Conservation and Sustainable Use of Animal Genetic Resources
A sustainable use and animal husbandry, i.e. the ability of stocks to safeguard themselves, of currently endangered breeds is one of the central political issues, also at international level.
- Bentheimer piglets, © BLE
In principle, a strategy for the conservation of genetic resources includes the application of in situ/on farm measures and ex situ methods, i.e. in particular cryconservation but also keeping small animal groups in zoos and domestic animal parks. In situ/on farm conservation is connected with "Sustainable Use", which is also referred to in international agreements (Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). In Germany it is first and foremost the breeders that are addressed here. The aim is the formulation and implementation of breeding programmes that focus just as much on genetic conservation as they pursue conventional breeding-related objectives. Herdbook breeders e.g. can be granted subsidies for the breeding of threatened farm animal breeds within the framework of support programmes. These programmes are offered and implemented by the Bundeslaender. The breeding of endangered farm animals often forms part of their agro-environment programmes, which are in most cases co-financed by the EU, according to Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005. Those subsidies for the conservation of endangered species and breeds, however, are subject to the Community Guidelines for state aid in the agriculture sector.
Since 1995, the Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds (Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefaehrdeter Haustierrassen e.V., GEH) has successfully promoted in situ/on farm conservation of endangered breeds on today more than 70 so-called "Ark Farms".
Ex situ conservation of animal genetic resources through cryconservation (frozen storage) in particular of sperm and embryos in gene banks is currently carried out primarily as complement to in situ conservation ("back-up copy"). Also with respect to the cost factor and aspects of epidemiological hygiene, cryconservation should in the future be the first conservation measure to be considered for breeding populations reaching a defined endangerment status.