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Recent publications

Ibero-American pig biodiversity
(Biodiversidad porcina Iberoamericana)

J.V. Delgado Bermejo
Servicios de publicaciones de la Universidad de Córdoba Campus
Universitario de Rabanales 14071 Córdoba Spain
www.uco.es/publicaciones
Published in 2004. ISBN: 84-7801-727-5
pp. 330

The publication is based on a Seminar held in Córdoba Spain (October 2001) and entitled "First Ibero-American Seminar on Breeds Derived from the Iberian pig".

The book is structured in four parts. The Introduction tries to locate the reader in the present situation of the local Ibero-American pig breeds through the description of their biological definition as well as a picture of their historic origins starting from the Iberian populations of XV century.

In the second part a deep and accurate description the local pig populations originating from twelve countries is carried out considering not only the single animals but also their environment their social and production system the commercial exploitation and the consequences of their use.

In the third part a methodologic study on the techniques and protocols of genetic characterisation is presented as well as the criteria for the definition and the management of a genebank.

The publication ends with an Appendix dedicated to a short description of some concrete populations mainly Spanish that were presented during the symposium.

The publication was made possible by the collaboration among Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias Español (INIA) Córdoba University (Spain) the Ibero-American Programme for Science and Technology for the Development (CYTED) and the Diputación de Córdoba (Spain).

Responding to the livestock revolution

E. Owen T. Smith M.A. Steele S. Anderson A.J. Duncan M. Herrero,
J.D. Leaver C.K. Reynolds J.I. Richards & J.C. Ku-Vera
British Society of Animal Science Publication no. 33
Nottingham University Press
Published in 2004. ISBN: 1-904761-51-8
pp. 370 pages

This book discusses the Livestock Revolution which is occurring in some developing countries and is foreseen to become a wider phenomenon over the next 20 years due to an increase in population urbanization and incomes. As a result a gigantic increase in demand for meat and milk is predicted. The many implications for animal agriculture in developing countries and globally are considered. The recurring question addressed is whether the Livestock Revolution will help or hinder the alleviation of poverty amongst resource-poor livestock farmers.

As well as the Livestock Revolution topics addressed include poverty mapping impact of trade agreements bio-security constraints to trade environmental implications the role of animal science research and GM technology development aid knowledge management and dissemination and case studies of the milk sector in Bolivia Kenya and Nepal.

The book will be invaluable to all concerned with animal agriculture and poverty alleviation be they lecturers students policy makers researchers or practitioners including farmers and their advisers.

Building on gender agrobiodiversity and local knowledge - A training manual
Gender and population division Sustainable development department FAO,
Via delle terme di Caracalla 1 00100 Rome Italy
Published in 2005; www.fao.org/sd/links

This training manual focuses specifically on the linkages between local knowledge systems gender roles and relationships the conservation and management of agrobiodiversity plant and animal genetic resources and food security. Its aim is to promote a holistic understanding of these components. The training objective is to strengthen the institutional capacity in the agricultural sector and to recognize and foster these linkages in the relevant programmes and policies.

It is meant to complement existing manuals covering tools methods and approaches such as the FAO/SEAGA handbook material for socio economic and gender analysis (www.fao.org/sd/seaga).

The manual is divided into five modules. Each module contains fact sheets’ covering key aspects and linkages between agrobiodiversity gender and local knowledge. The fact sheets include short case examples to show practical evidence of the relevance of the topics. The rationale behind this structure is to permit flexible use of the manual. Depending on the demand and need of the participants modules can be added or taken out. A brief outline of the five Modules is:

The manual is aimed at a wide target group. It will be useful as a conceptual guide for trainers and as reference material for others working within the context of agrobiodiversity management gender and local knowledge.

Contribution of livestock to mountain livelihoods
P.M. Tulachan M.A.M. Saleem J. Maki-Hokkonen & T. Partap
Jointly published by ICIMOD SLP FAO & CIP
Integrated Centre for Integrated Mountain Development,
4/80 Jawalakhel GPO Box 3226 Kathmandu Nepal
Published in 2001. ISBN 92-9115-264-1
pp. 320

This book is a summary of the proceedings of the International Symposium on ‘Livestock in Mountain/Highland Production Systems: Research and Development Challenges into the Next Millennium’ which took place from 7-10 December 1999 in Pokhara Nepal. The aim was to address the critical issues facing research and development of livestock in mixed farming systems in mountain and highland regions in Africa the Andes and the Hindu Kush Himalayas and to provide a direction for future activities. The meeting highlighted the main current and future trends and constraints to livestock production systems in mountain and highland environments.

