Summary

It was the objective of the workshop to explore the relevance of animal genetic resources (ANGRES) to breeding programs all around the world. Big differences among parts of the world can be observed in terms of intensity of production. While in the developed world production tends to be focused on high-intensity systems, much of the developing world has to operate in low input systems which can be expected to impact on the relevance of ANGRES. Accordingly, the contributions in the workshop followed this grouping.

Plant genetic resources have been rather well organized for some time with collections having had a prominent position in plant breeding programs for quite some time, a situation described in the introductory paper. With a still increasing world population on a shrinking acreage of arable land, clearly overall production has to increase. In the developed world, market forces have lead to improved breeds leaving less efficient ones behind. In contrast, in the developing world importations of "improved" breeds generally failed but still leaving indigenous breeds threatened. Breeds in the developed world tend to be evaluated on the basis of market requirements, while those in the developing world are usually not. While maintenance of between-breed variation is generally considered important, within-breed variation -- accounting for roughly 50% of total genetic variation -- does not usually get the attention it deserves.

The reason why the treatment of genetic resources is more focused in plant than in animal breeding was attributed to historical and present-day public involvement (and money) in the former and the generally private organization in the latter case.

The following series of three papers dealt with the ANGRES in high-input systems for egg, meat (pigs) and dairy milk production. It is generally accepted that the current breeding populations contain all the genetic variability required for future breeding work. There is some concern about the within-population variability which leads to the view that the increase of inbreeding should be below 1% per generation. Given the large differences in the level of production between current production populations and breeds at risk it seems highly unlikely that they will be able to contribute to current breeding programs in any substantial way. This would leave as reasons for conservation the general insurance aspect, the scientific interest and the cultural consideration. As a result, the speakers took the view that breed conservation ought to be a public concern going beyond the financial prowess and responsibility of the breeding companies or organizations.

While breeds in the developed world tend to be rather well evaluated for market products, very little is known about breeds in most low-input systems. Here, valuation presents a real problem. Depending on the valuation system chosen, distinctly different costs for conservation can make economic sense.

All contributions dealing with low-input systems showed a very different focus of conservation of genetic resources. Here, it is seen as a vital prerequisite for genetic improvement of production populations whereas in the high-input systems it is viewed more as a moral obligation for the reasons given above.

The 12 countries covered in the Asian perspective represent about one third of the worlds breeds. So far, breed improvement has been mostly focussed on the importation of semen. The F sub1a cross tends to be better than the indigenous breed. However, discontinuous breeding programs require structures in the countries that usually do not exist. Furthermore, decisions for the introduction of breeding material are influenced by dubious economics like externalizing costs or use output as a criterion instead of analyzing the complete production system. Additionally, research results tend to be ignored in many cases in particular by decision makers. On the other hand, on the production level itself an increase in focus on local breeds and their within-breed improvement can be observed.

This aspect was also stressed in the African Perspective: "conservation is appealing only if it results in economic benefit". Molecular genetic techniques are here seen as an instrument to enhance characterization and utilization of animal genetic resources. The South America Perspective gave a number of breeding programs with breeds in use that are specifically adapted to the low intensity tropical environment. On the other hand high-input systems also played their role in the South American sub-continent, as well. Many adapted breeds are used in well-established breeding programs with the introduction of the Zebu being a good example of utilization of a genetic resource also for low-input systems.

In the global strategy for the development of animal breeding programs in lower-input production environments as presented from the FAO perspective, evaluation and utilization of adapted local breeds play the most important role. The necessity for improved animal production is derived from the increase in human populations in the low input areas of the world. Thus, the focus of conservation is clearly justified by the promise of and necessity for increased production (which stands in stark contrast to conservation issues in high-input environments).