The 52nd EAAP Annual Meeting will be held

J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 275 Speaker is Dr. Bobby D. Moser of Ohio State ingen University and Research Centre positions it University on the topic: ‘‘Scientific information close to a major source of animal research and transfer as a source for new products to society’’. Dr. science, as well as the world-wide scientific network. Moser replaces Dr. H.D.Cleberg who is unable to Founded in Wageningen in 1949, Wageningen Pers attend. has been an independent organization since its inception. The Wageningen Pers motto is ‘‘Giving people the freedom to develop by themselves’’. By offering this FUTURE EAAP ANNUAL MEETINGS Scholarship Wageningen Pers wishes to contribute to the development of young scientists. Wageningen

2001. The 52nd EAAP Annual Meeting will be held

Pers wants to move into the 21st century by en- in Budapest, Hungary from 26 to 29 August 2001. couraging the active involvement of clients in its The new format of the EAAP Annual Meeting will activities. The Wageningen Pers Scholarship is one be introduced for the first time. The Study Commis - of the steps towards this goal. sion Programme is given in EAAP News No . 36, page 60 in LPS 62 December 1999. FORTHCOMING EAAP AND ASSOCIATED 2002. The 53rd EAAP Annual Meeting will be held SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS in Cairo, Egypt. This is the first time that the EAAP Annual Meeting will be held outside Europe. The 15th Symposium on Energy Metabolism in Ani- meeting will be in the second half of September mals, 10-16 September 2000, Denmark 2002. The 15th Symposium will be held 10-16 Sep- tember 2000. Full details may be found in EAAP EAAP NOTICES News No.37, LPS 63 2000 page 169 Registration: Dr. K. Jakobsen, E-mail: kirsten.jakobsenagrsci.dk New EAAP Working Groups or Fax: 1 45 89 99 11 66. In 1999 the EAAP set up two new Council Working Groups: The Working Group on Alternative European and local livestock breeds: Fair 2000 at Productions is co-ordinated by Professor J-L. Tis- Rambouillet, France. 23 September to 3 October serand France; and The Working Group on 2000. Aquaculture is co-ordinated by Dr. W. Enright Ire- During the Festival of Rambouillet, France a land. The EAAP Council have now set up a further Symposium will be held on 27 September 2000 Working Group: Ethics and Welfare in Livestock organized on Biodiversity of Local Breeds. Infor- Production, co-ordinated by Dr. Franc¸ois Madec ˆ mation: Mme. S. Lechevestrier, Pole animal, Etablis- France, which will meet for the first time at the sement Public National de Rambouillet, Centre d’E- EAAP Annual Meeting in The Hague in August nseignement Zootechnique, La Bergerie Nationale, ˆ Parc du Chateau, 78120 Rambouillet, France. Tel: 2000. 1 33-01-34-83-08-00. Fax: 1 33-01-34-83-07-54. Wageningen Pers Scholarship EAAP Mediterranean Symposium: Prospects for EAAP is pleased to announce that the first a Sustainable Dairy Sector in the Mediterranean. ‘‘Wageningen Pers Scholarship’’ will be awarded at 26-29 October 2000 the 51st EAAP Annual Meeting in The Hague in This Symposium, sponsored by EAAP and other August 2000. organizations, will be held at Hammamet, Tunisia Wageningen Pers is a specialist publisher in the from 26-29 October 2000. The species to be included field of scientific publications on animal production are: cows, buffalo, small ruminants, camelids. The and veterinary sceinces. Its location within Wagen- farming systems of the Mediterranean are historically 276 J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 established and vary from country to country. The 4th African Conference on Animal Production options for intensification using introduced methods and the 11th Conference of the Egyptian Society from more northern parts of Europe need careful of Animal Production 6 to 9 November 2000 evaluation. Milk consumption is increasing in the The 4th African Conference of Animal Production Mediterranean and co-operation between countries is will be held jointly with the 11th Conference of the vital from the point of view of producers, consumers, Egyptian Society of Animal Production ESAP governments, trade, economics, environment, and from 6 to 9 November 2000 in Alexandria, one of rural development. All these issues will be consid- the most beautiful cities on the southern coast of the ered at the Symposium. The Symposium is organized Mediterranean. ˆ by l’Office de l’Elevage et des Paturages OEP in The theme of the Scientific programme is ‘‘Op- collaboration with l’Institut National Agronomique timizing the Utilization of African Animal Product- de Tunisie INAT, EAAP, CIHEAM and FAO. ion Resources’’. The programme includes recent Participants are welcome from areas outside the trends in scientific, technical and economic aspects