Biodiversity
Biodiversity consists out of genetic diversity and Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR).
Genetic diversity
To make optimal use of existing genetic variation between and within populations breeding programmes are designed.
Breeding organisations attempt to maintain genetic diversity in their breeding populations, and to monitor and control the rate of inbreeding. Breeding organisations will contribute semen and/or embryos to (national) gene banks for relevant breeds/lines to ensure conservation of biodiversity.
To make optimal use of existing genetic variation between and within populations breeding programmes are designed.
Breeding organisations attempt to maintain genetic diversity in their breeding populations, and to monitor and control the rate of inbreeding. Breeding organisations will contribute semen and/or embryos to (national) gene banks for relevant breeds/lines to ensure conservation of biodiversity.
Diversity and distinctiveness
Future genetic improvement relies on farm animal genetic resources and genetic variation. Diversity of breeds and their farming systems highly contribute to European food products quality and diversity. Farm animal genetic resources are opportunities to maintain a vital countryside.
Future genetic improvement relies on farm animal genetic resources and genetic variation. Diversity of breeds and their farming systems highly contribute to European food products quality and diversity. Farm animal genetic resources are opportunities to maintain a vital countryside.
Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR)
"There is need to focus on understanding the real values of breeds. These values van be validated scientifically following the generation of a sufficient number of animals with accurate trait measurements. This validation will be necessary basis to understand the match between breeds, populations and genes with the physical biological and economic landscape. Fortunately this does not require high-tech science, but does require enthusiasm for the work and attention to detail. There is an enormous amount of available experience amongst existing breeders in this area of trait definition and collection.
There is a clear opportunity to engage with the breeders in the 'industrial system', who have seen many of the opportunities and pitfalls of the last century of 'informed animal breeding'. Specifically there is an opportunity to learn from the experience and data of poultry breeding which has probably evolved further than any other species in terms of balanced breeding.
Interestingly, the importance of focussing on reducing and halting the loss of indigenous breeds of farm animals is strongly supported by a recent genomic study of poultry. This study has concluded that modern agricultural practices were not the major source of allele loss. The majority of alleles were lost prior to the formation of the current intensive industry.
The breeders in industrial systems have further experience of the opportunities and threats of breeding stock movements where the OIE systems of disease recognition and subsequent movement control are followed.
It is important to identify what the real drivers are in reducing biodiversity and protecting biodiversity. These may not simply be opposites." - Ken Lauglin at AnGR FAO Interlaken, 2007.
"There is need to focus on understanding the real values of breeds. These values van be validated scientifically following the generation of a sufficient number of animals with accurate trait measurements. This validation will be necessary basis to understand the match between breeds, populations and genes with the physical biological and economic landscape. Fortunately this does not require high-tech science, but does require enthusiasm for the work and attention to detail. There is an enormous amount of available experience amongst existing breeders in this area of trait definition and collection.
There is a clear opportunity to engage with the breeders in the 'industrial system', who have seen many of the opportunities and pitfalls of the last century of 'informed animal breeding'. Specifically there is an opportunity to learn from the experience and data of poultry breeding which has probably evolved further than any other species in terms of balanced breeding.
Interestingly, the importance of focussing on reducing and halting the loss of indigenous breeds of farm animals is strongly supported by a recent genomic study of poultry. This study has concluded that modern agricultural practices were not the major source of allele loss. The majority of alleles were lost prior to the formation of the current intensive industry.
The breeders in industrial systems have further experience of the opportunities and threats of breeding stock movements where the OIE systems of disease recognition and subsequent movement control are followed.
It is important to identify what the real drivers are in reducing biodiversity and protecting biodiversity. These may not simply be opposites." - Ken Lauglin at AnGR FAO Interlaken, 2007.
Efficiency
Animal breeding and reproduction has to respond to new demands, adopt new techniques in response to social, economic or competitive pressures, exploit new opportunities that offer greater productivity, and reject/eliminate procedures which become unacceptable, carry risks or threaten costs that might outweigh short term benefits.
The history of livestock farming demonstrates this array of sustainability characteristics:
Animal breeding and reproduction has to respond to new demands, adopt new techniques in response to social, economic or competitive pressures, exploit new opportunities that offer greater productivity, and reject/eliminate procedures which become unacceptable, carry risks or threaten costs that might outweigh short term benefits.
The history of livestock farming demonstrates this array of sustainability characteristics:
- Technical - whether or not animal breeding methods are sustainable is not simply a matter of whether there are sufficient resources to allow them to continue, it is also matter of whether those methods and processes are consistent with the other components of the livestock production system of which they form a part, and remain consistent as those components change.
- Commercial - as a means by which individuals and companies earn their living, livestock production must in the long run be sufficiently profitable to prevent the resources employed moving to some other area of business.
- Economical - to be sustained over time all elements in the process of livestock production rely on the fact that they meet real demands in the economy and in society.