206 Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources
Erling Fimland and Kor Oldenbroek
4.2. A sustainable breeding goal as selection objective
he realised weights for the traits and the number of diferent traits in the breeding goal to be improved by selection are very important in a long-term selection programme. In
addition, the correlated efects of traits that are not included in the breeding goal may be adversely afected and this actually will accumulate over time. Balancing production and
functional traits becomes increasingly important as time passes. he main reasons are:
In general, the genetic correlation between production and functional traits is negative. hus, selection only for production traits results in negative efects on the
functional traits. Positive and negative efects of breeding programmes accumulate over generations.
For example, small negative changes per year accumulate and may appear ater a few decades to be detrimental for welfare itness traits like fertility, disease resistance
and viability.
However, when taken into account, functional traits in the selection programme can yield positive results, as illustrated by the genetic trend for mastitis resistance shown in
Figure 9.2.
• •
Year of birth, daughters Index
1982 1994
1984 1986
1988 1990
1992 1996
1998 2000
108 106
104 102
100 98
96 94
92 90
88 Protein, kg
Mastitis Fertility
Figure 9.2. Genetic improvement of mastitis in Norwegian Red Source: http:www.geno. nogenonettpresentasjonsdelengelskdefault.asp?menyvalg_id=418 and go to: Norwegian
Red characteristics.
Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources 207
Chapter 9. Practical implications of utilisation and management
he weight on mastitis in the total merit index was increased signiicantly from 1990 onwards. his has enhanced the positive trend considerably. he increase in genetic
resistance to mastitis is really promising for farmers who wish to produce milk without using antibiotic treatment. his will indeed increase the safety of milk production and
facilitates, for example, organic milk production. Figure 9.2 also shows the selection response of non-return rate and protein yield. An efect not shown in this igure is that
other diseases than mastitis follow a similar genetic trend. In the search for a sustainable breeding goal, balancing the production traits with the itness traits is an efective long-
term selection strategy.
4.3. Implications of interactions between genotype and production systems are taken into account
When the testing of the breeding animals and the production of the ofspring are performed in the same environment or in the same production system, the interaction
between genotype and environment or production system can be ignored. However, when the ofspring are exported, the new production environment may be quite diferent
from the test environment of the exporting country. Besides, a lack of adaptation of the breeds to the environment in the target country might have a negative efect on itness
traits, and result in disappointing production igures. An international regulation of exchange of farm animal genetic resources should focus on the existence of possible
interactions and their long-term social and economic consequences for the importing country. Ignoring the efect of this type of interaction might undermine the livelihood
of farmers in the importing country. Such import oten implies that the local livestock systems erode, and oten the livelihood of entire groups of people is destroyed. As much
as 70 of the world’s rural poor approximately 2 billion people keep livestock to meet the food demands of their families. For these people, livestock diversity thus contributes
in many ways to human survival and well - being Drucker, 2001.
4.4. Food security and safety
Woolliams 2005 discusses the fundamental importance of farm animal genetic resources for food security and safety. Livestock development works best when all
strategies are co-ordinated and work in the same direction. For example, fertility in dairy cattle tends to decrease as milk yield increases. An established consequence of infertility
is an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the production system per litre of milk produced. he efectiveness of any management solution will be compromised when
selection increases yield without taking into account the genetic merit for fertility. In this case, the overall utility of the system is not optimised Woolliams, 2005. Genetics
can play an important role in the dynamics of the populations resulting from genetic
208 Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources
Erling Fimland and Kor Oldenbroek
selection, and one should use genetic options, where they exist, as part of the solution to improve security and safety.
To meet the challenges to food security arising from increased global demand and the threats from global warming, livestock breeding must be included as a component of
the solution.
4.5. Effects on the environment
Animal production can imply positive or negative efects on the environment. In the most extreme production circumstances, the value of the environment for society might
be reduced.
Increasing the production volume may also increase waste output. he considerable volumes of waste produced by large-scale, high-density livestock operations can cause
severe soil, water and air pollution Cunningham, 2003. he emissions giving rise to most concern are nitrogen, phosphorous, various heavy metals and greenhouse gasses
such as methane and nitrous oxide. If the recycling of manure and urine to agriculture is not irmly regulated, considerable environmental damage may arise. he strong focus
on environmental issues in several countries may lead to regulations that minimise the output of wastes from livestock systems. Such regulations may require other genotypes
than those favoured by the present breeding goals. his means that breeding programmes that maximise production volume per animal may lead to a reduction of environmental
quality for society.
5. Monitoring role for the national managers
Monitoring farm animal genetic resources is an essential activity for sustainable utilisation and conservation, provided that policies are being addressed and a national
manager or co-ordinator is appointed, i.e., within a coordination unit. his manager can act as a reference point in times of crisis within the livestock industry, e.g. the outbreak
of an emerging disease. he manager measures regularly the degree to which targets have been achieved and identiies at an early state possible new emerging problems. his
determines the context within which policies are reviewed and reined.
In the book Sustainable Management of Animal Genetic Resources Woolliams et al.,
2005, monitoring functions were outlined. he breeding companies and a national centre of genetic resources might easily perform the monitoring activities for farm
animal genetic resources. he latter should annually provide the monitoring results to the responsible national authority.
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