Mediterranean so that maximum input can be gained of three main topics: as the countries of the Mediterranean Basin share their wealth of experience, learn to co-operate in new • Evaluation of Animal Production Resources ways and carefully consider the options for change.. • Utilization of Resources The programme covers: • Livestock Environment Interaction • Milk–a food, a raw material and a means of The post-conference tours and the accompanying economic development, World and Mediterranean persons’ programme will include famous places scale, history and development, markets; around Alexandria and elsewhere in Egypt. Infor- • Milk marketing channels and production systems, mation at the ESAP Web-site, esap.org.eg or from farming systems, processing, integration and case the organizing committee at: Prof. A. H. Barkawi, studies; Egyptian Society of Animal Production, Department • Alternatives for improving the sustainability of of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo systems, environment, animal welfare, intensive University, Giza 12614, Egypt. Tel Fax: 002-02- systems, dual purpose, semi-extensive for small ruminants and others; 5683188. • Future perspectives: consumption, life-style, health, competition and new products, internation- International Society for Animal Ethology ISAE al market, regulations, unique Mediterranean milk The 34th International Congress of the ISAE will products; ´ be held from 17 to 20 October 2000 in Florianopolis, • Round Table and Discussion on all aspects and Brazil on the topics ‘‘Promoting animal welfare in especially on co-operation in the Mediterranean husbandry systems’’ and ‘‘Domestication and etholo- sector for sustainable milk development. ´ gy of wild animals’’. Florianopolis is the state capital • Field visits will take place on Saturday 28 Oc- of Santa Catarina located on latitude 27 parallel in tober 2000. the sub-tropics with a pleasant climate. The Congress will take place at the Federal University of Santa Registration fees for participants accompanying ˜ Catarina and at the Costao do Santinho Resort. persons before 4 June 2000 are US210 US90 Session topics include: Domestication and ethology and after 4 June 2000 are US230 US110. of managed wild animals; Promoting animal welfare Information, Programme, Forms and Registration: in husbandry systems; Free papers including be- Symposium Secretariat, c o Mr. Mustapha Guellouz, havioural studies on farm, companion, zoo and ˆ Office de l’Elevage et des Paturages, 30 Rue Alain laboratory animals. Savary, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia. Tel: 1 216-1-793-603 After Congress Tours will embrace scientific 782-960. Fax: 1 216-1-790-795 787-813. Email: tourism. Original registration fees, which will in- dg.oepemail.ati.tn or maybe: dgoepemail.ati.tn J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 277 crease by 25 after 31 July, were US140 for Main Topics members, US200 for non-members; US50 for students and US20 for accompanying persons. • In situ conservation, including National Reports Registration forms can be downloaded from the and Inventories, Regional Reports, Case studies; Website or requested by mail. A variety of hotel • FAO Global Strategy prices is available. • Biotechnology for Animal Conservation, includ- Information: ISAE2000 c o Luiz Carlos Pinheiro ing ex situ conservation Machado F. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, • New technologies as tools for animal conserva- CCA-Departmento de Zootecnia Desenvolvimento tion ´ Rural, Rod. Admar Gonzaga 1346, Florianopolis • Genetic Characterization, including: Genetic Dis- SC Brazil 88-034-001. Tel: 1 55-48-331-5356. tances and Molecular Markers, Breed Identifica- Fax: 1 55-48-331-5350 331-5400. Email: tion, Quantitative and Qualitative Parameters. isae2000cca.ufsc.br Website: www.cca.ufsc.br • Utilization of Animal Genetic Resources, includ- ISAE2000. Or information from: Dr. Eberhard von ing: Breeding Plans, The Role of Native Breeds Borell, Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, on Sustainable Agriculture Systems. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Adam- • Education and Promotion of Animal Genetic Kuckhoff-Str. 35, D-06108 Halle Germany. Tele- Resources, including: Farm Parks, Eco-Tourism. phone: 1 49-345-5522331 2. Fax: 1 49-345- Teaching and Social Awareness. 