Using rare breeds in organic farming systems

By F. Chambers,
Director, Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.
Web: www.rbta.org
Email: organic@fernleighfarms.com

Introduction

It is no longer prudent to leave the world’s animal genetic resources up to forces of nature or industry. Maintaining genetic diversity in domestic farm livestock has too large a role to play in biosecurity and the future of our food.

To understand why, we need to understand the principle of biological diversity or “Biodiversity”. Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. It is the key to the ability of the biosphere to continue providing us with ecological goods and services. It is our life assurance policy.

The first government signatories to the international convention on Biological Diversity were made in June 1992. Since that time, the number of countries signing the convention has risen to 175. For these countries, the convention has become a legally binding commitment to conserve biological diversity (3). But what is Biodiversity and where are its limits?

In 1997 I attended a conference in Canberra and was seated next to the newly appointed administrator for the National Heritage Trust fund for Biodiversity. Australia had sold part of Telstra to raise funds and the Australian government had committed $1.1 billion from the part sale of Telstra towards biodiversity in Australia (4). At that time, I broached the potential for funding to conduct a national audit on the state of rare breeds of domestic farm livestock in Australia to monitor the biodiversity of farmed livestock in Australia. It was made very clear to me that biodiversity was about native flora and fauna and natural ecosystems. Introduced species and domestic farm livestock did not come into the equation. This was despite domestic farm livestock being a resource that in the last decade has allowed Australia to be the world’s:

largest exporter of beef, goat meat and mutton
largest producer of wool
second-largest exporter of lamb
third-largest exporter of dairy products

Even today, when I ask people what they perceive biodiversity to mean, the concept of native flora and fauna and soil microorganisms still pervades. But Biodiversity is still much more. Only now are we coming to understand the implications of agricultural biodiversity. The biodiversity we draw on as a resource in the production of food, fibre and other agricultural commodities.

Thankfully, today, the definition of biodiversity has come to include agricultural biodiversity and the wide array of breeds of domestic farm livestock used in agricultural production systems around the world.

A recent international study conducted by the Animal Genetic Resources Group of the FAO incorporated the results from 153 countries from around the world. The study highlighted the following;

15 species account for over 90% of global livestock production and of these, the following face extinction;
- 53% of all turkey breeds
- 52% of all chicken breeds
- 42% of horse breeds
- 39% of Duck breeds
- 33% of all pig breeds
- 24% of cattle breeds
- 22% of Ass breeds
- 20% of sheep breeds
- 18% of goat breeds
over the past 15-20 years, 300 out of 6000 breeds (5%) identified by FAO have become extinct.
The World Watch list for Domestic Animal Diversity identifies 1,350 breeds that currently face extinction. We are currently losing 1-2 breeds every week (5).

Maintaining the biodiversity of our food source is a matter of food security.

Australian Case Study 1. Pig Breeds in Australia. (2)

With 33% of all pig breeds being endangered globally, there are currently 8 pure breeds of Pig in Australia. (Wessex Saddleback, Large Black, Tamworth, Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Large White, Landrace). 4 other breeds once existed in Australia, but have now been lost in Australia, (Poland China, Gloucester Old Spots, Middle Yorkshire White, Welsh). The Welsh breed of pig was lost to Australia in 1995. Although these breeds do exist in other countries, they no
longer constitute a genetic resource for Australia or contribute to the genetic variability of its pig breeds.

All 8 pig breeds remaining in Australia contribute less than 1% of the national pig herd of 318,000 sows in 2004 and are currently being maintained by fewer than 50 operators. The vast majority of the pig industry in Australia is dominated by cross bred genetics (commercial hybrids) that are developed by 3 major firms; Hyfarm Pty Ltd, PIC Australia, and CEFN Genetics. These pigs are bred for fast growth rates in an intensively housed environment. They have very little hair cover and this together with the white colour of their skin makes them highly prone to sunburn.

These pigs are not bred for outdoor environments.

