Chapter 1. Introduction
Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources 25
In some African and Asian countries, national governments are involved in breeding activities, oten with the aim of increasing national self suiciency in food of animal
origin. In most cases they own nucleus farms, where local or exotic cattle are kept. hese nucleus farms sell breeding stock males to improve populations owned by small
farmers. his system plays an important role in the utilisation and conservation of these breeds. he farmers keep large numbers of production animals and the nucleus farms
take care of the genetic diversity of the populations.
In a number of European countries government policies are increasingly focused on conservation and landscape enhancement in rural areas where the economic viability
of farming is limited. Ruminants can play a role in these policies. In parts of Europe, governments are also motivated to maintain livestock breeds for socio-economic or
culturalhistoric reasons.
here are many types of governmental institutions such as therapeutic farms, prisons, demonstration farms, farm parks, and museums at which local breeds may be kept.
he number of animals conserved in such locations is generally low, leading to risks of inbreeding and random loss of alleles with a low frequency in the population.
8.2. Education and research institutes
Farms linked to universities and research institutes are oten involved in selling breeding animals or conserving local breeds. hey combine these activities with their primary
tasks of educating students and carrying out research. Many universities and research institutes try to conserve locally developed breeds, which are no longer used by the
industry. hey pay a lot of attention to the maintenance of the genetic diversity within these populations. Universities and institutes are motivated for these activities as users
of genetic diversity in their basic research to unravel genetic and physiological processes with genomic techniques.
8.3. NGOs, part-time farmers and hobbyists
In many developed countries nongovernmental organisations NGOs conserve and stimulate the use of local breeds by part-time farmers and hobbyists. hese NGO’s and
their members play an important role in keeping local breeds of chicken, horse, sheep, goat and cattle. One of their drives is to demonstrate the cultural and historic aspects of
the diferent breeds for the purpose of education and recreation, or to produce special products for niche markets. In general their knowledge in genetic management is limited
and the participation of individual breeders in breeding and conservation programmes is oten on a voluntary basis. he number of part-time farmers and hobbyists keeping
Kor Oldenbroek
26 Utilisation and conservation of farm animal genetic resources
farm animals is increasing in the Europe and in North America and the Southwest Paciic regions. Most livestock species, except the pig, are kept for hobby purposes.
8.4. Breeder’s associations, farmers and pastoralists
In Europe and in North America many breeders’ associations exist. Together with the farmers involved they try to take advantage of niche markets to sell speciality products
from local breeds, oten kept in natural environments. In these circumstances the local breeds are an integral part of the brand, and this provides an opportunity for proitable
production using breeds that would otherwise be uneconomic. In many countries farmers or farmer’s organisations have become involved in organic farming. In some
cases, traditional breeds are favoured in organic systems because of their good adaptation to the management conditions, and for marketing reasons. Potential opportunities to
export organic products are increasingly recognised in many East European countries. In a number of African countries the use of local indigenous animal genetic resources
within the traditional low external input production systems is considered to be the form of utilisation and conservation which best suits the local conditions and avoids
problems related to the lack of inancial resources for other forms of conservation. Uncontrolled mating, changes of production systems and cross-breeding are the
signiicant risks in this form of utilisation and conservation.
8.5. Breeding companies
Primary food production in the developed world tends to follow an integrative approach with all participants in the production chain from breeding companies, suppliers of
equipment, feed suppliers, veterinarians and processing industry towards retailers and consumers. heir primary focus is on uniformity of the product and the production
methods within the chain. In itself, this is a threat for the maintenance of genetic diversity. But to be competitive, diferentiation between chains and development of new
products is required. he required diferentiation and development is a real opportunity for the utilisation and management of genetic diversity by breeding companies.
In the poultry industry, only a very few multinationals are actively selling highly specialised hybrid layers and broilers using a very limited number of intense selected
lines as basic breeding stock. he number of these specialised chickens producing eggs or poultry meat is increasing very quickly at the global level, mainly as the result of
intensive marketing by the layer and poultry industries.
In Europe, North America and Australia, pork production is highly industrialised and a few multinational breeding companies dominate in the production chains. hese
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