Conservation of genetic diversity in animal production
1996
Kompan, D. | Holcman, A. | Salehar, A. | Fercej, J. (Ljubljana Univ. (Slovenia). Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept.)
A small number of species breed for human food is extremely important for the existence of mankind. A wide variety of food products gained from this small number of species is greatly influenced by the variability within each animal species. Only in the last two decades the world became aware of the danger in decreased genetic diversity within each species. Lower diversity and thus the decline of possibilities for further development presents a threatening danger to "lose" the genetic resources that were by thousands of years created by the environment, nature and the human by artificial selection. The Convention on Biological Diversity, accepted in December 1993, binds us to preserve the animal genetic diversity. The awareness of the need for genetic diversity has led us to activities and programmes on conservation of autochthonous livestock breeds that have been in practice for nearly ten years so far. This paper presents the programmes on genetic diversity preservation in animal production, together with animal genetic resources that have already been lost in Slovenia. Autochthonous Slovenian horse, pig, small ruminant, and poultry breeds are described.
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