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Criteria for the recognition and prioritisation of breeds of special genetic importance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

L. Alderson
L. Alderson
Affiliation:
Countrywide Livestock Ltd, 6 Harnage, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 6EJ, United Kingdom
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Summary

The State of the World survey of animal genetic resources (SoWAnGR) has highlighted the necessity to reconcile the varying systems applied by different organisations for the identification and categorisation of endangered breeds of livestock. Currently, many of these systems are irreconcilable. In particular, there is a need to interpret national breed populations in the context of their international population. Rare Breeds International has developed and applied a system which overcomes these problems, and which coincides with criteria applied by FAO. The system utilises three criteria, namely distinctiveness, local adaptation, and numerical scarcity. Numerical scarcity is measured preferentially by the number of annual female registrations rather than the number of breeding females. The system embodies simplicity, accuracy and effectiveness, based on global data, and will enable more effective interpretation of SoWAnGR reports.

Résumé

L'enquête sur la Situation mondiale des ressources génétiques animales (SoW) a souligné le besoin de standardiser les systèmes appliqués par les différentes organisations pour l'identification et la classification des races domestiques en danger. Souvent, certains de ces systèmes ne peuvent pas être standardisés. En particulier, il existe le besoin d'interpréter les populations de races locales dans leur contexte international. Rare Breeds International a développé et appliqué un système qui surmonte ces problèmes, et qui coïncide avec les critères appliqués par la FAO. Le système utilise trois critères: la distinction, l'adaptation locale, et la scarcité numérique; cette dernière est mesurée de préférence par le nombre de femelles enregistrées chaque année plutôt que par le nombre de femelles croisées. Le système est simple, précis et effectif, et se base sur des données globales, ce qui permet une interprétation plus efficace des rapports SoW.

Keywords

Endangered breedsPrioritisationCharacterisationAdaptationDistinctivenessPopulation.
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 33 , April 2003 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1999

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References

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