Importance of cattle biodiversity and its influence on the nutrient composition of beef

Abstract

• Livestock make a substantial contribution to achieving food and nutrition security due to various factors including the high nutritional quality of animal-source foods. • Conservation and sustainable use of cattle genetic resources are important due to the multiple benefits provided by local breeds. These benefits include multiple direct uses, additional market value provided by specialty products, social and cultural roles, and adaptations that local breeds have to climate and diseases in harsh environments. • Meat composition varies across cattle breeds. Whereas genetics play a role in this variation, management practices, such as diet, and other environmental factors also affect nutrient composition. • Compositional data for cattle breeds have been added to the FAO/ INFOODS Food Composition Database for Biodiversity. The database is publicly available and has value for use by researchers, nutritionists, producers, the general public and other stakeholders. • More compositional data, including amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, are needed from local breeds in order to understand better the nutritional benefits of sustainably managing animal genetic resources.