Biodiversity and Conservation of Sheep Genetic Resources in Jammu and Kashmir

For 100s of years, livestock producers have employed various types of selection to alter livestock populations. Current selection strategies are little different, except our technologies for selection have become more powerful. Genetic resources at the breed level have been in and out of favour over time. These resources are the raw materials used to manipulate populations, and therefore, they are critical to the past and future success of the livestock sector. With increasing ability to rapidly change genetic composition of livestock populations, the conservation of these genetic resources becomes more critical. Globally, awareness of the need to steward genetic resources has increased. A growing number of countries have embarked on large scale conservation efforts by using in situ, ex situ (gene banking), or both approaches. Gene banking efforts have substantially increased and data suggest that gene banks are successfully capturing genetic diversity for research or industry use. It is also noteworthy that both industry and the research community are utilizing gene bank holdings. As pressures grow to meet consumer demands and potential changes in production systems, the linkage between selection goals and genetic conservation will increase as a mechanism to facilitate continued livestock sector development.

Indigenous breeds provide the necessary Genetic diversity needed by modern agriculture as a Means to ensure stability and are vital building blocks for future livestock breeding programmers. Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) conservation, Collection and processing procedures which different widely depending upon the type of germplasm being collected and the donor species. Due to indigenous FAnGR carry genes that enable them to tolerate harsh environments, cope with thorny vegetation in drought-prone areas, walk long distance and repel attacks by diseases and pests. However, these animal resources are constantly being eroded and are nearing extinction. Conservation is an action to ensure that the diversity of farm animal genetic material is being maintained for contribution to food production, Two methods for the conservation of animal genetic resources In-situ conservation refers to conservation of livestock through continued use by livestock keepers in the production system in which the livestock evolved or are now normally found and Ex-situ (in vivo conservation): Effective conservation of genetic resources is possible only if the breeds are identified and documented adequately. Therefore conservation of FAnGR is useful for the sustainable utilization of genetic resources under different production environment and production system. In this regard, valuation of local breeds should consider their major contribution to risk management under the prevailing hard and fluctuating environmental conditions.

PROBLEM OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONSERVATION OF FARM ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES

SummaryThis overview analyses the key drivers of change in the global livestock sector and assesses how they are influencing current trends and future prospects in the world's diverse livestock production systems and market chains; and what are their consequent impacts on the management of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. The trends are occurring in both developing and industrialized countries, but the responses are different. In the developing world, the trends are affecting the ability of livestock to contribute to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty as well as the use of natural resources. In the industrialized world, the narrowing animal genetic resource base in industrial livestock production systems raises the need to maintain a broader range of animal genetic resources to be able to deal with future uncertainties, such as climate change and zoonotic diseases.This chapter discusses:• What are the global drivers of change for livestock systems? Economic development and globalization; changing market demands and the “livestock revolution”; environmental impacts including climate change; and science and technology trends.• How are the livestock production systems responding to the global drivers of change? Trends in the three main livestock production systems (industrial, crop-livestock and pastoral systems); the range and rate of changes occurring in different systems and how these affect animal genetic resources. The implications are that breeds cannot adapt in time to meet new circumstances. Hence new strategies and interventions are necessary to improve the management of animal genetic resources in situations where these genetic resources are most at risk.• What are the implications for animal genetic resources diversity and for future prospects of their use? - Industrial livestock production systems are expected to have a limited demand for biodiversity, while crop-livestock and pastoral systems will rely on biodiversity to produce genotypes of improved productivity under changing environmental and socio-economic conditions. All systems will rely on biodiversity, albeit to varying degrees, to cope with expected climate change.• What immediate steps are possible to improve animal genetic resources characterization, use and conservation? Appropriate institutional and policy frameworks are required to improve animal genetic resources management and these issues are being addressed at national and intergovernmental levels, in a process led by FAO to promote greater international collaboration on animal genetic resources. Based on an analysis of the current situation, the continuing loss of indigenous breeds and new developments in science and technology, there are several complementary actions that can begin to improve the management of animal genetic resources and maintain future options in an uncertain world.These are summarized here as:a. “Keep it on the hoof” - Encouraging the continuing sustainable use of traditional breeds and in situ conservation by providing market-driven incentives, public policy and This paper has benefited from inputs from several reviewers and other contributors, and we thank all for their thoughtful insights. We acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues at FAO, particularly Irene Hoffmann, Dafydd Pilling and Henning Steinfeld, and at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): Ade Freeman, Mario Herrero, Olivier Hanotte, Steve Kemp, Sandy McClintock, Sara McClintock, Margaret MacDonald-Levy, Susan MacMillan, Grace Ndungu, An Notenbaert, Mwai Okeyo and Robin Reid. other support to enable livestock keepers to maintain genetic diversity in their livestock populations.b. “Move it or lose it” - Enabling access to and the safe movement of animal genetic resources within and between countries, regions and continents is a key factor in use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources globally.c. “Match breeds to environments” - Understanding the match between livestock populations, breeds and genes with the physical, biological and economic landscape. This “landscape livestock genomics” approach offers the means to predict the genotypes most appropriate to a given environment and, in the longer term, to understand the genetic basis of adaptation of the genotype to the environment.d. “Put some in the bank” — New technologies make ex situ, in vitro conservation of animal genetic resources feasible for critical situations and are a way to provide long-term insurance against future shocks.The multiple values, functions and consequences of livestock production systems and their rapid rate of change lead to divergent interests within and between countries. Conversely, the uncertainty about the implications of rapid, multifaceted global change for each livestock production system and the resulting future changes in the required genetic make-up of animal genetic resources make collective action to tackle conservation of animal genetic resources a long-term, global public good. Conserving animal genetic resources will not by itself solve these problems, but it is an important first step towards maintaining future options.Advances in science and the technology, in areas such as reproductive technology, genomics and spatial analysis, as well as progress in conceptualization of global public good production for the future management of animal genetic resources, should enable the international community to address both the short- and long-term challenges in innovative ways.

