1. Livestock diversity facilitates the adaptation of production systems to future challenges and is a source of resilience in the face of greater climatic variability.
2. The roles and values of animal genetic resources remain diverse, particularly in the livelihoods of poor people.
3. The adaptations of specific species and breeds to specific environmental challenges need to be better understood.
4. The impact of many livestock-sector trends on animal genetic resources and their management is increasing.
5. The world’s livestock diversity remains at risk.
6. The assessment of threats to animal genetic resources needs to be improved.
7. Institutional frameworks for the management of animal genetic resources need to be strengthened.
8. Establishing and sustaining effective livestock breeding programmes remains challenging in many countries, particularly in the low-input production systems of the developing world.
9. Conservation programmes for animal genetic resources have become more widespread, but their coverage remains patchy.
10. Emerging technologies are creating new opportunities and challenges in animal genetic resources management.
11. Livestock diversity and the sustainable management of animal genetic resources are acquiring a greater foothold on policy agendas.

What needs to be done?

Efforts still need to be made to strengthen the management of these resources. Priorities include:

• improving knowledge of the characteristics of different types of animal genetic resources, the production systems in which they are kept and the trends affecting these production systems;
• developing stronger institutional frameworks for animal genetic resources management;
• improving awareness, education, training and research in all areas of animal genetic resources management;
• strengthening breeding strategies and programmes;
• expanding and diversifying conservation programmes.

The report draws on information provided in 129 country reports, 15 reports from international organizations, 4 reports from regional focal points and networks for animal genetic resources, and inputs from 150 individual authors and reviewers, as well as breed-related data from FAO’s Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). It serves as an update of the first report on The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, published in 2007, and focuses particularly on developments since the first report was prepared.