Livestock Genetic Resources: Preserving Genetic Adaptations for Future Use

Abstract

Since domestication, livestock have evolved and been actively selected for adaptation to a wide range of physical, climatic, disease challenge and production environments. Relatively free access to these farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) has delivered large benefits to developed and developing countries, notwithstanding examples of inappropriate promotion and use of specialised breeds in the developing world. Rapid changes in economic and agricultural environments globally are creating major threats to livestock diversity. The problem is most acute in the developing world, where information about the characteristics and status of indigenous FAnGR is limited and there is little or no capacity to protect such genetic resources. Recent international fora have recognised the need for urgent action to conserve FAnGR of the developing world. Priority is given to conservation through sustainable use but an urgent need for cryo-conservation is now recognised, overturning the consensus arrived at last decade that cryo-conservation was neither required nor desirable. Implementing conservation of developing world FAnGR will require regional and international collaboration and support, mechanisms for which have yet to be developed. With the accelerating rates of change in the developing world, failure to implement conservation and sustainable utilisation programs in the developing world in the very near future will likely lead to the loss of a substantial proportion of the world’s FAnGR.