UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources 2012
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CM YK www.defra.gov.uk PMS ??? PMS ??? PMS ??? Non-printing Colours Non-print 1 Non-print 2 JOB LOCATION: PRINERGY 3 UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources 2012 April 2013 Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government DEF-PB13938_AniGenetic.indd 1 18/04/2013 11:44 Acknowledgement for photographic material Contents We express our grateful thanks to all contributors for their permission to use the photographs contained in this report. Front cover images supplied by (clockwise from top): Clydesdale horses by Stephen Hall, Brussbar by Matthew Crabb for the Cobthorn Trust, Golden Guernsey goats by Linda Trotman, Foreword ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Aberdeen Angus bull by Dovecote Park Ltd, Large White pigs by John Millard of Tates Large Whites, Lleyn sheep by Tony Houlden. Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. The importance of farm animal genetic resources in the UK ............................................... 4 1.3. Scope of this report .............................................................................................................. 5 1.4. How this report has been developed .................................................................................... 5 1.5. Sources of UK breed information and monitoring of FAnGR ............................................... 6 1.6. Structure of the report .......................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2: UK agriculture and livestock production .......................................................................... 9 2.1. High level overview of UK agriculture ................................................................................... 9 2.2. UK livestock numbers ........................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Future trends and challenges ............................................................................................. 11 Chapter 3: Farm animal genetic resources in the UK ...................................................................... 14 3.1. What types of FAnGR are we interested in and why? ........................................................ 14 3.2. Overview of farm animal genetic resources in the UK ....................................................... 15 3.3. What and where are our key farm animal genetic resources? ........................................... 16 Chapter 4: How FAnGR are being used .......................................................................................... 26 4.1. Commercial production systems ........................................................................................ 26 4.2. Systems producing specialist products .............................................................................. 28 4.3. Habitat conservation strategies .......................................................................................... 31 4.4. Climate change ................................................................................................................... 35 © Crown copyright 2013 4.5. Breeding strategies ............................................................................................................. 37 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 4.6. Cultural and historic use ..................................................................................................... 38 doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] 4.7. Education and comparative research ................................................................................. 40 This document/publication is also available on our website at: www.defra.gov.uk/fangr Any enquiries regarding this document/publication should be sent to us at: [email protected] PB13938 DEF-PB13938_AniGenetic.indd 2 18/04/2013 11:44 Acknowledgement for photographic material Contents We express our grateful thanks to all contributors for their permission to use the photographs contained in this report. Front cover images supplied by (clockwise from top): Clydesdale horses by Stephen Hall, Brussbar by Matthew Crabb for the Cobthorn Trust, Golden Guernsey goats by Linda Trotman, Foreword ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Aberdeen Angus bull by Dovecote Park Ltd, Large White pigs by John Millard of Tates Large Whites, Lleyn sheep by Tony Houlden. Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.1. Background .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. The importance of farm animal genetic resources in the UK ............................................... 4 1.3. Scope of this report .............................................................................................................. 5 1.4. How this report has been developed .................................................................................... 5 1.5. Sources of UK breed information and monitoring of FAnGR ............................................... 6 1.6. Structure of the report .......................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2: UK agriculture and livestock production .......................................................................... 9 2.1. High level overview of UK agriculture ................................................................................... 9 2.2. UK livestock numbers ........................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Future trends and challenges ............................................................................................. 11 Chapter 3: Farm animal genetic resources in the UK ...................................................................... 14 3.1. What types of FAnGR are we interested in and why? ........................................................ 14 3.2. Overview of farm animal genetic resources in the UK ....................................................... 15 3.3. What and where are our key farm animal genetic resources? ........................................... 16 Chapter 4: How FAnGR are being used .......................................................................................... 26 4.1. Commercial production systems ........................................................................................ 26 4.2. Systems producing specialist products .............................................................................. 28 4.3. Habitat conservation strategies .......................................................................................... 31 4.4. Climate change ................................................................................................................... 35 © Crown copyright 2013 4.5. Breeding strategies ............................................................................................................. 37 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ 4.6. Cultural and historic use ..................................................................................................... 38 doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] 4.7. Education and comparative research ................................................................................. 40 This document/publication is also available on our website at: www.defra.gov.uk/fangr Any enquiries regarding this document/publication should be sent to us at: [email protected] PB13938 1 DEF-PB13938_AniGenetic.indd 1 18/04/2013 11:44 Foreword Chapter 5: Analysing latest progress .............................................................................................. 44 The UK has one of the richest native Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) populations in the world. This report identifies 235 UK native breeds of farm livestock. Over 75% of these are at risk FAnGR co-ordination ................................................................................................................. 44 of extinction, as a result of small breeding population size, geographical concentration, or both. Advice and expertise ................................................................................................................. 44 It is vital that our FAnGR – including breeds at risk, and those not at risk, and the genetic variation within them – are conserved and used sustainably. They are an important component of wider Research & Development .........................................................................................................