Los autores presentan los esfuerzos realizados para la salvaguardia de la vicuña silvestre, así como las distintas metodologías empleadas para el censo (mediante: a) censos totales; b) censos por muestreo y a través de transectas lineales; y c) censos estratificados) junto con su caracterización biológica y ecológica. Estas características se basan principalmente en una mayor dimensión respecto a la subespecie a la que pertenecen (vicugna vicugna vicugna); por otra parte, la raza posee una lana con buenas características. Este animal está bien adaptado a su ambiente, con poco dimorfismo entre sexos y con un comportamiento social y sexual particular. Dado que se trata de un animal protegido, las poblaciones campesinas han necesitado autorizaciones particulares para la explotación de su lana.

Chinese minihorses were discovered at the end of the 1980s during a national census and investigation on animal genetic resources. The existence of such kind of horses was supported by evidence from body measurements, historical records and bone fossils. Blood polymorphism of local breeds of minihorses has been tested. Chinese minihorses are postulated to have a separate origin from minihorses China.

This paper describes the Malvi camel, a very distinctive breed from northern Madhya Pradesh (India), which is characterized by considerable milk production potential. Although the Malvi camel has long been recognized as a distinct population by local camel breeders, scientists were previously not aware of the existence of this breed. Information about the distribution area, estimated population size, and physical characteristics of the Malvi camel is provided and the prevailing management and production system is described. It is concluded that the Malvi camel represents a valuable genetic resource and that steps are necessary to ensure its survival as a separate gene-pool. The way in which this breed was discovered also demonstrates the need for utilizing local indigenous knowledge in the identification and documentation process of animal genetic resources.

The Mithun (Bos frontalis) is a heavily built semi domesticated bovine species originated in north eastern hill region of India. In some folklore, Mithun have been referred to as the descendent of the Sun. There are interesting and divergent legends about the orig of mithun among different in tribes. Even today, mithun is used as a holy sacrificial animal to appease the Gods by the tribesman. It is a woodland animal found at an elevation of between 2 000 and 9 000 feet. The habitat of mithun extends like a long curved belt of hills from the Akasan hill and Chin Hills of Burma through the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and the Lushai (Mizo) hills of Manipur and Naga hills of India. The geographic zone is covered with tropical evergreen rain forests. At higher elevations mithun territories are also shared by yak (Poephagus grunniens), while at lower altitudes domestic cattle and mithun co-habit. The information contained in the article is primarily based on a field survey carried out on mithun of Porba village of Nagaland. Some data collated and published by other departments is also included.

The fast changing socio-economic levels of inhabitants, ecological profile and agricultural scenario in the native breeding.tract of Hariana cattle breed reveal several factors resulting in consistently a declining trend in the population as well as genetic deterioration in performance traits of the breed. The breed, once occupying pre eminent position in Indian farming throughout the entire rural households of North India for both draught power and milk production, isnow being gradually neglected and becoming economically non-remunerative because of intensive and more mechanized agriculture replacing draught animal power, shrinking grazing areas, over emphasis on crossbreeding with exotic cattle inheritance and emergence of buffalo as a commercial dairy animal. The authors emphasize the need to develop suitable strategies for planned genetic improvement and conservation programmes of the breed to resurrect it as an economical viable cattle breed for the posterity.

Vechur cattle, once popular in southern Kerala (India) is on the verge of extinction. By extensive search the few remaining animals could be traced. They are being conserved by Kerala Agricultural University. Cows are extremely sma.ll in size, i.e. weighing around 125 kg with a height of not more than 90 cm They are capable of producing 2–3 kg fat milk per day. Heat tolerance, disease resistance and general adaptability are added qualities. Age at first calving is three years and the intercalving period 14 months. As a part of characterization of these animals, cytogenetic, biochemical, immunogenetic studies as well as blood typing, milk composition and fat globule studies have been taken up.

There are four cattle beef breeds in Japan: Japanese Black, Japanese Brawn, Japanese Poll and Japanese Shorthorn. These breeds were crossed with European breeds in the early 1900's. As a result of introducing European blood, Japanese beef cattle have an expanded and more diverse gene pool. Furthermore, both the breed used for crossing and the selection criteria employed varied significantly from prefecture to prefecture Consequently, a number of distinct strains have been established. At present, however, the genetic diversity is becoming increasingly concentrated around a limited number of strains noted for their superior meat quality. From the genetic conservation view point, it is necessary to stock minor strains by frozen semen and embryos for future domands of genetic resources. This paper discusses the conservation and current utilization of beef cattle genetic resources in Japan.

The dynamics of cattle breeds from 1935 to 1990 has been analysed in the paper. It was found out that some breeds such as the Grey Llkrainian and the White-Headed Ukrainian, were on the verge of disappearing, even certain breeds introduced in the early fifties a d well adapted since (Pinzgau, Red Polled and Brown Carpathian). Some forms and methods of conservation of cattle breeds in the Ukraine were considered. Urgent measures of conservation are required, even the number of cattle of the Simmental type was greatly reduced. The group of more recently introduced beef breeds is unstable and small. Methods of cattle breeding for 100 years have been analysed. It was stated that it was necessary to raise the importance of pedigree breeding, to change the selection index principle for cows developed by crossing related breeds of cattle. Methods and forms to conserve valuable genotypes of breeds were discussed. They will help to conserve genetic stock of cattle. It has been suggested to evolve a new type of beef Simmental cattle as well as to use the double purpose type. In order to conserve genetic stock of cattle breeds, thé theory on symmetry of Vernadsky was used. It could allow determining the interrelation “genotype-environment” The importance of continuous on-farm inspection programmes as a means of monitoring numbers and husbandry conditions is underlined.