Animal genetic resources management and poverty

Extract

An estimated 1.96 billion people rely on livestock to supply part or their entire daily needs. Socio-political, economic and agroecological determinants are leading to dramatic genetic erosion in animal genetic resources (AnGR) important to the livelihoods of many of the world’s poor (Anderson, 2003). The poor need AnGR suitable for their purposes. Genotype-environment interactions mean that animals bred for intensive production systems are often not appropriate for the production systems the poor utilise (Anderson, forthcoming). In addition, there is significant option value for society of the AnGR kept by the poor (Drucker et al, 2001). There are important genetic and socio-economic reasons why AnGR should be conserved ‘in-situ’. Adaptive traits are best maintained through processes of natural selection brought about by exposing AnGR to changes in local environments. A greater set of benefits should accrue to those directly involved in the conservation activities.