The utilization and conservation of the world's animal genetic resources

The Role of Reproductive Technologies and Cryopreservation of Genetic Materials in the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources

Animal genetic resources in Brazil: result of five centuries of natural selection

SummaryThe Brazilian Amazon is a wide territory totalling 60 percent of the country's area. Of this area, 600 000 km2 is occupied by humans and related activities. This, among other factors, leads to the destruction of the Amazon's natural resources. The area of cut down and degraded forest may range from 5 to 12 percent of the total area. Therefore, many of the Amazon species are at risk of extinction. However, it is deemed urgent to investigate and preserve the threatened animal species.The total number of mammal species in the world is recorded at 4 629 and there is a great diversity of them in the Amazon, including animals that live on land, water or those that fly. Despite this huge biodiversity, the most relevant species for the human population, are the domestic species, brought to the continent by the first settlers: Portuguese and Spanish.The most important livestock in the Amazon region are cattle, horses, buffaloes, sheep and goats. They occupy all Amazon ecosystems and are of very important consideration for the opening of agricultural frontiers and for influencing the natural ecosystems, since the main reason for the cutting down of large forest areas has been to use them for pastures. This has resulted in an artificial ecosystem of degraded natural environment.The Animal Germplasm Bank of East Amazon (BAGAM) is the animal germplasm bank for the conservation of animal genetic resources of Embrapa East Amazon, and is part of the research project entitled “Animal Genetic Resources of East Amazon”. The project is formed by two sub-projects: “Germplasm bank of animals of interest to the East Region of the Brazilian Amazon” and “Genetic characterisation of buffaloes in the Brazilian Amazon, through the use of molecular markers”. These two sub-projects are linked to the research programme led by CENARGEN, called Conservation and Utilisation of Animal Genetic Resources.

