La race bovine marocaine Blonde d'Oulmès-Zaër, race traditionnelle et originale du Moyen-Atlas, est exploitée pour son lait et sa viande en conditions difficiles. Comptant 8000 vaches environ dans les communes de Boukachmir et d'Oulmès, dans la province de Khemisset, elle est l'objet d'un programme de conservation et d'amélioration génétique cohérent pouvant servir de point de départ à la revitalisation de cette région attachante.

In cattle, reduced reproductive efficiency of beef and milk production systems is attributed to nutritional factors, health, climate changes and ultimately to genetic characteristics of animals. However, under warm humid tropics genetic variations between breeds could reduce age first calving, calving interval and increase the life of cows. Sanmartinero and Casanareño creole breeds can improve cattle production due to the contribution of genetic variants that emerged in the process of adaptation to the harsh conditions of the Colombian Orinoqia. Currently, genes with known biological function are used as molecular markers to estimate livestock genetic diversity parameters, facilitating the identification and location of genetic loci within the genome that encode or regulate the expression of traits of economic interest. In Colombia Romosinuano cattle candidate genes of the Growth hormone / Insulin growth factor axis have been identified and are positively associated with age at first calving, calving interval, longevity and protection of the embryo growth to heat stress. However, native Colombian bovine breeds such as Casanareño and Sanmartinero, which are empirically recognized by having those characteristic, have not been subjected to those genetic analysis for candidate genes that may allow to promote added value to animals. The aim of this review is to document some reproductive and genetic parameters of Sanmartinero and Casanareño bovine brees that may give support the need to conduct molecular studies and justify their use in beef and milk production systems in the Colombian Orinoquia.

The feral cattle, currently numbering 33, which inhabit the Orkney island of Swona, are described. Their behaviour while foraging for seaweed is compared with thatof sheep, and aspects of their social behaviour and population structure are compared with what has been observed among the Chillingham white cattle.

The Criollo horse bred in Uruguay is a direct descendant of the Andalusian horses that were brought to America by the Spanish conquerors. It is not an isolated population. Ever since its coming into existence it has been related to the other populations of the southern countries of South America (Chile, Argentina and Uruguay). It is adapted to the most divergent regions of the continent, evolving through natural selection into a versatile breed, suited in particular for farm work because of its endurance, courage and capacity for recuperation.

At the beginning of this century, its existence was endangered because of the tendency of crossing with European breeds. Around this time, breeder organisations appeared in various countries and with them the standardisation of the Criollo horse as a breed. From this moment on, its growth was well maintained and constant, and today it is also being bred in Germany and Italy.

Demographic data describe the size, structure and distribution of livestock populations and how these change over time. They are fundamental to determining the risk status of breed populations both on a national and a global scale. Currently, no population data are available for 36 percent of the breeds recorded in the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), and for many other breeds data are updated so infrequently that monitoring trends in risk status is difficult or impossible. Data on the geographical distribution of breeds are also generally inadequate. A baseline survey of the breed population needs to be followed by periodic monitoring. The required frequency of the monitoring activities will depend on the generation interval of the species in question. Data may be collected via breed-level censuses or surveys, or estimated based on species level data. It is important that national decision-making takes account of the global demographics of the breed; a classification system distinguishing breeds present only in one country from those present in several countries has been developed. Much remains to be done to improve the availability of demographic data. Moreover, methods need to be developed that account for the risks of genetic erosion associated with indiscriminate cross-breeding. A further key requirement is the development of methods for representative sampling of national animal populations to allow estimates of their total population size and other demographic data to be obtained in a cost-effective manner.

The recently published World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity (WWL-DAD) provides the first comprehensive list of endangered livestock breeds worldwide (FAO/LTNEP 1993). This document will function as a global early warning system to help prevent the erosion of livestock genetic resources. Seven species are covered, namely ass, buffalo, cattle, goat, horse, pig and sheep. Within these species, breeds at risk are defined as critical (The Critical Breeds List) or endangered (The Endangered Breeds List) based on the number of breeding females. Although the statistics for these seven species are still incomplete at the time of going to press, over 390 breeds are already known to be at risk.

