A field and literature survey was conducted to determine the status of cattle genetic resources of sub-Saharan Africa and to identify cattle breeds at risk and those which may have become extinct over the last century. This paper - in two parts - summarises preliminary results of the survey. The survey revealed that sub-Saharan Africa is home to a total of 145 cattle breeds/strains comprising two taurine Longhorns, 15 taurine Shorthorns, 75 zebu (Bos indicus), 30 sanga, eight zenga (zebu-sanga), nine breeds derived from interbreeding of indigenous breeds/strains located in close proximity to each other, and six systematically created composite breeds. Out of the 145 breeds identified from the survey, 47 (about 32%) were considered to be at risk of extinction. Risk categories used were: Critical (most severe), Endangered, Vulnerable, and Rare (least severe). Of the breeds identified to be at risk of extinction, six were in the “Rare”category, 10 were “Vulnerable” another 10 were “Endangered”and 15 were in the “Critical”category. A total of 22 breeds (about 13%) previously recognised in the continent have become extinct in the last century. This number excludes some populations which have lost their individual identity due to admixtures involving two or more originally distinct breeds.

Munjal is a mutton-type sheep found in some districts of the Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan states. A sample survey was conducted in two districts of Rajasthan and one district of Punjab to record characteristics of Munjal sheep. Information was recorded on morphological characteristics, body measurements and body weight. Munjal sheep are quite big in size, tall, rectangular and massive with a dark brown face. Measurements were recorded of body length, height, heart girth, paunch girth, ear length and tail length. Adult body weights were also recorded. Wool samples were collected and analysed for their quality attributes. Wool from this breed is very coarse and hairy.

Mankind uses some 40 species of animals as domestic livestock to meet our needs for food, clothing, power, etc. Within these species, there are in total some 4,500 breeds that are referred to as the global animal genetic resources. Each breed comprises a unique set of genes. More than 30% of breeds are estimated to be at risk of extinction, and many more, particularly in developing countries, are threatened by inefficient utilization. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been mandated by its member nations to manage the global animal genetic resources, and major progress has been made in the last few years. However, resources are limited, and priorities will have to be set for breed conservation, for breed development programmes and for evaluation studies. Breeds that are taxonomically distinct should be favoured for conservation, the objective being to maintain maximum genetic diversity of each livestock species. Genetic distances and phylogenetic diversity provide the best available objective criterion, and microsatellites are the current markers of choice for obtaining the genetic data. Microsatellite-based genetic distances will describe breed similarities due to common ancestry, but cannot account for consequences of artificial or natural selection. Phylogenetic trees for 11 water buffalo populations in southeast Asia, constructed using 25 polymorphic protein coding loci or 21 microsatellite loci, show differences in both topology and branch lengths, but the microsatellite tree is a better representation of the similarities due to common ancestry. Thus phylogenetic diversity, based on microsatellite loci, should be used as an initial guide in making conservation decisions for livestock breeds.

Linear measurements have been used as indicators of weight in cattle. Withers height has been used most commonly, but measurements of White Park cattle show that it is of limited value. This paper explores alternative measurements and indices, not only to provide a superior guide to weight, but also as indicators of type and function of beef cattle. A complex index is recommended for breed characterisation, while hip width or rump length are shown to be the preferred single measurements for evaluation of individual animals or within-herd groups.

In Europe, more than 60 breeds are described by the national associations of rabbit breeders. However, these breeds are scarcely used in the commercial production of rabbit meat in Europe, which is based mainly on commercial strains. A European programme, coordinated by the I. N. R. A., has been initiated to realise the inventory of all these breeds and to evaluate the zootechnical value and the genetic characteristics of some of them. Through the European association of rabbit breeders and the FAO national focal points, all the European countries have been asked to fill out a questionnaire describing their populations of rabbits. A data bank is being set up, which will be included in the FAO (DAD-IS) and EAAP data banks. A sample of 10 breeds has been chosen (Flemish Giant, French Lop, Belgian Hare, Vienna White, Champagne Argente, Thuringer, Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, Himalayan, British). Their zootechnical value (reproduction, growth and carcass traits) is being evaluated on three experimental farms, in comparison with a control breed. At the same time, their genetic polymorphism and the genetic distances between these 10 breeds are calculated on the basis of microsatellites, mitochondrial DNA, other genetic markers and protein polymorphism. Finally, a bank of frozen embryos from these 10 breeds is being constituted.