Australian Case Study 2. Dairy Cattle Breeds in Australia (2)

13 Pure cattle breeds are recorded as being used by the Australian Dairy Industry. Of the national herd, 70% are Holstein, 10% are Jersey and 4% are a Holstein/Jersey crosses. This means that 85% of the genetic variability in dairy cattle breeds is represented by only 16% of Australia’s total dairy herd.

In 1997, the top five Holstein ancestors in Australia were bulls from the United States of America that together made up 30% of the Australian Holstein gene pool (1). The increasing use of Artificial Insemination in the Australian dairy industry has led to unprecedented increases in inbreeding coefficients in our national herd. Although Holsteins are by no means rare, the variability within the breed is rapidly diminishing to a point that ancestors with a large genetic contributions accounted for 80-90% of the inbreeding in the population in 1997.

Throughout the 1970’s, the majority of predominant Holstein ancestors were born in Australia. Since that time, there has been sequential introgression of prominent ancestors from USA where by 1990, only 2 sires (Pawnee Farm Arlinda and Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation) accounted for 25% of all genes segregating in US registered Holstein cattle (6). Biodiversity within individual breeds is becoming of increasing concern. Some geneticist believe that commercial Holstein farmers will, like the pig industry, be cross breeding within 10-20 years to reintroduce the genetic variability they are currently eroding from the national herds.

With Australia being the third largest exporter of dairy products in the world, we can only wonder how the future effects of inbreeding will impact on the economic performance of this industry and the lives of individual farmers.

Australian Case Study 3. Goat Breeds in Australia (2)

There are 14 breeds of goat listed as being present in Australia. 5 are meat/fibre breeds, 6 are diary breeds and 3 are feral breeds.

Australia is the world’s largest exporter of goat meat, with the majority of goats being harvested from feral populations. In 2001 the Australian farmed goat industry was approximately 200,000 head. The 2001/02 Australian goat slaughter was 859,000 head, with 138,781 being exported.

In the past 12 years Boer goats (1993) and Kalahari Red goats (1999) were introduced into Australia. Both of these are large framed meat breeds from South Africa, introduced with a view to “improving” the carcass quality of goat meat in Australia.

The Australian feral goat is a hardy goat breed which has adapted over more than one hundred years in the Australian outback regions. Feral goats are harvested from the wild and currently constitute a resource that forms the foundation of a significant industry worth around AUS$45.7 million. This locally adapted breed may soon be altered by “genetic swamping”. With the introduction of the exotic goat breeds into the wild, the Australian feral goat is likely to be
changed forever within a very few generations. Whether this is a good or bad thing we do not know but it is a large scale experiment with biodiversity that is currently being run without parameters. Our perception of feral animals in Australia is largely one where see the animals as no more than pests that degrade the environment. In many cases this accusation may be true, but they are also a harvestable resource and asset that needs to managed. I personally
am concerned about the unpredictability of new breeds of goat being introduced into the wild populations.

These are just 3 isolated examples of how the genetic variability of our animal genetic resources is being put at risk. It involves the narrowing of the genetic variability between breeds and within breeds in domestic species and the undermining of stable feral populations.

Why is it important to maintain genetic variability?