5527106. email: borelllandw.uni-halle.de RBI Website: http: www.rbi.it RARE BREEDS INTERNATIONAL: Registration Fees US 5TH GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON Participants Accompanying Persons and Par- CONSERVATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMAL ticipating Students: GENETIC RESOURCES Before 15 September 350 125 After 15 September 400 150 20-24 November 2000 Transportation from and to Brasilia International The Fifth RBI Global Conference will be held in Airport per person: One way US15; return US20. Brasilia, Brazil from 20-24 November 2000. The Theme of the Conference is Conservation and Papers: Biotechnology: a Balanced Approach for the New Short papers: Two pages extended abstract: Dead- Millennium. The Conference is sponsored by Rare line: 31 July 2000 Breeds International RBI and by the local orga- Invited papers: Eight pages full paper; Deadline: nizers, EMBRAPA CENARGEN, Brazil. 31 August 2000 Papers will be accepted only in English, but may Programme be orally presented in English, Spanish or Por- tuguese. Simultaneous translation will be provided. Papers will only be accepted for publication on • Monday 20 November: Arrival and Registration; payment of Conference fees. Opening Ceremony and Welcome. • Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 morning: Techni- Conference Venue: cal Sessions. ´ EMBRAPA Headquarters, Brasılia, DF, Brazil. • Wednesday afternoon: Mid Conference Tour to the National Research Centre for Genetic Re- sources and Biotechnology-CENARGEN Pre Conference Tours: • Thursday 23 and Friday 24: Technical Sessions Delegates may choose to visit Marajo Island in • Annual Meeting of Rare Breeds International and the Amazon region or the Pantanal a flooded area Closing Ceremony. with lots of wild species, located in the border of 278 J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 Bolivia. In both places, EMBRAPA maintains con- EAAP CONTACT GROUP ON CENTRAL AND servation nuclei of domestic animals. EASTERN EUROPE Post Conference Tour: The 7th Session of the EAAP Contact Group on For participants interested in herds of Zebu Bos Central and Eastern European Countries CEEC indicus cattle, a visit to Uberaba, the city where the was held in Bled, Slovenia on 14 May 2000. The strong Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association ABCZ discussion centred first upon the 1999 experiences, is located 500 km East of Brasilia can be arranged. the ongoing programme and plans for 2001. The ˜ From Uberaba, participants can go straight to Sao future plans of the Group are built on positive Paulo, the biggest Brazilian city, that is a hub for experience from activities in 1999, such as: the most of the intercontinental flights. Workshop on extension services for livestock pro- duction Tallinn, Estonia, November 1999, where About the Host Organization, CENARGEN all participants actively contributed in discussions Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and outlining recommendations and proposals for the CENARGEN is one of 39 units of the Brazilian future work; and the Workshop on foreign invest- Agricultural Research Corporation EMBRAPA and ment in the animal production sector in CEEC is located in the federal capital Brasilia. Inaugurated Berlin, Germany, January 2000, which focused on in 1974, following FAO guidelines, it aims to a well defined topic of specific interest to a group of safeguard genetic resources for the sustained de- countries. The important Workshop on protein prob- velopment of agriculture and livestock breeding, lems Rennes, France, June 2000 contributed to with a view to ensuring a secure food supply for the better understanding of the situation in the CEEC people. Since 1986, CENARGEN has included in its and to indicate options for actions at national and activities, research in biological control and bio- international levels. technology applied to the characterisation, evalua- The Group noted the positive trend of topics tion, conservation and transformation of genetic relevant to the CEEC in the EAAP Study Commis- resources for agro-industry and forestry. sions and the EAAP Working Groups. During the CENARGEN has an advanced infrastructure and a 51st EAAP Annual Meeting The Hague, Nether- team of 120 scientists and has been recognized lands, August 2000 the Curricula Group plans to internationally as a Centre of Reference for training discuss the introduction of a credit system common personnel in genetic resources biotechnology and to academic institutions in CEE countries as well as biological control. problems related to post-graduate studies. Several topics of particular interest for CEE countries have About Brasilia been placed on the agenda of the 52nd Annual Brasilia, the new capital of the Federal Republic Meeting Budapest, Hungary, August 2001, namely: of Brazil, was inaugurated in 1960 and acts as a structural changes in the animal production sector in magnet for the development of the interior of the CEEC, quality of animal products, ensiled feeds and country. Its urban plan and the boldness of its main alternative horse production. These topics will be public building have made it internationally re- discussed at joint and separate sessions of the Study nowned and it has been declared a