A previously undescribed heavy, soft-feathered population of chickens characterised by a partially featherless portion of the neck known in Belize as the “Peel-Neck” was studied. It was also widely present in Guatemala. This population of chickens was said to have a dual purpose, raised for meat and eggs. The eggs were tinted, and the hens were sitters, also caring for the young until independent. The birds were active and independent foragers. The plumage colour was variable, but body weight and conformation were consistent across all specimens, as was the comb type and dimensions, and location of the featherless area on the neck. These chickens were kept under backyard rearing systems in both countries, although usually they were allowed to scavenge, at which they were said to excel. This population was not considered threatened, although apparently no attempt was made to breed pure specimens.

Based on several sources of information an overview has been given on the development, present situation and problems of conservation of animal genetic resources in Europe.

Presently, 1 029 breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and asses are registered by the EAAP-Animal Genetic Data Bank, Hanover. 42.8 % of the breeds are classified as being ‘at risk’. More than 360 conservation programmes are underway, which, however, in many cases seem to be operated independently of the status of endangerment and of similar breeds in other countries.

The primary objectives of conservation in Europe, i.e. ‘conservation for potential use, later’ and ‘conservation for cultural reasons’, are different from the objective ‘conservation for sustainable use, now’, which is primarily expressed for developing countries. Different objectives call for different answers to questions, such as: are breeds appropriate units of genetic diversity, how should endangerment be defined, what should be conserved and is incrossing and selection compatible with conservation?

In view of the large number of breeds ‘at risk’ and of similar breeds existing in different countries as well as the high costs of conservation it is concluded that characterisation of breeds for genetic uniqueness is presently the most urgent task in conservation. This requires effective co-operation across national borders in Europe.

The beef cattle breed Danish Shorthorn is used as a model for simulation of four variations of the circular mating scheme running for 50 years. Schemes 1 and 2 used a fixed exchange of bulls between female groups while schemes 3 and 4 used a random exchange of bulls between female groups. The number of bulls used in schemes 1 and 4 was 16 while the number of bulls used in schemes 2 and 3 was 8. Inbreeding levels were computed and gene dropping was applied to estimate the risk of founder allele loss. In the population of year 50 the inbreeding levels for the four mating schemes are not statistically different. The male founder alleles contribute strongly to the population of year 50. The female founder alleles are in greater risk of being lost than the male founder alleles.

Brazil has various species of domestic animals which developed from breeds brought by the Portuguese settlers soon after the discovery. Over the last five centuries, these breeds have been submitted to natural selection in particular environments and therefore today, they present characteristics adapted to the specific environmental conditions. From the beginning of this century, some exotic breeds, selected in temperate regions, have begun to be imported. Although more productive, these breeds lack adaptation traits, such as resistance to disease and parasites found in breeds considered to be“native” but even so, little by little, they have substituted the native breeds to such an extent that the latter are, today, in danger of extinction. To avoid the loss of this important genetic material, Brazil created an Animal Genetics Resource Conservation Programme, coordinated by the National Research Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Cenargen) of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMPRAPA). The conservation has been carried out by various Research Centres of EMPRAPA, Universities, State Research Corporations, as well as by private farmers, with a single coordinator at national level, Cenargen. The conservation is being carried out through Conservation Nuclei, situated in the habitats where the animals have been subjected to natural selection (in situ), and by the storage of semen and embryos (ex situ). The recently created Animal Genetics Laboratory of Cenargen allowed genetic characterisation studies on cattle and horse breeds to begin, and, in the near future, work with asses, buffalo and sheep will be conducted‥ From the results of this research it will be possible to compare the native breeds and estimate genetic distances between them. The harmonisation of chosen micro-satellites with those which have been used in other Latin America and Iberian Peninsula countries will be extremely useful for comparative studies and will allow future exchange of germplasm between countries.