Country report on animal genetic resources for food and agriculture in Sweden September 2002 2 Table of contents Executive summary.................................................................................................................. 5 The assignment ......................................................................................................................... 6 1. Agriculture and livestock farming in Sweden ................................................................... 7 1.1 Livestock production.................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Production systems and production approaches........................................................................................... 8 1.3 Farmers’ organisations................................................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Sustainable use and conservation of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture.............................. 9 1.5 Trends in animal husbandry and breeding .................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Internationalisation...................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Livestock farming and the need for genetic resources................................................... 11 2.1 The development of livestock production.................................................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Milk production................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Beef production.................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.3 Pork production.................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1.4 Horse rearing....................................................................................................................................... 16 2.1.5 Sheep farming ...................................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.6 Goat farming ........................................................................................................................................ 18 2.1.7 Poultry farming .................................................................................................................................. 19 2.1.8 Reindeer husbandry............................................................................................................................. 19 2.1.9 Beekeeping.......................................................................................................................................... 19 2.1.10 Rabbit farming .................................................................................................................................. 19 2.1.11 New types of livestock used for food production.............................................................................. 20 2.1.12 Conservation of native breeds........................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Outcome of breeding activities .................................................................................................................. 21 2.3 Production systems and animal genetic resources...................................................................................... 22 2.3.1 Livestock feed ..................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.2 The environmental impact of livestock production............................................................................. 23 2.3.3 Livestock diseases............................................................................................................................... 24 3. Organisational structure, know-how and expertise, status and development needs .. 26 3.1 Public authorities and organisations........................................................................................................... 26 3.1.1 Public bodies....................................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.2 National organisations......................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.3 Livestock organisations....................................................................................................................... 28 3.1.4 Other organisations ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Knowledge, skills and expertise, and continuing professional development ............................................. 29 3.2.1 KULM ................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2.2 Basic training and further training ...................................................................................................... 30 3.2.3 Research.............................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.4 Advisory services................................................................................................................................ 31 3.3 Information and communication ................................................................................................................ 31 4. International cooperation................................................................................................. 33 4.1 Nordic Council of Ministers....................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 EU .............................................................................................................................................................. 33 4.3 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation ..................................................................................................... 34 4.4 European Association for Animal Production (EAAP).............................................................................. 34 4.5 International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) ........................................................................... 34 5. Analysis of future needs and trends.................................................................................. 35 5.1 Important features of development............................................................................................................. 35 5.2 The future of domestic livestock farming .................................................................................................. 36 5.3 Development scenarios .............................................................................................................................. 37 6. Strategies and national priorities for use, development and conservation .................. 41 6.1 Conservation and development at different levels ..................................................................................... 41 6.2 Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources.............................................................................. 42 6.2.1 Sustainable development and conservation......................................................................................... 42 6.2.2 Breeding goals and breeding plans....................................................................................................... 43 6.3 Targeted measures in support of breed conservation ............................................................................. 43 6.3.1 Gene bank herds............................................................................................................................ 44 6.3.2 Cryoconservation of genetic material.................................................................................................. 44 3 6.3.3 Incentives in the Environment and Rural Development Programme .................................................. 44 6.3.4 Research, education and training, advisory services and information................................................. 44 6.4 Responsibility and organisation ............................................................................................................. 45 6.5 A new national programme.................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 1. Tables 4 Executive summary The purpose of the present country report, compiled at the instruction of the Swedish Government, is to serve as a basis for Sweden’s contribution to a global report on animal genetic resources for food and agriculture planned by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The report was requested by the FAO, which, with the help of corresponding input from some 160 countries, aims to draw up a First Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources. The present