cultural heritage Commission and other Working Groups of the site for humanity by UNESCO. It is the only modern Council. The Contact Group for CEEC will be a part city in the world included among these heritage sites. of the two joint sessions with the Cattle and the Management and Health Commissions. Information Registration: The meeting was closely supportive of the FAO Dr. Arthur Mariante da Silva, National Centre for ICAR EAAP Workshop on the role of the breeders’ Genetic Resources, EMBRAPA-CENARGEN, Sain associations and animal identification and recording Parque Rural, PO Box 02372, BR 70849-970, in CEEC see report below. It is satisfying to note Brasilia, Brazil. Tel: 1 55-61-340-3507. Fax: 1 55- the involvement of several members of the Group in 61-340-3624. Email: marinatecenargen.embrapa.br that Workshop as those in Tallinn, Berlin and J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 279 Rennes. Further and more even distribution of the one on recording for improved breeding and manage- workload and responsibilities is encouraged. ment of the buffalo; and the second on the role of the It was reported that EU PHARE will finance a state and breeders associations in animal identifica- co-operative project on strengthening producers’ and tion and recording in CEE countries. breeders’ associations in eight CEE countries. Breed- Papers on guidelines and standards, managing a ers associations from three EU countries Austria, recording business and marketing and promotion of Germany and Italy will participate in the project. animal recording together with keynote presentations The Group commended the EAAP Secretariat for the highlighted new technical achievements and research way in which the experiences and output of the results as well as solutions and options in changing CEEC Group and the Task Force were transformed world. in an action-oriented project. The Group asked the Scientific contributions aimed at improving and EAAP Secretariat to put a short note on the EAAP updating ICAR standards and guidelines and fo- Web Site giving the history of EAAP involvement in cused, in general, on two fields: first, on methods to support of restructuring the animal production sector improve the quality of existing recording practices in CEE countries together with current activities of and facilitate the use of records for breeding and the Task Force Contact Group. management purposes; and second new technologies for enlarging animal recording to cover more species Dr. Milan Zjalic, and more economically important traits. In this Croatia. respect, of particular interest were presentations regarding beef recording, as well as recording of sheep, goats and buffalo milk. The need for the nd 32 ICAR SESSION ASSOCIATED development of technologies, guidelines and stan- WORKSHOPS dards for animal recording in the lower input pro- duction systems was recognized in order to apply The 32nd ICAR Session held in Bled, Slovenia, recording beyond the circumstances of developed 14-19 May 2000 was an exceptional event in the countries. New production methods such as auto- history of the international co-operation in animal matic milking systems, genetic evaluation for addi- performance recording: 450 participants from 59 tional traits and increased requirements for high countries; the first ICAR session after its registration quality products represent new challenges and possi- as an international non-governmental organisation; bilities for development of animal recording. Techni- the first session held in Central-Eastern Europe; cal innovations such as new methods of animal approval of the ICAR Strategy Plan; strong orienta- identification suitable also to trace animal products tion towards quality and new fields of recording; from pasture to consumers, new methods of milk organisation of two workshops covering specific analysis for management purposes, including preg- problems of interest for groups of specific countries; nancy tests, and possible developments of records in clear signals from developing countries on the need new fields such as indicators of the status of the for new recording methodologies and techniques for farming operations will certainly result in further lower input animal production systems. The picture research work and improvements in order to put could not be complete without mentioning the excel- them in practice. lent meeting facilities, the warm hospitality and the All member organisations are confronted with the efficiency of the local organizers. changes in the economic environment in which their The session was structured in an opening cere- clients’ operate: reductions in subsidies for animal mony with six keynote presentations, a plenary and products, globalization of markets, pressures to three parallel technical sessions with some 40 