approaches and measures are recommended.

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo caracterizar fenotípicamente un rebaño de cabras azules, pertenecientes a la granja Carnaúba, municipio de Taperoá, Estado de Paraiba, Brasil, con el propósito de contribuir a la homologación del patrón racial en el Ministerio de Agricultura. Fueron evaluadas 62 hembras azules con edades a partir de dos años y peso medio de 40,3 kg, tomándose las siguientes medidas morfométricas: longitud corporal (71,5±5,6 cm), altura a la cruz (59,0±4,3 cm), perímetro torácico (76,9±4,8 cm), longitud de las orejas (12,6 cm), formato de los cuernos (bien implantados, simétricos, dirigidos hacia arriba, hacia detrás y hacia afuera, con pequeñas curvaturas hacia el frente en las extremidades y color ceniza oscuro). Los animales presentaron tres patrones distintos de capa: ceniza claro, ceniza azulado y ceniza azulado muy oscuro. Este estudio contribuirá al fortalecimiento de los trabajos de conservación de esta raza, que se encuentra en estado crítico debido a cruzamientos absorbentes e indiscriminados con otras razas exóticas.

Cet article analyse dans quelle mesure les nouvelles perspectives offertes par les biotechnologies de la reproduction s'appliquent aux activités de conservation des ressources génétiques animales. Ces activités ont été regroupées autour de cinq thémes: Décrire, Détruire, Défendre, Stocker, Recréer. Ces techniques n'apportent aucun plus pour la description des caractéristiques d'une population ou d'une race. La principals menace qui pése sur une race d'animaux domestiques est de disparaitre par croisement avec une autre, et l'insémination artificielle représente de ce point de vue un danger certain. Inversement, l'insémination artificielle peut devenir un instrument de défense des races locales. II serait plus difficile de trouver une justification A l'utilisation de la plupart des autres biotechnologies (transfert d'embryons, sexage, clonage) pour la protection et la promotion des races locales. Pour la conservation des ressources génétiques, la cryoconservation des spermatozdides et des embryons, mais également les ovocytes, voire des morceaux de gonades et des cellules somatiques est un outil irremplagable. La demiére partie présente des calculs sur les possibilités de re-création de races, selon la nature du matériel stocks.

This study reports the results obtained in the search of chromosomal regions affecting fleece traits in a population of Angora goats in the Argentinean Patagonia. Six hundred thirty-four offspring from 14 parental half-sib families were used. Nine phenotypic fleece traits were recorded at 4 and 11 months of age. A genome examination using 85 informative molecular markers was conducted. A linkage analysis was performed using a regression interval analysis. Our study identified 10 genomic regions affecting the average fibre diameter, coefficient of variation of the average fibre diameter, percentage of fibres with diameters over 30 µm, greasy fleece weight, staple length, average curvature of fibres, percentage of continuous medullated fibres and percentage of kemp fibres located on five goat chromosomes (1, 2, 5, 13 and 19). These results show that the average size of the quantitative trait loci effect was 1.6 phenotypic standard deviations for different traits and families. The aims of quantitative trait loci detection is the potential use of these molecular markers to increase accuracy in predicting the genetic merit of breeding and its implementation in animal breeding schemes through marker-assisted selection.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was carried out using 38 Kalahari Red (KR) goats randomly sampled from a flock imported into Nigeria in 2011 by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, as an initial step to investigate the genetic structure of the breed, due to limited information on the breed. Apart from estimating genetic diversities, phylogenetic analysis to elucidate maternal lineages, relationship with wild goats as well as Tajima's D and Fu's Fs statistics were computed to test the departure from constant population size under the neutral model. The first hypervariable (HV1) region of mtDNA (481 bp) sequenced from 38 goats represented 11 haplotypes. Polymorphism of HV1 fragment was high, haplotype and nucleotide diversities were 0.869 ± 0.030 and 0.0299 ± 0.0067, respectively. Maximum-likelihood tree constructed with 11 haplotypes and 22 reference haplotypes representing six haplogroups worldwide revealed that five out of 11 haplotypes belong to haplogroup A, whereas six haplotypes belong to B. KR population clustered with Capra aegagrus as its wild ancestor. There was evidence of mitochondrial footprint that reflected past population decline based on positive and significant Fu's Fs estimate (6.283; P < 0.01). The mtDNA data did not however show that genetic variability of the breed has drastically reduced on account of population reduction. The information obtained is strategic to utilization and conservation of the population.