The intensification of agriculture has led to remarkable changes in the utilization of agricultural genetic resources and many previously common breeds and varieties have become rare or even endangered (FAO 2007, 2010, Drucker, Gomez & Anderson 2001). In Finland, Eastern and Northern Finncattle, the Kainuu Grey Sheep and the Åland Sheep are endangered according to the FAO classification (FAO 2003) and, for example, majority of the old Finnish crop varieties and Finnish landrace pig are already extinct. Making informed decisions on the appropriate focus and extent of conservation of agricultural genetic resources requires information on both the costs and benefits of conservation. Economic analyses involving the valuation of conservation benefits can guide resource allocation of various types of genetic resources and conservation methods (Artuso 1998). The value of genetic resources is not typically revealed by markets, as they are not directly traded in the markets or the prices of agricultural products do not completely indicate their value (Oldfield 1989, Brown 1990, Drucker et al. 2001). Although the importance of economic analyses has been recognized, the literature on the monetary value of genetic resources in agriculture is relatively limited (see e.g. Evenson et al. 1998 and Rege and Gibson 2003, Ahtiainen & Pouta 2011). Currently the conservation policy of farm agricultural genetic resources in Finland is based on international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic resources (FAO 2007). National genetic resource programs were initiated for plants in 2003 and for farm animals in 2005 to strengthen the conservation of genetic resources in Finland. Although there has been some progress in the implementation of the programs, they have also suffered from shortage of funds and lack of political interest in conservation. To re-evaluate the conservation policy, there is a need to use valuation methods capable of estimating also the non-use value components of genetic resources, i.e. stated preference methods. The choice experiment (CE) method has been found suitable to valuing genetic resources due to its flexibility and ability to value the traits of breeds or varieties and their attributes. Choice experiment makes it possible to value benefits of both plant genetic resources (PGR) and animal genetic resources (AnGR). The terms refer to all cultivated plant species and varieties, as well as all animal species and breeds that are of interest in terms of food and agricultural production. The CE method can also be used to evaluate the means of conservation in situ (live animals and plants) and ex situ (as seeds, cryopreserved embryos and other genetic material). Previous choice experiments have focused on valuing breeds or varieties and their attributes, especially on attributes that are related to the use of the breed or variety in agriculture (Birol et al. 2006, Ouma et al. 2007). In this study we present the results of a choice experiment valuing the benefits of a genetic resource conservation program in Finland. We test the effect of in situ and ex situ conservation on citizen choices between programs. We also analyse whether the plant varieties and animal breeds are perceived equally valuable by citizen. As the conservation of agricultural genetic resources (AgGR) cannot be expected to be equally valuable to all citizens, we analyse the existence of citizen segments that value differently the conservation of genetic resources. We can assume that AgGR is a rather unknown good for some of the respondents of the valuation survey. However, in valuation surveys respondents are assumed to make “informed” choices when responding to value elicitation questions (e.g. Blomquist &Whitehead 1998). Therefore, we offered an opportunity for respondents to obtain further information on AgGR. In our case, the internet-based survey allowed us also to measure how much time respondents took in reading the information and responding to questions. Furthermore, we also measured response certainty and tested the effects of uncertainty and information as reasons for heterogeneity.

The Need to Conserve Farm Animal Genetic Resources Through Community-Based Management in Africa: Should Policy Makers be Concerned?

Animal genetic resources in the world are rich and varied. Local species have strong adaptability to the local environment. They are precious resources, and need to be protected by the whole world. In this paper, we summarize the current situation of conservation activities of livestock and poultry resources abroad, including the relevant policies and measures, financial support, genetic material conservation, research projects, and the benefits of conservation animal genetic resources. The actions of conservation of animal genetic resources reflects the increasing recognition of the importance of biodiversity by people around the world. The variety of conservation activities of genetic materials in the world and its benefits reflect that the concept of biodiversity has already been accepted by public and the government. Conservation of animal genetic resources is the primary action for the revitalization of Chinese seed industry. This paper has enlightenment significance for strengthening the conservation of animal genetic resources in China.

Present status of the conservation of livestock genetic resources in Brazil

Conservation of animal genetic resources (AGR) in Scandinavia was started in the 1970s and organized in the 1980s. The work is coordinated by a working party financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Each country conserves its own AGR, but many tasks can be done jointly. Of these tasks, the development and maintenance of a Nordic data bank for AGR is an important part. Each country has mapped out its situation and prepared plans for conserving endangered native breeds and genetic variation in some major breeds for unpredictable future needs. Live animals from several breeds have been conserved in agricultural schools, prison farms and private herds, but these have been supplemented by stores of frozen semen and embryos. Developments in conservation methods are followed up and problems of conservation pointed out. Many of these are caused by the fact that animals grow, age, die and have to be mated regularly with unrelated animals, and that records have to be made of identities, mates, dates and traits. Many precautionary measures are necessary. Many-sided frozen semen and embryo stores are important besides live animal herds or flocks. There are problems in getting each female inseminated with an appropriate male, and in getting people working on different motives to collaborate.

BANK OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES OF INSTITUTE OF ANIMALS BREEDING AND GENETICS ND. A. M.V.ZUBETS OF NAAS SYSTEM OF ANIMAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OF UKRAINE

SummaryRare Breeds International (RBI) is the global non-governmental organization (NGO) concerned with the conservation of animal genetic resources (AnGR). It works in conjunction with FAO and with other organizations associated with livestock production. RBI members form a grassroots network that is rich in experience and knowledge of native breeds and affiliated national organizations maintain a valuable database of AnGR. Information is disseminated through major international conferences which are held at intervals of three years and through annual regional meetings. The cumulative expertise of the RBI membership facilitates a wide variety of projects, which range from policy interaction with governmental agencies to emergency rescue action and breeding programmes for relic breeds. RBI communicates mainly through publication of proceedings of major conferences and also by dedicated and linked websites.