Eighteen papers on livestock and livestock related issues were presented in plenary sessions. Separate working groups discussed and developed action plans for four thematic areas livestock production systems (farm level); post production processes; livestock biodiversity and conservation; and livestock policy issues.

The book is divided into four sections.

Organic agriculture for biodiversity - Current contributions and future possibilities
Proceedings of the 3rd International IFOAM Conference on Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture
S. Stolton
Published by IFOAM.
Published in 2005. ISBN 3-934055-49-4
pp. 140

This volume brings together 19 papers reviewing the current contributions and future possibilities’ for organic agriculture and biodiversity.

Field experiences are recorded from across the globe and subjects range from developing the role of organic agriculture in international conventions to the experiences of working with farmers and pastoralists to develop biodiversity friendly agriculture.

Future developments such as the IFOAM biodiversity standards are discussed and chapters from FAO and UNCTAD provide and international perspective. Contributions from IUCN and BfN show the close working relationship developing between the organic agriculture and nature conservation movements.

The future is an ancient lake
C. Batello M. Marzot & A.H. Touré
FAO Interdepartmental working group on biological diversity for food and agriculture
Via delle terme di Caracalla 1 00100 Rome Italy
Published in 2004. ISBN 92-5-105064-3
pp. 307

History has recorded a period of complete disappearance of lake Chad. Yet the ecosystem has regenerated itself and civilization continues to flourish. The challenge today is to reverse the land and water degradation in the Lake Chad Basin ecosystem by means of both modern methods and traditional skills in order to support the sustainable exploitation of natural resources for the benefit of millions of people today and in the generations to come.

This book is a tribute to the strength and intelligence of the people of the Lake Chad Basin who over centuries have developed a wealth of local technologies enabling them to survive the harsh and uncertain conditions of the region.

An important aim of this book is to give people living in the Chad Basin pride in their knowledge their land and their future. It focuses on small farmers pastoralists and fishermen who need to improve their food security their income and their rural livelihood. A second aim is to deepen the awareness of diverse policy makers of the significance of this important ecology and the people who live there.

The book contains over 350 photographs documented information on traditional food production systems scientific details and notes from a journey through the region. It provides an insight into the life and customs of the local farmers fishermen and pastoralists who foster maintain and utilize biodiversity in their traditional agricultural systems thereby deploying the knowledge and techniques that they have accumulated over many centuries.

This publication has been prepared by FAO technical people from different Departments and Services
through the collaboration made possible by the Priority Area for Interdisciplinary Action on Biodiversity
and support received by the FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme on Agrobiodiversity.

This book will provide readers with new ideas and new instruments projects and studies promoting a dynamic and modern agriculture based on scientific knowledge new technologies and traditional production systems. This publication is a wake up call for everyone to identify document and transmit knowledge and practices that will enable the present and future inhabitants of the Lake Chad Basin to sustain and improve their living conditions.

Photograph album of China indigenous poultry breeds
ISBN 7-109-08641-0

These two publications represent a compendium of the Chinese genetic resources for poultry and farm animal breeds.

Both of them are written in two languages (English and Chinese) and briefly describe the productive characteristics population size morphology and conservation measures for the main local farm and poultry breeds. Also local names are recalled and this facilitate the unique identification of the animals.

Each breed is deeply described and figures for male and female animal complete the available information.

These very schematic publications are a reference manual for all the people who need to find basic information on Chinese farm AnGr that are until to now not entirely known to the majority of the people.

Photograph album of China indigenous farm animal breeds
ISBN 7-109-09446-4

Transhumant grazing systems in temperate Asia
J.M. Suttie & S.G. Reynolds
Plant production and protection series no. 31
FAO Via delle terme di Caracalla 1 00100 Rome Italy
Published in 2003. ISBN 92-5-104977-7. ISSN 0259-2525
pp. 330

Extensive grazing lands cover vast areas of temperate Asia and are important both environmentally and as a source of livelihood for herders. Both transhumant (nomadic) and agropastoral systems are involved. The area can be divided into two zones: temperate areas above 1 000 1 500 m in the Himalaya Hindu Kush area (referred to as Himalaya); and the cold semi arid to arid zone north of the Himalaya through the Tibet Qinghai Plateau and northern China to the Asian steppe.

