Demographic data describe the size, structure and distribution of livestock populations and how these change over time. They are fundamental to determining the risk status of breed populations both on a national and a global scale. Currently, no population data are available for 36 percent of the breeds recorded in the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), and for many other breeds data are updated so infrequently that monitoring trends in risk status is difficult or impossible. Data on the geographical distribution of breeds are also generally inadequate. A baseline survey of the breed population needs to be followed by periodic monitoring. The required frequency of the monitoring activities will depend on the generation interval of the species in question. Data may be collected via breed-level censuses or surveys, or estimated based on species level data. It is important that national decision-making takes account of the global demographics of the breed; a classification system distinguishing breeds present only in one country from those present in several countries has been developed. Much remains to be done to improve the availability of demographic data. Moreover, methods need to be developed that account for the risks of genetic erosion associated with indiscriminate cross-breeding. A further key requirement is the development of methods for representative sampling of national animal populations to allow estimates of their total population size and other demographic data to be obtained in a cost-effective manner.

The standard of the breed has been drawn up on the basis of the available literature and of direct observations made on the only flock of registered animals. It is hoped that the programme for the conservation of this breed will now be launched.

The origin and breed characteristics of the native pig of Sri Lanka are reported. The breed suffers from many disadvantages including inter alia small litter size, heavy preweaning mortality and poor growth rate. Nevertheless, it will remain a valuable genetic resource and a source of meat, providing additional income to the household economies in the western coastal belt of Sri Lanka.

This paper discusses the conservation of native livestock breeds in Japan. These include native Japanese horses, cattle and goats, and domestic Japanese fowls. To best conserve the genes of these genetic resources it is necessary to keep them in the form of (a) live animals and (b) cryogenic storage of sperms, oocytes, embryos, cells, chromosomes and genes. Even that Japanese native livestock are also important as living'museums', it is further desirable to conserve them as live animals. However, there are many problems with conserving all of these breeds in a live form because of their low economic value in the market. For this reasons, it is necessary to combine this with the raising of animals for other purposes such as sale of products, tourist attractions in national parks, zoos and sightseeing farms, educational tools in agricultural schools and experimental animals.