EFABIS Greece
EFABIS Greece is the official information system of Greece on animal genetic resources. The National Animal Genetic Resources Information System is part of the global DAD-IS, the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. It is used to inform on and monitor all livestock breeds held in Greece. The website is available in two languages Greek and English. The Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Hellenic Agricultural Organization are in charge of the regular updating of the data.
Results
Breed Diversity in Greece
Mammalian and avian livestock breeds are reported to occur either in only a single country (local breeds), in several countries in one region (regional transboundary) or in different regions of the world (international transboundary).
Risk Status in Greece for cattle, sheep, goat, pig and chicken
Based on the population size reported by countries it is possible to assess the risk of extinction of domesticated animals.
Exploring the situation of transboundary breeds in Europe for their effective management and conservation | Genetic Resources
This study specifically examines the case of transboundary breeds in Europe and the associated challenges.
Geographical distribution plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of breeding and conservation programmes, especially for livestock breeds with a small population size. This study specifically examines the case of transboundary breeds in Europe and the associated challenges. Population and descriptive data were sourced from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) to assess their current state of monitoring and management. The analysis revealed that 42% of the 6,460 National Breed Populations reported in Europe are transboundary, with 25% occurring exclusively within the region (Europe). Alarmingly, 85% of European transboundary breeds are classified as ‘at risk’ or have an ‘unknown’ conservation status, a fact that further accentuates the urgent need for improved sustainable management. This paper identifies key data gaps, for instance related to common understanding of concepts used by managers, and proposes improvements to enhance the monitoring, conservation and management of transboundary breeds in Europe.
Charvolin, E., Tsiokos, D., Leroy, G. and Ligda, C. (2025) “Exploring the situation of transboundary breeds in Europe for their effective management and conservation”, Genetic Resources, 6(12), pp. 73–82.
Links
- Ministry of Rural Development and Food
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization
- Amaltheia
- Hellenic rare breeds
- Animal genetic resources
Documents
Publications
Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration
2007
In recognition of the need to develop an effective framework for the management of these resources and to address the threat of genetic erosion, 109...
FAO’s work related to animal genetic resources
11/06/2023
AO's Intergovernmental Technical Working Group for Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was established in 1997, and it consists of 28 countries, with members elected at each of the Commission's regular sessions. The Working Group's role is to review issues related to animal genetic resources and their management.
Diversity of Animal Genetic Resources
03/05/2022
More than 2,400 livestock breeds are at risk of extinction, while 600 are already extinct, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). If managed sustainably, this diversity can be used to increase production and allow livestock to adapt to challenges such as climate change.
Contact
Christina Ligda
Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DEMETER
[email protected]
Elissavet Iliopoulou
Ministry of Rural Development and Food
[email protected]
Browse more data
Regional and National datasets
Explore regional and national data from the regional information systems (EFABIS: The European Farm Animal Biodiversity Information System).
Data export
Download, generate, analyse. Download datasets and generate custom tables, charts, and reports. Extract breed and bee data or build customized cross-tabulations for deeper analysis.
Bees
Explore specialized datasets on bee genetic resources, including breed sheets, diversity of metrics, population trends, and data export options. This section focuses exclusively on bee-related information.
Annual statistics
Review yearly summaries on data completeness, population reporting quality, and adaptedness coverage. These indicators offer a quick overview of how countries contribute and update their information.
Gene banks & cryoconservation
Access data on cryoconservation efforts, including stored genetic material and country-level collections. This section provides information on reporting quality and representation of local breeds in gene banks.
Sustainable Development Indicators
Consult SDG 2.5 indicators on the conservation of animal genetic resources. Users can explore national and species-level results on breed storage in gene banks and the risk of extinction.
Geographic & transboundary distribution
View spatial data showing where breeds are found and how they move across borders. Maps display national and transboundary distributions, summaries, and related collection of information.
Risk status & monitoring
Find data on breed risk categories, extinction risk trends, and tools for monitoring population stability. This section includes early warning indicators and assessments of population structure.
Population data
Access to population numbers, recent updates, reporting frequency, and long-term trends across countries and species. View population distributions, adaptedness classes, and overall data completeness.
Breed information
Explore information about individual breeds, including profiles, characteristics, diversity, and uses. This section also provides species-by-country listings and visual material through the image browser.