La raza bovina Pajuna es una raza autóctona andaluza que está al borde de la extinción. Su aptitud es mixta carne-trabajo y es posiblemente la raza española más rústica, al ser capaz de adaptarse a los medios marginados, aprovechando los escasos recursos de las sierras andaluzas, que no pueden ser utilizados por otras razas más carniceras.

El cruzamiento indiscriminado con razas especializadas, la mecanización del campo y la pérdida del hábitat de explotación han llevado esta raza a una situación de inminente desaparición, con sólo 300 animales puros, relegados en la mayoría de los casos a meros vientres para el cruce industrial en vacadas mixtas.

En el presente artículo describimos la situación actual y las causas que la han llevado a esta situación, así como las actuaciones de la Asociación de Criadores (GRAPA), creada en el año 2001, dentro de un programa de preservación y recuperación. Estas razones se pueden resumir en la localización de todos los efectivos existentes, el análisis de la estructura demográfica de la población, la actualización de su estándar racial y creación del Libro Genealógico, la caracterización genética, y determinación del nivel de variabilidad intra e interpoblacional a partir del polimorfismo de loci moleculares microsatélites como a través de la variabilidad de la región control del ADN mitocondrial.

European countries are individually and in collaboration carrying out active work on animal genetic resources (AnGR). The region has a very good starting point for work on AnGR: The breed concept was developed in Europe; current European mainstream breeds are derived from local breeds and, in many species, have further formed the core of the international breeds; there has always been very active research in Europe on farm animal genetics and breeding, including sustainable utilization and management of variation.

Since the 1970s and 1980s many European countries have been paying attention to local breeds and have saved many of them from total extinction. In quite a few countries, the conservation work has been supported by cryopreservation. In the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) coordinated process, Europe has actively contributed to assessing the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources and will continue to implement the Global Plan of Action. There are now national action plans in most of the European countries.

The European consumption of animal products has changed very little over recent decades. At the same time, production has become very intensive. Among other driving forces, the development of agriculture is steered by the EU policies. The last decade has seen new kind of thinking and measures directed towards an overall consideration of rural development. This has given room for the revitalization of many local breeds. The aim is to have schemes that promote the self-sustainability of local breeds. The EU also has a very ambitious research programme to support these aims while enhancing the overall sustainable production and management of biological resources.

The European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) is a common forum for the coordinators of European national programmes on AnGR. There are also many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the animal sector. These NGOs and networks are most relevant to raising awareness about the importance of values of AnGR and in enhancing activities that contribute to conservation and sustainable use of AnGR.

As part of the country-driven strategy for the management of animal genetic resources, FAO invited 188 countries to participate in the preparation of the First Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources. Utilizing the information provided in the 148 country reports ready for analysis in July 2005, this paper presents a global overview of the state of capacity and utilization of reproductive and molecular biotechnologies in the management of animal genetic resources. Regional descriptions outline the distribution of different biotechnologies, along with a discussion of the species and breed focus of their use, and stakeholder involvement in service delivery. Unsurprisingly, there is a big gap in biotechnology use between developed and developing countries, with artificial insemination being the technology most widely applied in developing countries. More complex technologies such as embryo transfer and molecular tools, are even less common in developing countries. Use of biotechnologies is in general biased towards cattle, and examples of the application of biotechnologies in the management of locally adapted breeds are limited. Most developing countries express the wish to increase the utilization of biotechnologies. However, in many cases clear plans for incorporating technologies into animal genetic resource management are lacking.