Animals need to be able to be locally adapted to their environment. Not all animals suit all environments (e.g. large framed Holstein cattle require high levels of good quality feed to sustain their milk production. They do not tolerate hotter climates as well as the smaller framed breeds (e.g. Jersey). Some breeds are better suited to extensive grazing systems while others
require a high level of supplementary feeding. With changing trends, we need to ensure we have the right breeds to suit all eventualities.
Inbreeding occurs in situations where there is limited genetic variability, leading to decreases in production and performance known as inbreeding depression. This may be in terms of decreasing fertility, production, size, or an increased number of physical abnormalities that affect performance.
Disease resistance or susceptibility. Different breeds exhibit varying levels of disease resistance. If too high a percentage of any industry relies too heavily on any one breed and that breed falls susceptible to a particular disease, then it puts at risk the food producing capacity of that industry and the livelihoods of too many people. (e.g. The Welsh pig died out in Australia in 1995 due to its susceptibility to stress. As the breed had been bred more and more for leanness, scientists discovered the “Halothane” or stress gene in pigs that is linked to level of leanness. The leaner the animals became, the more problems they experienced with stress. In sheep breeds, rare breeds such as the Wensleydale have been shown to have a gene that gives it a high level of natural resistance to Scrapie). In the next 25 -30 years, the demand for meat and milk will double (5) and this will put increasing pressure on the productive capacity of our animal genetic resources. It will also put increasing pressure on the biodiversity of our animal genetic resources as we select for a narrower range of production characteristics, striving to meet the challenges of a growing population that draws more heavily on environmental assets than ever before.

What can be done to reverse the trends?

If you have farming land, then keep a rare breed. Consider which breed will best suit your enterprise. It may not be the entire herd or flock. It may just be a satellite herd of flock that you keep for their conservation value. Alternatively, you may find that a certain breed suits your organic practices better than the conventional or hybrid breed you have previously been using.
Keep up the registrations of all rare breeds with the recognised breed registry. When breed numbers reach low levels, knowing the animal’s pedigree is essential to being able to minimize inbreeding and maximize the future prospects of the breed. Since objective measurements have been introduced to most animal industries, there have been falling numbers of breed registrations as animal pedigrees are of less economic importance than the measures of their productive capacity. From a conservation point of view, maintaining accurate pedigree records is essential to the ongoing welfare of the breeds.
Use rare breed commodities. Eat rare breeds. Use rare breed fibres. I always get strange looks when I tell people that unless they eat rare breeds of domestic farm livestock, they will die out. On International Food day in 2004, the theme was “Biodiversity for Food Security”. The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia launched its new “Real Taste Traditional Meat” marketing scheme. The scheme encourages people to seek out and choose rare breed meat. It encourages people to savor the exquisite eating characteristics of each of the different breeds. Once you start tasting meat from the different breeds, you discover that each is a unique eating experience. Maintaining the diversity in the breeds that we use in our agricultural production systems needs to become a higher priority. If we don’t utilize endangered breeds, then who will? Organic farmers are well positioned to gain from the richness of diversity available and capitalize on the story that this variability provides. Increasingly, consumers are wanting to reconnect with their food and know how it has been produced. Telling the story of endangered breeds involves consumers in the story and unites them with the farmers enabling them to together work as partners towards a conservation solution. RBTA encourages people to vote with their consumer dollars and choose rare breed meat to help save the breeds so that future generations can continue to enjoy the many colours and dimensions of genetic variability.

References
(1) Man, W.Y.N. (2004) Pedigree Analysis of Holstein Friesians in Australia. PhD thesis. The University of Sydney, Australia.
2) Chambers.F.J. 2004. Status of Rare Breeds of Domestic Farm Livestock in Australia. www.rbta.org
(3) Sustainaing Life on Earth. How the Convention on Biological Diversity Promotes Nature and Well-Being. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. April 2000 - www.biodiv.org
(4) http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/96/mr6dec.html 6/7/05. Australian government press release dated 6th December 1996 by Senator Robert Hill. Leader of the Government in the Senate. Minister for the Environment,.
(5) Status of the World’s Livestock Genetic Resources. Ricardo A. Cardellino. Animal Genetic Resources Group. Animal Production and Health Division, FAO.
(6) Young and Seykora, Estimates of Inbreeding and relationship Among Registered Holstein Females in the United States. Journal of Dairy Science 79 (3):502 http://jds.fass.org/cgi/reprint/79/3/502

From Proceedings of the 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production
© IFOAM, August 2006, posted here with permission.

