To FAO/UNEP
1. Since the benefits of conservation and management of domestic animal resources
are known to be great relative to costs and since many adapted indigenous populations in developing countries are threatened by loss, the Panel recommended that planned programmes for the conservation of animal genetic resources, especially those adapted to the production conditions of developing countries, should have three mutually supportive strategies for preservation and management.
2. The Panel recommended that FAO/UNEP should promote the establishment of a list of threatened breeds and populations, indicating their potential genetic value and possible utilization, and proposing priorities for urgent action for conservation.
3. The Panel agreed on the importance of establishing regional data banks on animal genetic resources as soon as possible. It recommended that these should continue to be built up systematically in close cooperation with existing regional bodies such as IBAR/OAU and ILCA for Africa, ALPA for Latin America and SABRAO in Asia and with the leading international information centre on this subject (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau of Animal Breeding and Genetics) to avoid duplication of effort. The Panel commended FAO/UNEP for initiating its work with a thorough study on the methodology to be applied for the collection, interpretation/summarizing and dissemination of the available information so as to minimize cost, maximize efficiency and to ensure that a globally compatible system should be established.
4. The Panel supported the view that the end point of the methodological study should be (a) a common, worldwide data format for use in the various regions; (b) the creation of descriptors for each species; and (c) a uniform system of criteria on which information would be judged for inclusion in the data bank. It was therefore recommended that FAO/UNEP continue their work to achieve these objectives without break or delay, and urged them to embark upon the establishment of Regional data bank centres as soon as the methodological studies are complete.
5. The Panel also recommended that FAO/UNEP, when promoting the creation and use of data banks, insist upon the competent scientific screening and compilation of all data entering data banks and that FAO/UNEP ensures that priority be given to this need.
6. The Panel noted that the genetic principles for determining the numbers of parents required to reconstitute a breed are established. It recommended that when cryopreservation of sperm and embryos from a threatened breed is part of its conservation, these principles should serve as guidelines to the amount of material to be stored.
7. The Panel noted that in the long-term storage of sperm and embryos, there should be safeguards for the health of future generations of livestock that will be exposed to contact with animals bred using cryogenically stored cells. It recommended that sperm and embryos stored in gene banks for endangered breeds should have adequate records concerning the health status of the herd and area/country of origin, and of the diseases for which the donors were tested. Future users of these stored cells should have access to these records.
8. The Panel noted that many of the trypanotolerant livestock breeds of West and Central Africa occur as small and scattered populations in a number of countries; that there are inherent difficulties in establishing and maintaining separate conservation and management programmes for these small genetic groups in each of the several locations; and recognized the advantages that may be gained by collaborative programmes of selection, multiplication and conservation which transcend national boundaries; it therefore recommended to FAO/UNEP that they should:
9. The Panel noted that many domestic animal species in addition to cattle make significant contributions to human welfare and are similarly threatened by loss of important genetic variation, and recommended that greater attention and action be given to the conservation and management of genetic resources in populations of:
Parallel attention should also be given to ways and means of preserving, for possible future use, populations of wild animals which are related to domestic species.
10. The Panel noted that considerable resources, both intellectual and material have gone into the organization and conduct of the first course on animal genetic resources conservation and management; and that the Hungarian scientists responsible for this course are in a unique position to suggest modifications and improvements that could be incorporated in future courses. It also recognized that there are advantages in organizing future courses at locations in developing countries where the problems exist and using appropriate regional languages for the conduct of the courses. It therefore recommended a two-stage approach to future course locations:
11. The Panel recommended that FAO/UNEP encourage educational institutions in the developing countries to include in their animal science curriculum aspects of animal genetic resources conservation (including preservation of threatened genotypes, evaluation, improvement and management). The Manual prepared at the First International Course on Animal Genetic Resources Conservation and Management by FAO/UNEP and the University of Veterinary Sciences, Hungary, should be offered as a source of ideas for inclusion in such curriculum development.
12. The Panel noted that information on genetic distances between breeds of domestic animals would be of value in deciding priorities for action on breed conservation and management, and recommended that research on this topic be encouraged. In particular FAO/UNEP should assist investigations to this end.
13. The Panel recommended that the new techniques of molecular biology should be used to study the functioning of major genes known to be important for animal production, to the discovery of additional major genes, and to the production of gene maps for domestic species, and that FAO/UNEP should promote such studies.
To FAO/UNEP and Governments
1. The Panel agreed that in most developing countries genetic improvement of local
breeds would form integral and necessary parts of constructive programmes for their conservation and future use. It was pointed out, however, that such breeding programmes would require more information on production characteristics both under station and field conditions than was usually available. The Panel also noted that recent developments of AI services in developing countries have often been accompanied by massive importations of exotic bovine semen, without concurrent development in semen processing facilities for superior indigenous bulls. The Panel recommended:
2. The Panel noted that there is only a small number of indigenous cattle breeds suited to milk production under harsh conditions; that these breeds are threatened as a result of a progressive narrowing of their genetic base; that in order to widen their genetic base there must be an exchange of germplasm between countries where the breeds occur; and recommended that:
The management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. Thus conservation is positive, embracing preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilization, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.
(This definition of CONSERVATION originates with the World Conservation Stra tegy, which was prepared by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and the following collaborative organizations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).)
That aspect of CONSERVATION by which a sample of an animal genetic resource population is designated to an isolated process of maintenance, by providing an environment free of the human forces which might bring about genetic change. The process may be in situ, whereby the sample consists of live animals in a natural environment, or it may be ex situ, whereby the sample is placed, for example, in cryogenic storage.
That aspect of CONSERVATION by which a sample, or the whole of an animal population is subjected to planned genetic change with the aim of Sustaining, Utilizing, Restoring or Enhancing the quality and/or quantity of the animal genetic resource and its products of food, fibre or draught animal power.
A term used to describe an animal genetic resource population which is subject to some force of change, affecting the likelihood of it continuing indefinitely, either to exist, or to retain sufficient numbers to preserve the genetic characteristics which distinguish it from other populations. THREATENED is a generic term embracing more precise descriptions such as Endangered, or Vulnerable.
(It is also so used in the context of the World Conservation Strategy.)
A physical repository, in one or more locations, where the samples of animal genetic resource populations which are being preserved are kept. These may include animals, embryos, oocytes, sperm, DNA, etc.
The fund of knowledge comprising the CHARACTERIZATIONS which describe the genetic attributes of animal breeds or species and the various environments in which they occur; these CHARACTERIZATIONS being stored both as numerics and words in a data/word processing system which provides for the addition of further information, for amendment and for analytical use.
The numeric/word decription of:
The CHARACTERIZATION is a succinct statement, being the distillation of all available knowledge both previously published or unpublished, which contributes to the reliable prediction of genetic performance in defined environments. It is different from the mere accumulation of existing reports or individual findings on genetic performance on specific occasions.
A series of items with defined meanings for a species and its environments, which are universally used to prepare data bank CHARACTERIZATIONS of:
The purpose of DESCRIPTORS is to facilitate valid comparison, classification or enumeration of breeds within a species in the context of the environments existing in different countries and regions of the world.
* These should be read in conjunction with the definitions which follow the recommendations.