The narrowing of the genetic base is of major concern to many cattle breeders and this is a consequence of a small effective population size and an increase in the inbreeding coefficient in cattle populations. Studies of pedigrees of cattle populations found in Canada showed that the effective population size and rate of inbreeding over a 12-year period (1983–94) were 123 and 0.412 percent for Canadienne, 975 and 0.054 percent for Brown Swiss, and 2 183 and 0.024 percent for Jersey cattle populations. Over the same period, the year to year trends in inbreeding coefficients based on co-ancestry was 0.11 percent for Canadienne and 0.07 percent for Brown Swiss cattle populations, and 0.37 percent for Holstein bulls used by the artificial insemination industry. Inbreeding was not found to be a major problem in any of the populations examined. However, only 10 bulls of their respective breed sired 61 percent of the Canadienne, 21 percent of the Brown Swiss, and 29 percent of the Jersey cattle populations, and 41 percent of the Holstein bulls in the bull studs. More and more breeders are demanding proven sires to increase milk production from fewer cows resulting in the narrowing of the genetic base of the national cattle populations. Newer technology that provides precise genetic modification could further contribute to the narrowing of the genetic base compromising the ability to sustain current production and respond to changing markets in the long-term.

This paper discusses the conservation of native livestock breeds in Japan. These include native Japanese horses, cattle and goats, and domestic Japanese fowls. To best conserve the genes of these genetic resources it is necessary to keep them in the form of (a) live animals and (b) cryogenic storage of sperms, oocytes, embryos, cells, chromosomes and genes. Even that Japanese native livestock are also important as living'museums', it is further desirable to conserve them as live animals. However, there are many problems with conserving all of these breeds in a live form because of their low economic value in the market. For this reasons, it is necessary to combine this with the raising of animals for other purposes such as sale of products, tourist attractions in national parks, zoos and sightseeing farms, educational tools in agricultural schools and experimental animals.

La chèvre noire Marocaine peuple les régions arides et semi-arides du Maroc où elle survit et produit du lait et de la viande pour la population rurale des zones défavorisées. L'objectif du présent article est de présenter cette race tout en mettant l'accent sur ses capacités d'adaptation aux conditions arides d'élevage. Il ressort des études réalisées que cette race possède un faible turnover de l'eau corporelle et une autorégulation précise de la masse corporelle. Ceci lui permet une grande mobilité et agilité pour chercher de l'eau et de la nourriture dans son biotope. La production laitière est faible mais le lait sécrété est concentré. Durant les périodes de privation d'eau ou d'aliments (2 jours), cette chèvre montre une bonne capacité àpréserver le poids corporel. D'autres études sont nécessaires (effet du stress thermique) afin d'élucider d'éventuelles capacités adaptatives.

The origin and breed characteristics of the native pig of Sri Lanka are reported. The breed suffers from many disadvantages including inter alia small litter size, heavy preweaning mortality and poor growth rate. Nevertheless, it will remain a valuable genetic resource and a source of meat, providing additional income to the household economies in the western coastal belt of Sri Lanka.

The standard of the breed has been drawn up on the basis of the available literature and of direct observations made on the only flock of registered animals. It is hoped that the programme for the conservation of this breed will now be launched.

The wild ancestor of the present day domestic horse was equus ferus Woddaert which included two distinct sub-species - the tarpan and the taki or the Ptzevalsky horse. The tarpan is the main ancestor of the- Present day domestic type. Its domestication irst started in East Europe in the Neolithic period from where it spread in different directions, moving in successive waves to the Carpathian Basin and Moravia in the west, Caucasus in the southeast and Mesopotamia in the Near East, finally reaching western Europe in the Bronze Age.

The early domestic horses were small compared to present day animals, measuring only 137 cm at the withers. They were chiefly used to provide mobile power - either draught or riding. Later, during the Iron Age, the Scythians brought these eastern horses to Austria, Italy and Greece, where they were much in demand for their superior power and size, a result of conscious breeding by the Scythians. In contrast, the horses indigenous to the western half of Europe, represented by the Celtic horse, were smaller and slender. These were later improved by crossing with the eastern Scythian horses. From the Greeks, the eastern horses reached the Romans and contributed to the development of the Roman horse.,