Turkey's 21.8 million head of sheep comprise a rich array of fat-tailed and thin-tailed native breeds and crosses of these with animals of exotic origin. The structure of agriculture is such that most farms are predominantly subsistence oriented, of small size, keep few animals and provide only minimal inputs. Native breeds have evolved to meet these conditions and are generally well adapted to the natural environment, inadequate and unbalanced nutrition and disease stress. In the last 80 years, there have been attempts to modify the natural gene pool and many distinct breed types are in danger of or have already suffered extinction. This paper describes some of the major sheep genetic resources and their conservation status. The government is now aware of the danger of impoverishment or loss of this important aspect of biodiversity and has established programmes for conservation and preservation of several native breeds. Government, research institutions and producers should work together to ensure that the local gene pool is preserved and can thus continue to contribute to biodiversity and sustainable livestock production.

Goats were first domesticated in Turkey some 10 000–11 000 years ago. The country's population of 5.1 million goats in 2009 (down from 24.6 million in 1960) are still an important livelihood asset for smallholder farmers and nationally are a rich array of farm animal genetic resources of current enormous and future inestimable value. The structure of agriculture is such that most farms are predominantly subsistence oriented, of small size, keep few animals and provide only minimal inputs. Native breeds have evolved to meet these conditions and are generally well adapted to the natural environment, inadequate and unbalanced nutrition and disease stress. In general, there are two classes of goat, the one being the iconic Angora that produces mohair and the other the “common” or “hair” goat. The reduction in numbers is owing to a variety of reasons both internal and external to the country, but the Angora, which now amounts to only 2.5 percent of national goat numbers, has suffered relatively more than the hair types. This paper, based on detailed reviews of the literature and on the authors' own experiences, provides information on 17 breeds or recognized populations of Turkey's goat genetic resources and their conservation status. The government is now aware of the danger of the impoverishment or loss of this important aspect of biodiversity and has established programmes for conservation and preservation of several native breeds. The government, research institutions and producers should work together to ensure that the local gene pool is preserved and can thus continue to contribute to biodiversity and sustainable livestock production.

The loss of biodiversity has become a major environmental issue during the course of the twentieth century. Numerous indigenous farm animal breeds have been replaced by commercial breeds in agricultural production processes in industrialized countries, sometimes resulting in complete breed loss and at other times placing the breed in an endangered status. Loss of breeds occurs mainly due to the striving for more intensive production, which often means that indigenous farm animal breeds are kept in conventional production only in marginal agricultural areas. One such endangered breed is the Yakutian Cattle, an indigenous Siberian cattle breed that is kept in the Russian Far East. The cattle have a low output but valuable characteristics that confer adaptation to the northern environment. This article addresses the socio-cultural and political context of conservation of the cattle at different levels in society. The conservation of animal genetic resources is embedded in the international agenda, and the Russian Federation has ratified conventions to protect them. The conservation is de facto organized at the republic level. The local communities carry out the conservation in practice by keeping and maintaining the cattle, although the conservation was initiated by the scientific community. We suggest that the conservation of Yakutian Cattle is based on national and local interests, rather than on global conventions on biological or cultural diversity. Furthermore, the reasons for conservation are different at different levels, which constitute both an advantage and a challenge for the future.

Pastoral habitats in the County of Devon in southwest England range from lowland temporary pastures to upland rough grazing. These habitats have resulted in the development of locally adapted livestock types. In 2010, Devon is repository to two cattle, five sheep and two equine breeds: Historically there were sheep, equine and pig breeds now extinct or subsumed into existing types. Breed origins are discussed and physical descriptions and main production characteristics are provided. Information is given on organizations in England and overseas that promote the breeds and are responsible for maintaining pedigree records. Available numerical data are presented and conservation status discussed. All sheep and equine breeds are at risk because of low numbers or restricted geographical distribution. The government provides no direct assistance for conservation or preservation although there is limited support for native breeds from agrienvironmental schemes. Owner awareness of breed values, “designer” made for thriftiness under harsh conditions, supported by civil society organizations, will render them “fit for purpose” for new uses in conservation grazing in environmentally sensitive areas, maintenance of plant diversity and sustainable production, and assist in ensuring survival of these invaluable genetic resources.