Français

Posted September 2007


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Research Extension Courses Consumers -------------------------- Virtual Farm Tours Student & Job Opportunities News Articles Links Standards -------------------------- Market Information Events Issues Animal Welfare Strategic Plans -------------------------- Award-winners Kids Stuff Rural Culture Discussion Forum Classified Ads Weather Site Map	Using rare breeds in organic farming systems By F. Chambers, Director, Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Web: www.rbta.org Email: organic@fernleighfarms.com Introduction It is no longer prudent to leave the world’s animal genetic resources up to forces of nature or industry. Maintaining genetic diversity in domestic farm livestock has too large a role to play in biosecurity and the future of our food. To understand why, we need to understand the principle of biological diversity or “Biodiversity”. Biodiversity is the variability of life on Earth. It is the key to the ability of the biosphere to continue providing us with ecological goods and services. It is our life assurance policy. The first government signatories to the international convention on Biological Diversity were made in June 1992. Since that time, the number of countries signing the convention has risen to 175. For these countries, the convention has become a legally binding commitment to conserve biological diversity (3). But what is Biodiversity and where are its limits? In 1997 I attended a conference in Canberra and was seated next to the newly appointed administrator for the National Heritage Trust fund for Biodiversity. Australia had sold part of Telstra to raise funds and the Australian government had committed $1.1 billion from the part sale of Telstra towards biodiversity in Australia (4). At that time, I broached the potential for funding to conduct a national audit on the state of rare breeds of domestic farm livestock in Australia to monitor the biodiversity of farmed livestock in Australia. It was made very clear to me that biodiversity was about native flora and fauna and natural ecosystems. Introduced species and domestic farm livestock did not come into the equation. This was despite domestic farm livestock being a resource that in the last decade has allowed Australia to be the world’s: largest exporter of beef, goat meat and mutton largest producer of wool second-largest exporter of lamb third-largest exporter of dairy products Even today, when I ask people what they perceive biodiversity to mean, the concept of native flora and fauna and soil microorganisms still pervades. But Biodiversity is still much more. Only now are we coming to understand the implications of agricultural biodiversity. The biodiversity we draw on as a resource in the production of food, fibre and other agricultural commodities. Thankfully, today, the definition of biodiversity has come to include agricultural biodiversity and the wide array of breeds of domestic farm livestock used in agricultural production systems around the world. A recent international study conducted by the Animal Genetic Resources Group of the FAO incorporated the results from 153 countries from around the world. The study highlighted the following; 15 species account for over 90% of global livestock production and of these, the following face extinction; 53% of all turkey breeds 52% of all chicken breeds 42% of horse breeds 39% of Duck breeds 33% of all pig breeds 24% of cattle breeds 22% of Ass breeds 20% of sheep breeds 18% of goat breeds over the past 15-20 years, 300 out of 6000 breeds (5%) identified by FAO have become extinct. The World Watch list for Domestic Animal Diversity identifies 1,350 breeds that currently face extinction. We are currently losing 1-2 breeds every week (5). Maintaining the biodiversity of our food source is a matter of food security. *Australian Case Study 1. Pig Breeds in Australia.* (2) With 33% of all pig breeds being endangered globally, there are currently 8 pure breeds of Pig in Australia. (Wessex Saddleback, Large Black, Tamworth, Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Large White, Landrace). 4 other breeds once existed in Australia, but have now been lost in Australia, (Poland China, Gloucester Old Spots, Middle Yorkshire White, Welsh). The Welsh breed of pig was lost to Australia in 1995. Although these breeds do exist in other countries, they no longer constitute a genetic resource for Australia or contribute to the genetic variability of its pig breeds. All 8 pig breeds remaining in Australia contribute less than 1% of the national pig herd of 318,000 sows in 2004 and are currently being maintained by fewer than 50 operators. The vast majority of the pig industry in Australia is dominated by cross bred genetics (commercial hybrids) that are developed by 3 major firms; Hyfarm Pty Ltd, PIC Australia, and CEFN Genetics. These pigs are bred for fast growth rates in an intensively housed