The Chato Murciano is the only surviving breed of pig of those historically farmed in the region of Murcia for their quality meat. At present, it is on the verge of extinction, having a population of only 260 reproductive animals. This paper describes the genetic studies made in the conservation and recovery programme of this breed of pig. A study of the morphological characterization of these animals was carried out first, measuring thirteen quantitative and six qualitative variables in a sample of 24 adult animals, 8 males and 16 females.

Subsequently, investigation was made of the consanguinity of the individuals and of the population as well as the future influence of inbreeding in each generation. Finally, the accuracy and precision of the heterozygote-excess method was evaluated using two data sets from the Chato Murciano pig. One data set is an original population and the other is a F3+F4+F5 generation of a line created from mating a Chato Murciano female with a Large White boar as part of an absorption programme based on backcrosses with Chato Murciano boars.

Randall Cattle are a landrace from the northeast USA. The cattle are triple-purpose and well adapted to the cold northeast geographic region. The current population descends from 14 cattle that remained after the death of the original owner, though only 12 of these represented unique founders due to interrelationships among the 14. He had kept the cattle as an isolated strain for nearly 80 years. Blood-typing results point to a north Atlantic origin for the breed, which is consistent with the history. The policy and practice of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has been to carefully document landraces and to assure their conservation. Focused breeding strategies have succeeded in rescuing the original 13 animals and expanding the population to nearly 300 in 2006. The breed is gaining popularity as a hardy, adapted and useful genetic resource. Breeding management has decreased overall inbreeding while at the same time managing the contributions of the various founder animals.

In Peru criollo cattle play an important role in the lives of the communities of the high Andes; they are a source of protein and of labour; their milk is sold as raw material or used to produce cheese by traditional methods (quesillo or cachipa). Reports of molecular characterization of milk proteins in the Peruvian criollo cattle are scarce, and in the absence of selection and improvement programmes, the diversity of locally adapted criollo cattle is being lost, without greater advantage being taken of this animal genetic resource. The results of genetic characterization of kappa caseins (CSN3) and beta lactoglobulins (BLG) in four populations of criollo cattle from Andean communities in Peru are reported. Allelic frequencies were: CSN3A = 0.590, CSN3B = 0.410, BLGA = 0.400 and BLGB = 0.600.

The αS1 casein gene is one of the lacto protein genes, which are involved in the milk synthesis. The objective of this study was to identify genotypes of B and E alleles at the locus αS1 casein in the Guéra and Sahel goat herds in Mali. These herds were located in the Regional Center of Agronomic Research and the Ségala village in Kayes, Mali. A total of 101 blood samples (53 for Guéra goat and 48 for Sahel goats) were collected and analysed. Alleles B and/or E, located on exon 19, of the αS1 casein gene were amplified using allele specific amplification polymerase chain reaction and analysed using 2 percent agarose gel electrophoresis. Results from this analysis identified three genotypes: BB, BE and EE with frequencies 0.77, 0.17 and 0.06 for the Guéra goats. However, only the BB genotype was identified in the Sahel goats. The frequencies of alleles B and E in the Guéra goats were 0.86 and 0.14, respectively, with an observed and expected heterozygotes of 0.08 and 0.12, respectively.

Serrana de Teruel is an endangered cattle breed raised traditionally in the mountainous areas of Southern Aragon (Spain). With the aim of recovering the breed, a characterization was carried out to determine the morphology, husbandry and genetic values of the Serrana de Teruel breed. Individuals showed a medium to high degree of homogeneity and harmony, most of the animals being of straight profile, and eumetrical and sublongilineal individuals, although smaller in size than other phylogenetically proximate breeds. Biodiversity studies showed good diversity values despite the breed's low effective population size (240 individuals in 2010). These studies provided the basis for a sustainable programme of genetic conservation. In order to guarantee long-term maintenance, germplasm banks contain 6400 doses of semen and 74 embryos. Concurrently, the commercial viability of the breed was studied by means of an analysis of carcass and meat quality from three commercial categories – yearling, bull and steer (castrated at 9 months old) – with ages at slaughter of 12, 22 and 22 months and live weights of 470, 720 and 660 kg,, respectively. Good performances and high-quality products with no commercial constraints in the beef market were obtained. Finally, a prospective study for a new beef quality product labelled ‘Serrana de Teruel’ was performed, according to the opinions of experts. These studies provide the standard requirements for the alternative production of a labelled beef product that might create an incentive for the production of the Serrana de Teruel breed among other breeds, and thus favour the conservation of the breed in the medium term.

The origins, historical evolution and actual situation of the breed are discussed. These cattle played a major role in the central part of the Italian peninsula since Roman times. The breed's vital statistics, numbers and systems of production are presented.

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.

