Norway Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources, 2002
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Norway Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources, 2002 Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources Editor: Nina H. Sæther Norway Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources, 2002 ISBN 82-996668-1-3 Published by: The Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (Genressursutvalget for husdyr), 2003 Editor: Nina H. Sæther Layout: Spekter Reklamebyrå AS, www spekter.com Print: Østfold trykkeri Distribution: Norsk Landbruksmuseum, N-1432 Ås, www.nlm.nlh.no NORWAY COUNTRY REPORT ON FARM ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES, 2002 Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources Edited by Nina H. Sæther Norway Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources CONTENTS Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 6 The Scope of the Report ................................................................................................................... 7 1 Norwegian Livestock Farming and Aquaculture ........................................................................ 9 1.1 Natural Conditions and Regulatory Framework for Agriculture and the Fish Farming Industry .... 9 1.1.1 Natural Conditions ....................................................................................................... 9 1.1.2 Regulatory Framework for Agriculture and the Fish Farming Industry ........................... 9 1.1.3 Distinctive Features of Norwegian Farm Animal Production and Aquaculture .............. 11 1.1.4 Distinctive Features of Norwegian Animal Breeding .................................................... 11 1.1.5 Export of Norwegian Farm Animal Genes, Cattle and Pigs ......................................... 13 1.2 Farm Animal Production Systems in Norway .......................................................................... 14 1.2.1 Cattle – Dairy Cows ................................................................................................... 14 1.2.2 Cattle - Suckler Cows ................................................................................................ 15 1.2.3 Sheep ........................................................................................................................ 16 1.2.4 Dairy Goats ................................................................................................................ 18 1.2.5 Horses ....................................................................................................................... 19 1.2.6 Pigs ........................................................................................................................... 20 1.2.7 Poultry ....................................................................................................................... 21 1.2.8 Aquaculture (Fish Farming) ......................................................................................... 22 1.2.9 Fur-bearing Animals ................................................................................................... 23 1.2.10 Bees .......................................................................................................................... 24 1.2.11 Domestic Reindeer Farming ....................................................................................... 25 1.2.12 Dogs .......................................................................................................................... 27 1.3 Conserving Norway’s Historical Farm Animal Breeds .............................................................. 28 1.3.1 Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources ......................................................... 28 1.3.2 The Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources – Current Tasks ......................... 28 2 Future Use of Farm Animal Genetic Resources ....................................................................... 30 2.1 National Policies ..................................................................................................................... 30 2.2 New Uses for Farm Animal Genetic Resources ....................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Development of Biobanks .......................................................................................... 31 2.2.2 Brands Based on Specific Genotypes and Production Environments ......................... 31 2.2.3 Utilization of Biological Efficiency in Extensive Farming Systems ................................. 31 2.2.4 Use of Livestock for Landscape Management ............................................................ 31 3 Norwegian Expertise in the Field of Farm Animal Genetic Resources .................................. 32 3.1 Present Status ........................................................................................................................ 32 3.2 Expertise Required for Managing Farm Animal Genetic Resources ......................................... 33 3.2.1 Trends in the Existing Research Environments ........................................................... 33 3.2.2 Trends in the Livestock Breeding Industry .................................................................. 33 3.2.3 Areas of Research ..................................................................................................... 34 4 Conserving Farm Animal Genetic Resources – Future Priorities ........................................... 35 5 Recommendations for International Cooperation ................................................................... 36 5.1 Nordic Gene Bank Farm Animals and the Nordic Council of Ministers ..................................... 36 5.2 Suggestions for Areas in which NGH Should Upgrade its Activities ......................................... 36 6 Contributors to the Report ......................................................................................................... 37 6.1 Working Committee Members ................................................................................................ 37 6.2 External Contributors .............................................................................................................. 38 6.3 List of Addresses .................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix, State of the World’s Animal Genetic Recources: Predefined Tables ....................... 40 4 5 Norway Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources PREFACE The planned publication in 2005 of the first Report on the and other stakeholders. The coordinator has also presented State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources was initi- experiences from the preparation of the report along the ated by the FAO. All member states were invited to prepare way; e.g., at international conferences in Lithuania (8th country reports as a basis for this work. The Norwegian Baltic Breeding and Genetic Conference at the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture appointed the Committee on Farm Veterinary Academy, Kaunas, in May 2002), in Rome (FAO`s Animal Genetic Resources to prepare Norway’s country Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, report. The ministry allocated funds for this work in Sep- Ninth Regular Session, in October 2002) and in a chronicle tember 2001. in a Norwegian agricultural magazine on 11 July 2002. The Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources The report was presented to the Committee on Farm organized this assignment as a project, which began on Animal Genetic Resources for approval on 01 November 01 October 2001, and was completed on 31 December 2002. 2002. The committee acted as the project board, responsible for delivering the report to the ministry. The board appointed a The Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources would working committee to prepare the report, with representa- like to sincerely acknowledge the work of project coordina- tives from breeding organizations, public authorities and tor Nina Hovden Sæther, who is very dedicated to the field the Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources itself. of farm animal genetic resources, and would also like to PhD Student Nina Hovden Sæther from the Department thank the working committee for its dedication and hard of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Norway, was work in connection with the preparation of the country employed as project coordinator and author of the report. report. The report gives a thorough summary of Norway’s The chairwoman of the working committee was Elisa- farm animal genetic resources and the breeding efforts beth Koren from the Committee on Farm Animal Genetic conducted within each of the species. The report also raises Resources. important issues regarding the international process initi- ated by the FAO. This survey also functions as a solid basis In October 2001, the project coordinator and Signe Dahl for the further development of the committee’s long-term (member of the working committee) participated at FAO’s activities regarding the surveillance and management of regional introductory seminar in Denmark, regarding the Norway’s farm animal genetic resources. The committee use of FAO’s reporting tools. As a step in the preparation would finally like to thank Grethe Tuven for the illustrations, of the Norwegian report, an open seminar was held at the Arne Ellingsberg for helping with manuscript preparation Norwegian Museum of Agriculture on 14 June 2002. The and Vera Gjersjøe for the use of the photograph on the seminar, which was titled Diversity, markets and possibilities frontispiece. in Norwegian