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


Book Description

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.




Livestock


Book Description

Agricultural techniques used to increase production of cattle, sheep, and other major species have actually threatened the future genetic diversity of livestock populations, particularly in the Third World. This volume explores the importance of animal genetic diversity and presents a blueprint for national and international efforts to conserve animal genetic resources. It also evaluates genetic techniques useful in conservation programs and provides specific recommendations for establishing data bases and conducting research.







Towards Increased Use of Trypanotolerance


Book Description

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.




Phenotypic Characterization of Animal Genetic Resources


Book Description

These guidelines are part of a series of publications produced by FAO to support countries in the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources.




The Origins and Development of African Livestock


Book Description

This book presents an interdisciplinary overview of the origins of African livestock, placing Africa as one of the world centres for animal domestication. With sections on archaeology, genetics, linguistics and ethnography, this collection contains over twenty contributions from the field's foremost experts and provides fully illustrated, never before published data, and extensive bibliographies.




Animal Genetic Resources Information (Animal Genetic Resources - an International Journal)


Book Description

The mission of the Animal Genetic Resources Information Bulletin is the promotion of information on the better use of animal genetic resources of interest to food and agriculture production. - L 'objectif du Bulletin d'information sur les ressources genetiques animales est la vulgarisation de l'information disponible sur la meilleure gestion des ressources genetiques animales d'interet pour la production alimentaire et agricole. - El objetivo del Boletin sobre Recursos Geneticos Animales es la divulgacion de la informacion sobre una mejor gestion de los recursos geneticos animales de interes para la produccion alimentaria y agricola."







Animal Genetic Resources


Book Description