FAO has supported a series of case studies mostly on transhumant systems since the mid-1990s which were carried out by national staff using local means and methods. The studies generated a series of reports and the quality and interest of those reports is such that they merit a wider readership; they are now brought together in book form.

Studies are reported from Bhutan China India Mongolia Nepal and Pakistan on transhumant systems and allied subjects including haymaking and the development of cold tolerant lucerne. The pastoral situation in the major areas of extensive grazing is described briefly by zone to put the studies in context.

The book is composed by 17 chapters. After an introduction Chapter 2 introduces Cold Temperate Asia. Chapters 3 and 4 present two case studies from Mongolia: the first describes systems in two provinces of the great lakes basins. A second Mongolia study describes haymaking in the mountain and steppe zone. Chapter 5 describes the grazing and fodder situation in China. Chapters 6 and 7 are two case studies from Xinjiang: one on a herding system allied to irrigated haymaking and the second on breeding lucerne for irrigated hay. Chapter 8 describes the pastoral situation in Tibet and some ambitious plans for its development. Chapter 9 describes the systems of the western Himalaya followed in Chapter 10 by a case study from India of a classical vertical transhumance system of the Gaddis a pastoral tribe in Himachal Pradesh. Chapters 11 and 12 are two studies from Pakistan. Chapter 13 deals with the eastern Himalaya and is followed by two studies on transhumance with large ruminants from Bhutan (Chapters 14 and 15) and a study on high-altitude raising of cattle-yak hybrids in Nepal (Chapter 16). Findings and conclusions are summarized in Chapter 17.

Short presentations

From indifference to awarness. Encountering biodiversity in the semi-arid rangelands of the Syrian Arab Republic

This CD-ROM illustrates the crucial role that local knowledge plays in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem function in semi-arid rangelands. The activities of FAO project that promotes biodiversity conservation in the Syrian Arab Republic are described in detail. The project has supported the development of the first nature reserve in the country undertaken rangeland rehabilitation activities provided extension services to local communities and strengthened conservation education and awareness raising among decision-makers and civil society. The CD-ROM also includes text and more than 200 photos of flora fauna landscapes and local communities. It was produced with the support of the Crop and Grassland Service - FAO and the FAO/Netherlands Partnership Programme Agro-Biodiversity

Drought-resisting mechanisms in plants exploited by humans

The CD-ROM contains information related to biochemical molecular physiological and structural strategies of a selected number of plants to respond to drought. A description of some plants exploited by humans as well as an updated bibliography including a selection of full articles complete the CD-Rom. The CD-Rom is addressed to young scientist and plant breeders dealing with research and development of drought resisting plants to meet the challenge of increasing production in dryland ecosystems. For more information please visit: www.fao.org/desertification. Published by FAO in 2003.

Animal Breeding & Genetics Short Courses
Summer 2005 at Iowa State University Ames Iowa USA
Supported by: Center for Integrated Animal Genomics Department of Animal
Science VSN International

There were three short courses Course 1: ASREML Workshop Course 2: C++ Programming for Animal Breeding and Course 3: Design and Analysis of Microarray Experiments. Course 1 was given by Dr. Stephen Kachman Department of Statistics University of Nebraska and lasted for two days. It covered Single Trait Animal Model Correlated Random Effects Multiple Trait Models Random Regression. Course 2 was given by Dr. Rohan Fernando Dept. Animal Science Iowa State Univ. and Dr. Stephen Kachman Department of Statistics Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln and lasted for ten days. It introduced the use of object oriented programming concepts of C++ for animal breeding and how to use existing C++ classes for generalized linear mixed model analyses and for marker assisted genetic evaluation. Course 3 was given by by Dr. Dan Nettleton,Department of Statistics Iowa State University and lasted for two days. It focused on many of the key statistical issues related to the use of microarray technology in functional genomics research and discussed the role of blocking randomization and biological and technical replication in the design of microarray experiments. Analysis topics in the course included normalization methods for microarray data; mixed linear model analyses to identify differentially expressed genes; adjustments for multiple testing: false discovery rate methods; and other analysis strategies including clustering and hierarchical modeling of microarray data. Both two-color and single channel microarray platforms will be considered.

More details about the courses are obtained at http://www.ans.iastate.edu/stud/courses/short/

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