techni- reduce costs of production including costs of record- cal papers and meetings of the three Sub-Commit- ing. The exchange of experiences in managing a tees, the Task Force and thirteen Working Groups; recording business and in marketing and promotion then the business meeting in the form of the ICAR of recording illustrated ways and means of how to General Assembly and two international workshops: provide adequate services to clients by enlarging the 280 J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 scope of recording and by offering to farmers including the Union of Country Women of Slovenia, additional information for farm management pur- both in the official and supporting activities con- poses; how to develop strategies for adaptation and a tributed to the success of the Session. more economic use of existing software, and how to Proceedings of the Session will be published by use the on-farm software and integrate on farm data Wageningen Pers as EAAP Publication No. 98. bases into centralized systems. The plenary technical session approved reports of Milan Zjalic, Sub-Committees, Task Force and Working Groups. Croatia. The general trend towards the quality of the whole process of animal recording and enlargement of the FAO ICAR EAAP Workshop: Role of Breeders’ scope of recording was reflected in the development Associations and the State in Animal Identifica- of five Working Groups: Quality Assurance; Con- tion and Recording. Bled, Slovenia, 15 May 2000 formation Recording; Sheep Meat, Fibres and Fertili- The growing importance of animal identification ty Recording; Animal Recording Data; and Func- and recording in Central and Eastern European tional Traits. Their respective programmes of work Countries CEEC as well as the increasing role of in the preparation of recommendations and guide- Breeders’ Associations in providing services to its lines were met with strong support and approval. members provided the rationale for convening this The major item on the agenda of the General special Workshop on the occasion of the 32nd ICAR Assembly was the adoption of the ICAR Strategy Session. There were 120 participants from 28 coun- Plan which defined ICAR’s mission, new organisa- tries from almost all continents due mainly to two tional structure and an updated system of member- reasons: first, animal identification has become es- ship fees. The provision of benefits to its member sential in all countries participating or intending to organisations through providing information and participate in international trade in animals and services, guidelines and standards and being a body animal products and second, animal recording in though which member organisation can work to- lower-input production systems and in small herds gether to achieve shared objectives was declared as appears to be equally important as a farm manage- ICAR’s mission. New structure-integration of ICAR ment and extension tool and as a base for breeding and INTERBULL membership and the possibility for work. These points apply both in CEEC and in a both recording and evaluation organisations to be- number of non-European countries. come members of ICAR was reflected in the new Six invited and twelve country papers dealt with: membership fee structure. The Assembly approved national situations and perspectives, the ICAR mis- minor changes in the Statutes, accounts for 1998 and sion and its importance for the CEEC, FAO pro- 1999, and budgets for 2000, 2001 and 2002. Messrs. grammes in support of the restructuring of the animal Jean Claude Mocquot France and Julian Bryan production sector in the CEEC sub-region, the UK were elected members of the ICAR Board to current state of the milk production in CEEC and replace Messrs. Douglas Batchelor UK and Brian EU, constraints and perspectives of breeders’ as- Wickham Ireland both former Vice-Presidents of sociations in CEEC regarding animal identification ICAR, who terminated their eight year term in the and recording, and new developments in identifica- Board. Messrs. Andrea Rosati Italy and Mark tion techniques. In addition, an EU funded project on Jeffries New Zealand are the new Vice-Presidents. restructuring of breeders’ associations in CEE coun- The Session had also rich cultural and artistic tries was presented. components: a show of local traditional costumes Participants agreed that the variety of country- and folk culture, concerts of classical and folk music, specific situations imposes the need to implement exhibition of the Slovenian traditional breeds of general principles of identification, and in particular livestock, visits to natural and cultural monuments. recording, taking into account local traditions and The presence of the Slovenian Minister of Agricul- circumstances. In this respect, it was noted that in ture