Conservation of animal genetic resources (AGR) in Scandinavia was started in the 1970s and organized in the 1980s. The work is coordinated by a working party financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Each country conserves its own AGR, but many tasks can be done jointly. Of these tasks, the development and maintenance of a Nordic data bank for AGR is an important part. Each country has mapped out its situation and prepared plans for conserving endangered native breeds and genetic variation in some major breeds for unpredictable future needs. Live animals from several breeds have been conserved in agricultural schools, prison farms and private herds, but these have been supplemented by stores of frozen semen and embryos. Developments in conservation methods are followed up and problems of conservation pointed out. Many of these are caused by the fact that animals grow, age, die and have to be mated regularly with unrelated animals, and that records have to be made of identities, mates, dates and traits. Many precautionary measures are necessary. Many-sided frozen semen and embryo stores are important besides live animal herds or flocks. There are problems in getting each female inseminated with an appropriate male, and in getting people working on different motives to collaborate.

Studies were conducted on two calves and a pregnant female captured from the forest to assess the feed utilization, growth pattern and milk composition in Mithun (Bos frontalis), a rare bovine species of north-eastern India. The DMI, kg/100 kg body weight was 0.05 with DM and OM digestibility of 56.95 ± 3.68 and 58.46 ± 3.51 percents, respectively, in calves. The growth was more during the May to October months, however, the average growth of 181.26 ± 23.51 g day-1 was obtained during the year on grazing. The Mithun was not a milk yielder, but became accustomed to milking. Fat content in milk varied from 6.8 to 7.8%. The total solids, protein, lactose, ash and solid not fat (SNF) were estimated at 18.0, 4.9, 5.0, 0.8 and 10.7% respectively with COB negative at 4°C. The birth weight of the male calf was estimated at 22.0 kg, and an average growth of 325.14 g day-1 was determined in 214 days with maximum weight gain during the first two months of age.

National and Regional Parks in France are cooperating in the conservation of rare livestock breeds as follows:

Park

Volcans d'Auvergne

Cévennes

Landes de Gascogne

Marais Poitevin

Luberon

Breed

Ferrandaise cattle

Raïole sheep

Landais sheep

Poitou ass

Rove goat

This paper describes the organization of livestock production in Croatia and briefly outlines the contribution of the various species of domestic livestock to the national economy. In the final part, the animal genetic resources of Croatia are described and the status of domestic animal diversity described.

The history and development of the four Southern African horse breeds, i.e. Basutho Pony, Nooitgedacht, South African (SA) Boerperd and Cape Boerperd, are traced from their common ancestor, the Cape Horse, to the present day. Recent blood-typing studies of the first three have shown them to be closer related to each other than to any other world breed. At the beginning of the twentieth century the Southern African horse industry was devastated after the Anglo Boer War (1899–1902). Indiscriminate crossbreeding and intentional importation of other specialized breeds led to the near extinction of the descendants of the Cape Horse in South Africa. Fortunately, the efforts of the Government Department of Agriculture and a number of private breeders to identify, conserve and develop the then existing genetic material over the past half century, resulted in the existence today of three small, but viable, registered breeds of locally adapted and versatile horses viz. Nooitgedacht, SA Boerperd and Cape Boerperd. The recent history and apparent present situation of the Basutho Pony in the neighbouring country of Lesotho was also described.

En este artículo se describe el probable origen del ganado Polled Criollo Pereira Camargo, y el hábitat donde este ganado ha vivido y todavía vive hasta el día de hoy Se describe también sus características zootécnicas, aptitudes y cualidades.

Increasing awareness of the contribution of native breeds to the quality of human life has created widespread support for conservation of rare breeds in Britain. The organizations concerned with conservation are either commercially oriented or charitable agencies. Public support for the latter is created through radio and television programmes, publications in magazines, demonstrations in agricultural shows and special farm parks for rare breeds.

El cerdo ibérico constituye la población más amplia entre las pertenecientes al tipo mediterráneo y se mantiene en el S. W. de la Península Ibérica con un sistema productivo estrechamente ligado al medio natural. En los últimos años ha experimentado un auge asociado al establecimiento de un mercado propio para sus productos. Aunque el número de cabezas sea aparentemente considerable, la alta proporción de los cruzamientos con Duroc hace peligrar la supervivencia de algunas de sus variedades. En este trabajo se describen las características de la raza y de sus particulares sistemas de producción tanto en el campo como en la industria, así como la estructura de la población en relación con los problemas de su conservación.

This article presents the current situation of animal genetic resources in Botswana, particularly following several years of drought. Likewise, a series of results is presented comparing the yields between the main local breeds and also between them and imported and crossed animals. Due to their greater capacity of adaptation to local conditions, the Tswana breed animals continue to be the most productive.