environment. They have very little hair cover and this together with the white colour of their skin makes them highly prone to sunburn. These pigs are not bred for outdoor environments. *Australian Case Study 2. Dairy Cattle Breeds in Australia* (2) 13 Pure cattle breeds are recorded as being used by the Australian Dairy Industry. Of the national herd, 70% are Holstein, 10% are Jersey and 4% are a Holstein/Jersey crosses. This means that 85% of the genetic variability in dairy cattle breeds is represented by only 16% of Australia’s total dairy herd. In 1997, the top five Holstein ancestors in Australia were bulls from the United States of America that together made up 30% of the Australian Holstein gene pool (1). The increasing use of Artificial Insemination in the Australian dairy industry has led to unprecedented increases in inbreeding coefficients in our national herd. Although Holsteins are by no means rare, the variability within the breed is rapidly diminishing to a point that ancestors with a large genetic contributions accounted for 80-90% of the inbreeding in the population in 1997. Throughout the 1970’s, the majority of predominant Holstein ancestors were born in Australia. Since that time, there has been sequential introgression of prominent ancestors from USA where by 1990, only 2 sires (Pawnee Farm Arlinda and Round Oak Rag Apple Elevation) accounted for 25% of all genes segregating in US registered Holstein cattle (6). Biodiversity within individual breeds is becoming of increasing concern. Some geneticist believe that commercial Holstein farmers will, like the pig industry, be cross breeding within 10-20 years to reintroduce the genetic variability they are currently eroding from the national herds. With Australia being the third largest exporter of dairy products in the world, we can only wonder how the future effects of inbreeding will impact on the economic performance of this industry and the lives of individual farmers. *Australian Case Study 3. Goat Breeds in Australia* (2) There are 14 breeds of goat listed as being present in Australia. 5 are meat/fibre breeds, 6 are diary breeds and 3 are feral breeds. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of goat meat, with the majority of goats being harvested from feral populations. In 2001 the Australian farmed goat industry was approximately 200,000 head. The 2001/02 Australian goat slaughter was 859,000 head, with 138,781 being exported. In the past 12 years Boer goats (1993) and Kalahari Red goats (1999) were introduced into Australia. Both of these are large framed meat breeds from South Africa, introduced with a view to “improving” the carcass quality of goat meat in Australia. The Australian feral goat is a hardy goat breed which has adapted over more than one hundred years in the Australian outback regions. Feral goats are harvested from the wild and currently constitute a resource that forms the foundation of a significant industry worth around AUS$45.7 million. This locally adapted breed may soon be altered by “genetic swamping”. With the introduction of the exotic goat breeds into the wild, the Australian feral goat is likely to be changed forever within a very few generations. Whether this is a good or bad thing we do not know but it is a large scale experiment with biodiversity that is currently being run without parameters. Our perception of feral animals in Australia is largely one where see the animals as no more than pests that degrade the environment. In many cases this accusation may be true, but they are also a harvestable resource and asset that needs to managed. I personally am concerned about the unpredictability of new breeds of goat being introduced into the wild populations. These are just 3 isolated examples of how the genetic variability of our animal genetic resources is being put at risk. It involves the narrowing of the genetic variability between breeds and within breeds in domestic species and the undermining of stable feral populations. *Why is it important to maintain genetic variability?* Animals need to be able to be locally adapted to their environment. Not all animals suit all environments (e.g. large framed Holstein cattle require high levels of good quality feed to sustain their milk production. They do not tolerate hotter climates as well as the smaller framed breeds (e.g. Jersey). Some breeds are better suited to extensive grazing systems while others require a high level of supplementary feeding. With changing trends, we need to ensure we have the right breeds to suit all eventualities. Inbreeding occurs in situations where there is limited genetic variability, leading to decreases in production and performance known as inbreeding depression. This may be in terms of decreasing fertility, production, size, or an increased number of physical abnormalities that affect performance. Disease resistance or susceptibility. Different breeds exhibit varying levels of disease resistance. If too high a