at the opening ceremony and the active partici- some CEE countries well organized and functional pation of representatives of farmers’ associations, breeders’ associations carry out the recording busi- J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 281 ness, often enjoying the financial support from the recording systems for the management of buffalo state. However, in majority of countries, particularly genetic resources; in those with the great number of small farms, the • Promote the use of records to assess the merit of state operates animal identification and recording animals, to improve farm management systems directly or through state owned institutions. The third and to increase profitability of farming. group of countries, where the farm support services still have to be established, require concerted interna- The main outputs of the workshop are Proceedings tional support of governmental and non-governmen- and Recommendations for international standardized tal organisations, such as ICAR, FAO, EAAP, to find guidelines of buffalo performance recording. adequate solutions in assigning financial and opera- The workshop was attended by 30 participants tional responsibilities to the state and private institu- from 17 countries. Eleven of these countries Azer- tions in this field. baijan, Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Noting that the productivity and the technical level Nepal, Pakistan, Sudan, Thailand and Vietnam had in EU candidate countries lag significantly behind never attended any ICAR meeting in the past. The the situation in the European Union, the workshop participants from Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, India, underlined the need for technical modernization, up- Italy, and Turkey that are already ICAR member dating of structures of the animal production sector countries were specialists in buffalo development. and an increase in the quality of animal products. FAO supported financially all participation expenses ICAR was invited to support development of the of the people from developing countries. The work- animal identification and recording in CEE countries shop was run in four session: both within its regular activities and special actions aimed at developing recording and evaluation tech- • Presentation of the seven existing country cases nologies for medium and small-scale operations. of buffalo milk recording systems. These new technologies must be reliable, simple, • Discussion on ‘‘Justification and components of a cheap and appealing to farmers as the final functional milk recording scheme’’ beneficiaries. The later task is also in the interest of • Discussion on ‘‘Initiation and implementation of a ICAR members and potential members in other parts sustainable recording scheme’’ of the world. The Proceedings of the Workshop will • Discussion on ‘‘Necessary components for a be published as ICAR Technical Series 4. buffalo improvement programme’’. Milan Zjalic, The seven ongoing cases of on-field milk recording Croatia. for buffalo are effective. The major features resulted as follows: • The purpose of milk recording involves both BUFFALO NEWS improved farm management and selection deci- sions in four cases Bulgaria, Italy, Egypt and Report on the Joint FAO-ICAR Buffalo Work- Iran. Selection of breeding animals at national or shop, Bled, Slovenia, 16-17 May 2000 regional level is the only purpose of milk record- The Joint Buffalo Workshop had the following ing in three cases India, Pakistan and Nepal. objectives: • Milk recording and selection activity is performed and controlled directly by the government through • Promote buffalo recording in the developing its own established structures and staff in three countries and make possible the comparisons of cases Pakistan, Iran, Nepal; it is performed animal productivity across countries; through the co-operative efforts of several institu- • Encourage international collaboration by net- tions, including farmers co-operatives, in three works for the development of buffalo production; cases Italy, India and Egypt; it was performed • Increase awareness of the value of appropriate directly by the government, but it is now moving 282 J . Hodges Livestock Production Science 38 2000 271 –310 to the responsibility of farmers’ association in recording unit instead of the herd. This allows Bulgaria. farmers to compare with each other and helps them to make better husbandry, management and culling From the discussion, the following conclusions were decisions. outlined: Animal recording is a prerequisite for any Provision of incentives to smallholders: free con- serious effort to develop livestock production at centrates, vaccines, semen doses, is also a good means to promote recording activity a farm level b industry level

2. At national level