Exchange, use and conservation of animal genetic resources : policy and regulatory options

The aim of this report is to support informed and evidence-based decision-making by exploring a range of policy and regulatory options related to exchange, use and conservation of AnG

Back to the future : How Scenarios of future globalisation, biotechnology, disease and climate change can inform present animal genetic resources policy development

With the aim of assessing how exchange practices regarding Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AnGR) affect the various stakeholders in the livestock sector and to identify policies and regulatory options that could guide the global exchange, use and conservation of AnGR, an exploration of future scenarios was used as a complementary approach to reviewing the current situation, as well as to identify stakeholders’ views on AnGR policy development. Four 2050 future scenarios were developed and included:1. Globalization and regionalization.2. Biotechnology development.3. Climate change and environmental degradation.4. Diseases and disasters.Having developed the scenarios, these were then used as an input point for a wide range of stakeholder consultations. The findings show that such an approach has been a useful analytical tool. The ‘far’ future perspective appeared to make people less defensive, especially in a situation where current exchange problems were not yet particularly visible or well documented. Many interviewees broadly considered that it was not a question of ‘if’ the scenarios would happen, but rather a question of ‘when’. This implies that we might do well to consider the need to respond to future challenges through the proactive development of new policies or regulations. Such a finding is partly in contrast with the general perception of the current regulatory situation being broadly acceptable

Body weight and wool production responses to supplementary feeding in Menz sheep and their crosses with Awassi and corriedale

Purebred Menz, first-cross Awassi x Menz, and first-cross Corriedale x Menz lambs were born and reared together under common environmental and management conditions. Before they reached six months of age, animals of each sex in each genotype were allocated to two treatment groups. Both groups grazed together on unimproved pasture during the day and at night only one group was given supplementary feed. The two treatments were maintained until yearling age. However, because ewe lambs were joined early with fertile rams and began to lamb at 12 months of age, treatment effects for ewes were assessed from body weight taken at 315 days of age to avoid confounding with increasing conceptus weight during late pregnancy. Supplementary feeding significantly increased both male and female body weights and yearling wool production in all genotypes. Mean ewe body weights at 315 days of age for unsupplemented crosses were: 15.8 kg Menz, 18.3 kg Awassi, and 17.8 kg Corriedale. The values for the supplemented crosses were: 20.7 kg Menz, 27.7 kg Awassi, and 26.2 kg Corriedale. The mean yearling weights for unsupplemented rams were: 17.5 kg Menz, 21.3 kg Awassi, and 20.5kg Corriedale. The values for the supplemented rams were: 25.8 kg Menz, 37.5 kg Awassi, and 35.0 kg Crriedale. Average yearling wool weights for unsuplemented animals of both sexes were: 0.65 kg Menz, 0.85 kg Awassi and 1.07 kg Corriedale. The wool weights for supplemented groups were: 0.75 kg Menz, 1.21 kg Awassi, and 1.36 kg corriedale. Treatment and genotype interactions were highly significant for all measurements, which shows that differences in productivity between indigenous and crossbred genotypes were greater under supplemented than unsupplemented conditions. These results illustrate the necessity of providing extra inputs for crossbred genotypes to get the full benefit of their greater production potential

Comparative evaluation of Menz and Awassi X Menz crossbred sheep: 2. Reproduction and mature body weight

Purebred Menz, first cross (50%) Awassi x Menz, and second cross (75%) Awassi x Menz sheep were bred and reared under common environmental and management conditions. Reproductive data and mature body weights were recorded over a 6-year period between 1982 and 1987. Over all genotypes and years, the average percentage of ewes joined that lambed was 54%; the average percentage of twin births was 4%, and the average number of lambs born per ewe was 0.55%. All of these reproductive parameters varied between mating seasons and between years, but none of them differed significantly between the three genotypes. Average yearling body weights in Menz (27.4 kg) and first cross ewes (28.8 kg) were significantly lower than in the second cross ewes (32.8 kg). Average mature body weights of the 50% and 75% Awassi crossbred ewes were similar (41.4 kg and 41.0 kg respectively), but both were significantly heavier than mature Menz ewes (31.6 kg)

Comparative evaluation of Menz and Awassi x Menz crossbred sheep: 1. Birth weight, weaning weight, and wool production

Purebred Menz and first cross (50%) Awassi x Menz and 75% Awassi cross sheep were bred and reared under common environmental and management conditions. Mean birth and 120-day weaning weights recorded from 10 lambings were 2.4, 3.0, and 3.8 kg (p<0.001) and 15.6, 17.6, and 21.5 kg (P<0.001) for Menz, 50% Awassi, and 75% Awassi lambs respectively. Mean annual greasy wool weights recorded over three years were 0.60, 0.98, and 1.33 kg (p<0.001) for Menz, 50% Awassi, and 75% Awassi ewes respectively. Thus under the conditions of this investigation birth weights, weaning weights, and annual greasy wool weights all continued to increase with increasing levels of Awassi blood in the crosses