percentage of any industry relies too heavily on any one breed and that breed falls susceptible to a particular disease, then it puts at risk the food producing capacity of that industry and the livelihoods of too many people. (e.g. The Welsh pig died out in Australia in 1995 due to its susceptibility to stress. As the breed had been bred more and more for leanness, scientists discovered the “Halothane” or stress gene in pigs that is linked to level of leanness. The leaner the animals became, the more problems they experienced with stress. In sheep breeds, rare breeds such as the Wensleydale have been shown to have a gene that gives it a high level of natural resistance to Scrapie). In the next 25 -30 years, the demand for meat and milk will double (5) and this will put increasing pressure on the productive capacity of our animal genetic resources. It will also put increasing pressure on the biodiversity of our animal genetic resources as we select for a narrower range of production characteristics, striving to meet the challenges of a growing population that draws more heavily on environmental assets than ever before. *What can be done to reverse the trends?* If you have farming land, then keep a rare breed. Consider which breed will best suit your enterprise. It may not be the entire herd or flock. It may just be a satellite herd of flock that you keep for their conservation value. Alternatively, you may find that a certain breed suits your organic practices better than the conventional or hybrid breed you have previously been using. Keep up the registrations of all rare breeds with the recognised breed registry. When breed numbers reach low levels, knowing the animal’s pedigree is essential to being able to minimize inbreeding and maximize the future prospects of the breed. Since objective measurements have been introduced to most animal industries, there have been falling numbers of breed registrations as animal pedigrees are of less economic importance than the measures of their productive capacity. From a conservation point of view, maintaining accurate pedigree records is essential to the ongoing welfare of the breeds. Use rare breed commodities. Eat rare breeds. Use rare breed fibres. I always get strange looks when I tell people that unless they eat rare breeds of domestic farm livestock, they will die out. On International Food day in 2004, the theme was “Biodiversity for Food Security”. The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia launched its new “Real Taste Traditional Meat” marketing scheme. The scheme encourages people to seek out and choose rare breed meat. It encourages people to savor the exquisite eating characteristics of each of the different breeds. Once you start tasting meat from the different breeds, you discover that each is a unique eating experience. Maintaining the diversity in the breeds that we use in our agricultural production systems needs to become a higher priority. If we don’t utilize endangered breeds, then who will? Organic farmers are well positioned to gain from the richness of diversity available and capitalize on the story that this variability provides. Increasingly, consumers are wanting to reconnect with their food and know how it has been produced. Telling the story of endangered breeds involves consumers in the story and unites them with the farmers enabling them to together work as partners towards a conservation solution. RBTA encourages people to vote with their consumer dollars and choose rare breed meat to help save the breeds so that future generations can continue to enjoy the many colours and dimensions of genetic variability. *References* (1) Man, W.Y.N. (2004) Pedigree Analysis of Holstein Friesians in Australia. PhD thesis. The University of Sydney, Australia. 2) Chambers.F.J. 2004. Status of Rare Breeds of Domestic Farm Livestock in Australia. www.rbta.org (3) Sustainaing Life on Earth. How the Convention on Biological Diversity Promotes Nature and Well-Being. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. April 2000 - www.biodiv.org (4) http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/96/mr6dec.html 6/7/05. Australian government press release dated 6th December 1996 by Senator Robert Hill. Leader of the Government in the Senate. Minister for the Environment,. (5) Status of the World’s Livestock Genetic Resources. Ricardo A. Cardellino. Animal Genetic Resources Group. Animal Production and Health Division, FAO. (6) Young and Seykora, Estimates of Inbreeding and relationship Among Registered Holstein Females in the United States. Journal of Dairy Science 79 (3):502 http://jds.fass.org/cgi/reprint/79/3/502 From Proceedings of the 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production © IFOAM, August 2006, posted here with permission. Français Posted September 2007
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Using rare breeds in organic farming systems

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