Rare and Endangered Breeds of Different

Species, Characters and importance

DAWA TSHIRNG TAMANG

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Department of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology

Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries
Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU)
Rampur, Chitwan
 • American Livestock
Breed Conservancy
A (ALBC) in 2004 reported
that there are 70
chicken breeds
F maintained in the ; of
these, half are • According to the United Nations Food and
endangered, like the Agriculture Organization (FAO), at least
U recovering Plymouth 1,500 of the world’s estimated 6,000
Rock, and 20 are livestock breeds are in imminent danger of
practically extinct. extinction.
• The organization further asserts that the
world is currently losing an average of
two domestic animal breeds each week.
The Navajo-Churro sheep from Arizona desert of the USA, has capacity to survive in a
Agriculture
completely different habitat withand
hotForestry University,
dry summers, coldRampur, Chitwan
dry winters and very sparse grazing.
 The United Nations Food
and Agriculture
Organizations estimates
that there are 6,000
livestock breeds in
imminent danger of
extinction, like the CPL-
threatened Navajo-Churro
A sheep.

UThe Navajo-Churro sheep from the Arizona desert region of

the USA, has the capacity to survive in a completely
different habitat with hot dry summers, cold dry winters
and very sparse grazing.

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 Who are the rare/endangered
populations/species ?

• Population of any species where there is no chance of survival

unless action is taken to conserve that population are
considered as rare/endangered species. The actual number of
endangered species depends on
A
• Actual number of animals
• Rate of decline in pop. Size
F
• Closeness of relationship between individuals
• Geographical range
U • Special threats from introduced species
• rapid changes in envt. conditions

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 Why are being endangered ?

Despite the importance of animal genetic resources, their diversity

has been continually decreasing over time
• Indiscriminate breeding/ cross-breeding
• Introduction/increased use of exotic breeds
A • Lack of/weak AnGR management policies, programmes or
institutions
F • Breeds not profitable/competitive or have poor performance
• Intensification of production or decline of traditional production
U systems or small farms
• Disease/disease management
• Loss/lack of grazing land or other elements of the production
environment

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 Why are being endangered ?

• Inbreeding or other problems in the management of breeding

• Migration from countryside/uptake of alternative employment
• Changes to consumer/retailer demand/ habits
• Mechanization
A • Value of locally adopted breeds not appreciated
• Unspecified economic/market factors
F • Climate change
• Globalization, trade liberalization or imports
U • Lack of infrastructure or support for production, processing or
marketing
• Aging farmers or lack of interest among the young generation

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 IUCN Categories for the rarity of Wildlife

Ex Extinct Not found in the wild for 50 years

In danger of extinction, survival unlikely if
E Endangered
causal factors continue to operate

A Likely to become extinct in the near future if

V Vulnerable
causal factors continue to operate
F Small population not endangered or vulnerable
R Rare
but at risk
U Known to be in category E, V or R above but
I Indeterminate
insufficient information to determine which
A population which was on the list but is now
O Out of danger
recovered
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) provides clear
definitions for the rarity of species in its International Red Data Books.
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
 FAO Categories for the rarity of
Domestic Population

No possibility of restoring the population, no pure bred males or

Extinct
females can be found.
Close to extinction, genetic variability reduced to below that of
Critical the ancestral population, action to increase the population size
is essential if it is to survive.
A
In danger of extinction because the effective population size
(Ne) is too small to prevent genetic loss through inbreeding
Endangered
F which will result in a reduction in the viability of the breed.
Preservation must be enacted.
Insecure Population numbers decreasing rapidly.
U
Some disadvantageous affects endanger the existence of the
Vulnerable population and some precautionary measures should be taken to
prevent further decline.
Population not in danger of extinction, can reproduce without
Normal
genetic loss, no visible changes in population size.

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 Basic term of reference for uniparous populations of
cattle, horses and buffalo

No breeding Estimated effective average population

females size
Status
A Sex ratio
5:1 10:1 30:1 50:1 1000:1
F Critical <100 33 18 7 4 -
Endangered 100–1,000 333 182 65 39 -
U Vulnerable 1–5,000 1,666 909 309 196 10
Insecure 5–10,000 5,000 2,727 930 588 30
Normal >10,000 33,333 18,181 6,201 3,921 195

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 General guidelines to decide when to intervene for
conservation of natural population

Population
Priority Status Action
At least serious surveillance of status and trends should be
Possibly N < 100,000
initiated
A Well managed captive propagation programmes should be
established, reproductive technology research should be
Probably N < 10,000 vigorously conducted, and germinal tissues collected for storage,
F while there are an adequate number of animals to use as
founders, subjects and donors.
Ex situ programmes should be intensified while field (in situ)
U Certainly N < 1,000 efforts are fortified for a 'last stand'; ex situ programmes are
imperative.
Ex situ programmes assume at least as much importance as field
Urgently N < 500
(in situ) efforts.

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 AnGR CONSERVATION METHODS

 For some breeds/species, opportunities for sustainable

use are limited.
 For such breeds, to ensure that their critical genetic
A diversity is not lost, conservation programs are
required.
F  Several methods for conservation can be applied,
including
U  in situ conservation, and

 ex situ conservation

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 1. IN SITU CONSERVATION METHOD

Conservation of livestock and poultry species in

their natural habitat

A 1.1 Active In situ: Conservation + Breed

development/improvement
F
1.2 Passive In situ: Maintenance of endangered breeds
U

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

 In situ conservation can be done by:

 Institutional herd: Small population, higher genetic

erosion/inbreeding depression

 Farmers herd: can’t keep male germplasm of good

A quality, so limited no. of males, causing inbreeding
depression in the farmers flock
F
These problems can be solved by:
U
• Forming breed societies
• Covering the area of breed under herd registration
scheme
• Giving incentive to the farmers
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
 2. EX SITU CONSERVATION METHODS
 Conservation of animals in a different location away from their
natural habitat
 This is done due to economic pressure of in situ conservation
(least economically viable)

A 2.1 In vivo conservation

• Small population of live animals of endangered breeds are
F kept in different locations away from the main breeding tract

• Eg: Zoo, Research station, government farms, bull mother

U
farms, breeding park, eco-farm park etc.

• There is problem of inbreeding because small population is

maintained in this method (which is unavoidable in small
population)
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
 Cryo-preservation
2. EX SITU…. (Deep freezing)
-196o C
2.2 In vitro conservation: - Liquid N2
 Storage of living cell for longer period of time
 Deep freezing of sperms (semen) + Oocytes
A  Deep freezing of embryo (Low survival rate 8-12 preserved = 1
survived): 300 = 40% Pregnancy rate + 50% survival rate

F  Storage of DNA
2.2 Objectives of In vitro conservation
U • Regeneration of endangered breeds/species
• New breed development
• Supporting the In vivo population
• Conduct research in future
• DNA studies and genome mapping
Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
 Difference between Ex situ and In situ
conservation methods
SN Description Ex situ In situ
conservation conservation
1 Cost
Initial set up Relatively high Low – High
Maintenance Low Relatively low – high
A 2 Genetic drift
Initial Relatively high Low
F Annual None Moderate – High
3 Applied to all species No Yes

U 4 Safety/reliability Good – Bad Moderate

5 Local access Moderate – Poor Moderate – Good
6 International access Good Not good
7 Population Monitoring None Good
8 Environmental None Good
Monitoring
9 SelectionAgriculture
for use and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan
None Good
A

Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan