Biodiversity and intellectual property Arjava Sharma ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources Karnal -132001 (Haryana) Farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) diversity has been generated much through continuous artificial selection carried out by animal keepers as per their need and natural selection in local environment (adaptation) during hundreds and thousands of years. For farm animal diversity, ‘breed’ is considered, in general, as a referral point and can be defined as “sub-specific group of domestic livestock with definable and identifiable external characteristics that enable it to be separated by visual appraisal from other similarly defined groups within same species”. Moreover, breed is a group for which geographical and/or cultural separation from phenotypically similar groups has led to acceptance of its separate identity. Our country is a big and enriched repository of farm animal diversity, possessing the largest number of livestock as well as their breeds in the world. Among 15 non- carnivores domesticated by mankind, 12 of the species are found in the country. A range of agro-ecological zones in India has also helped to develop this large number of breeds of various livestock species. The livestock greatly contribute in terms of milk, meat, egg, wool, draught and manure and provides an alternate but important source of income for millions of rural families of our country. Farm Animal Genetic Resources Dynamics At present, the country possesses 512 million livestock and 729 million poultry population (Livestock Census 2012). The country had recorded 3.3 percent reduction in total livestock population, 12.4 percent increase in poultry population during 2007 to 2012. From the time of independence, the cattle population has been increased by quarter on other side buffalo population increased by almost one and half times. Although, the cattle population is showing continuous growth, however, proportion of cattle in total bovine population is decreasing year after year. There is a rapid decline in some of the species like equines, camel, yak and mithun can erode some of best germplasm of indigenous horse from the country, if no corrective measures are being taken. Farm Animal Genetic Resources Diversity The vast domestic animal diversity can be reflected through a total of 151 registered farm animal breeds comprising of 39 breeds of cattle, 13 of buffalo, 40 of sheep, 24 of goat, 9 of camel, 6 of horse, one of donkey, 3 of pig and 16 of poultry. In addition, numerous lesser known breeds, strains and new genetic populations of different farm animal species exist which have not been properly studied and documented. Cattle In country, there are 39 registered breeds of indigenous cattle. Among these, four breeds are milch type, 22 draft type and remaining breeds are dual type. There is still huge population, which is undefined. Most of the Indian native cattle breeds can survive in extremes of agro-climatic conditions and are known for its adaptability to high temperature, powerful draught capacity and resistance to tick borne diseases. Important native breeds like Ongole, Gir, Sahiwal had attracted several countries including Brazil, USA, Argentina, 1 Mexico to import this germplasm for increasing resistance to diseases and heat in their native breeds. Buffalo The country possesses the rich germplasm of buffalo. Some best buffalo breeds of the world are found in India. There are 13 registered buffalo breeds -Murrah, Nili-Ravi, Jaffarabadi, Mehsana, Nagpuri, Pandharpuri, Bhadawari, Surti, Toda, Banni, Chilika and Kalahandi. Murrah is acknowledged as best breed in the world and imported by many countries. Bhadawari is known for high fat in milk. Goat There are 24 registered goat breeds, which can be classified into large, medium and small according to their body size. Beetal, Jamnapari and Jakhrana are the large-sized animals where Black Bengal, Barbari, Changthangi, Chegu, belong to small-sized category. Sheep Presently country possesses 40 indigenous breeds of the sheep. Sheep breeds of Northern region produce good quality carpet wool as well as medium fine wool. Magra sheep is famous for the high luster in wool and appreciated worldwide. The breeds from Southern peninsular region are most important for mutton production. Table 1: Livestock population and trends Livestock population (in million) Trend (Annual in %) Species Category (1997- (2003- 2007- 1997 2003 2007 2012 2003) 07) 12 Crossbred 20.10 24.69 33.10 39.73 3.49 6.04 20.18 Cattle Indigenous 178.78 160.50 166.01 151.17 -1.78 0.68 -8.94 Total 198.88 185.18 199.08 190.90 -1.15 1.46 -4.10 Buffalo 89.91 97.92 105.34 108.70 1.48 1.47 3.19 Crossbred 3.11 5.73 3.73 3.78 10.72 -8.23 1.37 Sheep Indigenous 54.38 55.74 67.83 61.29 0.41 4.00 -9.64 Total 57.49 61.47 71.56 65.07 1.15 3.09 -9.07 Goat 122.72 124.36 140.54 135.17 0.23 2.48 -3.82 Crossbred 2.25 2.18 2.39 2.46 -0.53 1.86 2.80 Pig Indigenous 11.04 11.34 8.74 7.84 0.45 -5.08 -10.37 Total 13.29 13.52 11.13 10.29 0.28 -3.82 -7.54 Donkey 0.88 0.65 0.44 0.32 -4.35 -7.51 -27.17 Horse 0.83 0.75 0.61 0.63 -1.6 -4.05 2.12 Mule 0.22 0.18 0.14 0.196 -3.03 -4.90 43.07 Camel 0.91 0.63 0.52 0.40 -5.13 -3.77 -22.63 Yak 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.077 2.78 2.71 -7.64 Mithun 0.18 0.28 0.26 0.298 9.27 -1.47 12.88 Poultry Chicken 315.43 408.02 617.73 692.65 4.88 8.64 12.13 Duck 32.18 32.67 27.64 23.53 0.25 -3.32 -1485 Horse There are six registered breeds of horses and ponies in India. Two are large sized namely Marwari and Kathiawari. They are mainly used for riding, sports, transportation and safari. 2 The other four breeds, Zanskari, Spiti, Bhutia and Manipuri are small sized ponies. Zanskari, Spiti, Bhutia ponies are known for their ability to work tirelessly in high altitude regions. The Manipuri ponies are referred to as original polo ponies. The Indian horse breeds have unique traits such as sturdiness, endurance potential, relative disease resistance etc. Camel There are nine registered breeds of camel in the country namely Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Mewari, Katchi, Marwari, Mewati, Jalori,MalviandKharai. The camel is utilized for transportation and drought purposes in desert and arid areas of the country. Bikaneri camels are considered best for load carrying and pulling capacity. The Jaisalmeri camels have been recognised for their racing abilities. Pig There are three registered breeds of indigenous pig- Ghoongroo Niang Megha and Agonda Goan. Still there are large unique populations which can be defined as breed particularly in North Eastern region of the country. Yak and Mithun Yak and Mithun are Bovines, very close to cattle. In India, yak and Mithun have very small proportion among the total number of livestock population. Mithun is reared as meat animal in the northeast region of the country. Compared to yak, mithun is found at lower altitude region. Mostly yaks are mainly used for milk, meat and fiber production. Yaks thrive well in climate and low oxygen availability of high altitude regions. There is no defined breed of yak and mithun. Poultry India is considered to be the original home of the Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus) the progenitor of present day domestic birds. Total 15 breeds of poultry have been registered. Table 2: Indigenous livestock breeds and their breeding tracts Cattle breeds Buffalo breeds Sheep breeds Goat breeds Breed Breeding tract Breed Breeding tract Breed Breeding tract Breed Breeding tract Amritmahal Karnataka Bhadawari Uttar Pradesh and Balangir Odisha Attapady Kerala Madhya Pradesh black Bachaur Bihar Jaffarabadi Gujarat Bellary Karnataka Barbari Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Bargur Tamil Nadu Marathwadi Maharashtra Bhakarwal Jammu and Kashmir Beetal Punjab Dangi Maharashtra and Mehsana Gujarat Bonpala Sikkim Black Bengal West Bengal Gujarat Deoni Maharashtra and Murrah Haryana Changthangi Jammu and Kashmir Changthangi Jammu and Kashmir Karnataka Gaolao Maharashtra and Nagpuri Maharashtra Chokla Rajasthan Chegu Himachal Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Gir Gujarat Nili Ravi Punjab Chottanagpuri Jharkhand Gaddi Himachal Pradesh Hallikar Karnataka Pandharpuri Maharashtra Coimbatore Tamil Nadu Ganjam Odisha Hariana Haryana, UP and Surti Gujarat Deccani Andhra Pradesh and Gohilwadi Gujarat Rajasthan Maharashtra Kangayam Tamilnadu Toda Tamilnadu Gaddi Himachal Pradesh Jakhrana Rajasthan Kankrej Gujarat and Banni Gujarat Ganjam Odisha Jamunapari Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan Kenkatha UP, MP Chilika Odisha Garole West Bengal KanniAdu Tamil Nadu Kherigarh Uttar Pradesh Kalahandi Odisha Gurez Jammu and Kashmir Kutchi Gujarat Khillar Maharashtra and Hassan Karnataka Malabari Kerala Karnataka Krishna Karnataka Jaisalmeri Rajasthan Marwari Rajasthan Valley Malvi Madhya Pradesh Jalauni Uttar Pradesh and Mehsana Gujarat Madhya Pradesh 3 Mewati Rajasthan, Haryana Karnah Jammu and Kashmir Osmanabadi Maharastra and Uttar Pradesh Nagori Rajasthan Kenguri Karnataka Sangamneri Maharastra Nimari Madhya Pradesh Kilakarsal Tamil Nadu Sirohi Rajasthan and Gujarat Ongole Andhra Pradesh Madras Red Tamil Nadu Surti Gujarat Ponwar Uttar Pradesh Magra Rajasthan Zalawadi Gujarat Punganur Andhra Pradesh Malpura Rajasthan KonkanKany Maharashtra al Rathi Rajasthan Mandya Karnataka Berari Maharashtra Red Kandhari Maharashtra Marwari Rajasthan and Pantja Uttarakhand & UP Gujarat Red Sindhi On organized farms Mecheri Tamil Nadu only Sahiwal Punjab and Muzzafarnagri Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Uttarakhand Siri Sikkim and West Nali Rajasthan Bengal Tharparkar Rajasthan Nellore Andhra Pradesh Umblachery Tamilnadu Nilgiri Tamil Nadu Vechur Kerala Patanwadi Gujarat Motu Odisha, Poonchi Jammu and Kashmir Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh Ghumusari Odisha Pugal Rajasthan Binjharpuri Odisha Ramnad White Tamil Nadu Khariar Odisha Rampur Bushair Himachal Pradesh Pulikulam Tamilnadu Shahbadi Bihar Kosali Chhattisgarh Sonadi Rajasthan MalnadGidda Karnataka Tibetan Arunachal Pradesh Belahi Haryana& Tiruchi Black Tamil Nadu Chandigarh Gangatiri Uttar Pradesh Vembur Tamil Nadu Katchaikatty Tamil Nadu Black Threats to Livestock Diversity Domestic animal diversity is under threat, globally.