The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Author: Barbara Rischkowsky

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 554

ISBN-13: 9789251057629

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Sustainable management of the world's livestock genetic diversity is of vital importance to agriculture, food production, rural development and the environment. "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture" is the first global assessment of these resources. Drawing on 169 Country Reports, contributions from a number of international organizations and 12 specially commissioned thematic studies, it presents an analysis of the state of agricultural biodiversity in the livestock sector - origins and development, uses and values, distribution and exchange, risk status and threats - and of capacity to manage these resources - institutions, policies and legal frameworks, structured breeding activities and conservation programmes. Needs and challenges are assessed in the context of the forces driving change in livestock production systems. Tools and methods to enhance the use and development of animal genetic resources are explored in sections on the state of the art in characterization, genetic improvement, economic evaluation and conservation. The main findings of the report are summarized in "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - in brief," of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish versions can be found on the attached CD-ROM and are also available separately in printed form. As well providing a technical reference document, the country-based preparation of "The State of the World" has led to a process of policy development and a "Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources," which once adopted, will provide an agenda for action by the international community. Published also in French.

Conservation Genetics
Conservation Genetics

Author: V. Loeschcke

Publisher: Birkhäuser

Published: 2013-03-11

Total Pages: 427

ISBN-13: 3034885105

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It follows naturally from the widely accepted Darwinian dictum that failures of populations or of species to adapt and to evolve under changing environments will result in their extinction. Population geneti cists have proclaimed a centerstage role in developing conservation biology theory and applications. However, we must critically reexamine what we know and how we can make rational contributions. We ask: Is genetic variation really important for the persistence of species? Has any species become extinct because it ran out of genetic variation or because of inbreeding depression? Are demographic and environmental stochas ticity by far more important for the fate of a population or species than genetic stochasticity (genetic drift and inbreeding)? Is there more to genetics than being a tool for assessing reproductive units and migration rates? Does conventional wisdom on inbreeding and "magic numbers" or rules of thumb on critical effective population sizes (MVP estimators) reflect any useful guidelines in conservation biology? What messages or guidelines from genetics can we reliably provide to those that work with conservation in practice? Is empirical work on numerous threatened habitats and taxa gathering population genetic information that we can use to test these guidelines? These and other questions were raised in the invitation to a symposium on conservation genetics held in May 1993 in pleasant surroundings at an old manor house in southern Jutland, Denmark.

Assessing Quality and Safety of Animal Feeds
Assessing Quality and Safety of Animal Feeds

Author: Samuel Jutzi

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 9789251050460

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This publication provides information on the impact of animal feeds on food quality, food safety, and the environment, and thus improves the basis for managing such risks. The book brings together in printed form six reviews from the FAO electronic journal AGRIPPA (available online).

Biotic Diversity and Germplasm Preservation, Global Imperatives
Biotic Diversity and Germplasm Preservation, Global Imperatives

Author: Lloyd Knutson

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 526

ISBN-13: 9400923333

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Topics for the Beltsville Symposia are selected to highlight specific areas of research and science policy that are of concern to scientists in the Beltsville Area as well as to the general scientific community. Each sympo sium in the series is structured to provide a realistic appraisal of current findings, research progress, and relevant policy issues within the constraints established by the organizing committee. Thus, the presentations and dis cussions that have marked these symposia have had a strong appeal to the broad community of scientists. Knowledge of the diversity of living organisms is still quite limited. Since the time of Linnaeus, about 1.7 million species have been described. The actual number has been estimated between 5-50 million. Many species, land races, and strains are vanishing. Clearly, the world's scientific institutions are inadequately equipped to attain sufficient knowledge of a significant fraction of the diverse living forms. Also, efforts in the collection and preservation of germplasm of plants and animals urgently need to be strengthened. These mattes are critically important to future generations. This symposium addresses vital concerns of biotic diversity and germ plasm preservation from diverse perspectives. Many of the parts provide concrete recommendations for action, and they call attention to areas of research that must be pursued with intensity.

Towards Increased Use of Trypanotolerance
Towards Increased Use of Trypanotolerance

Author: International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases

Publisher: ILRI (aka ILCA and ILRAD)

Published: 1994-01-01

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 9290552980

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Significance of Trypanotolerance as a control option; Trypanotolerant livestock, a sustainable option for increasing livestock production in tsetse-affected areas; Biology of Trypanotolerance; Factors affecting estimation of tsetse challenge and the expression of trypanotolerance; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity: 1. ILCA's achievements and future plans; Field research on measurement and use of trypanotolerance criteria to enhance trypanotolerant livestock productivity: 2 recent results quantifying trypanotolerance indicators; Genetic improvement of growth parameters in N'Dama cattle in Mali; Characterization and mechanisms of trypanotolerance in Baoule cattle; Antibody responses to the surface-exposed epitoses of the trypanosome variable surface glycoprotein in N'Dama and Boran cattle; Antibody responses to invariant antigens of Trypanosoma congolense; CD5+ B lymphocytes in cattle infected with African trypanosomiasis; Comparative bone marrow responses during Trypanosoma congolense infection in N'Dama and Boran cattle; Markers for mapping trypanotolerance genes; The Orma Boran - ten years of field observations; Variation in susceptibility to tsetse-borne trypanosomiasis among Bos indicus cattle breeds in East Africa; Variations in susceptibility to the effects of trypanosomiasis in East African zebu cattle; Adoption, utilization and impact of Trypanotolerance; Promotion of N'Dama stockbreeding and extension activities in village herds in the Yanfolila area of Mali; The economics of trypanotolerant cattle production in regions of origin and areas of introduction; Cattle breed preferences and breeding practices in southern Nigeria; Salvaging the image of the N'Dama breed: productivity evidence from village production systems in The Gambia; Ecological, social and economic impacts of trypanotolerance: collaborative research in Central and West Africa; Conservation, preservation, enhancement and propagation; Characterization, conservation and utilization of indigenous African animal genetic resources - ILCA's proposed program; Progress in molecular and genetic characterization of cattle populations, with emphasis of African breeds; Multiplication of improved trypanotolerant livestock; Programme for conservation of domestic animal diversity: a food and agriculture organization contribution to conserving animal genetic resources; Breeding biotechnologies.

Managing Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems
Managing Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems

Author: Devra Ivy Jarvis

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 520

ISBN-13: 9780231136488

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Describes how farmers manage, maintain, and benefit from biodiversity in agricultural production systems. Includes the most recent research and developments in the maintenance of local diversity at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.