Abstract
A concern for the growth and utilization of sheep is raised since ancient times in Romania. The development of livestock sector is determined by the climate and the geographical configuration with the availability of grasslands maintained by transhumants. The pastoralism founded a domestic processing of milk, wool and leather products with positive socio-economic implications on material and spiritual life of local people. The sheep breeds prevailed until the 20th century were ‘Tucana’ and ‘Stogose’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘Tisigai’. These breeds, generally unimproved, have a profound fitness and resistance to harsh weather conditions. These breeds were also fit for traveling long routes in search of food. The utilization of a sheep breed is determined by the national economic demand, productivity potential of the breed, available, technology, improvement and utilization methods of the breed. The said sheep breeds were appreciated because they produce a diversity of products having superior nutritional or economic values. It is known especially for its white wool, which is used in domestic industry for making clothes and other products including artifacts, textiles, Persian carpets, etc. Considering the local natural conditions and the national economic demands, the sheep husbandry was assisted continuously to support intensive and multilateral development producing the necessary raw materials for the textile, fur, leather and food industry. Both research and the technical developments have contributed to the zootechnical field geared to resolve the problems appeared in the development of sheep. The scientific knowledge and expertise need to be combined with application skills leading to the development and modernization of complex technologies helping growth of sheep products.
Highlights
Agricultural biodiversity or agrobiodiversity has been defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as “The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries
Shifting cultivation and traditional agroforestry systems were found to maintain a high level of agrobiodiversity along with efficient management of soil fertility, soil erosion control and supply of variable ecosystem services
The gradual transitions from TA system to modern commercial based farming would result in the loss of associated traditional ecological knowledge, agrobiodiversity along with its valuable genetic diversity and ecosystem services
Summary
Agricultural biodiversity or agrobiodiversity has been defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as “The variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, including crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries. It comprises the diversity of genetic resources (varieties, breeds) and species used for food, fodder, fibre, fuel and pharmaceuticals. It includes the diversity of non-harvested species that support production (soil microorganisms, predators, pollinators), and those in the wider environment that support agroecosystems (agricultural, pastoral, forest and aquatic) as well as the diversity of the agroecosystems” (FAO, 1999). There may be a heritage and cultural value of traditional agroecosystems and the species contained in them in different parts of the world (Qiyi et al, 2009), that even though they may not be directly useful to people ; yet the present generation would like to preserve them for posterity
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