Managing genetic diversity and society needs

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia

Ramos, Alexandre Floriani¹  Albuquerque, Maria do Socorro Maués¹  Paiva, Samuel Rezende¹  Mariante, Arthur da Silva¹  Egito, Andréa Alves¹ 

[1] Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia

关键词: Animal genetic resources;    Brazilian conservation program;    genetic variability;    microsatellites    Introduction Animal domestication began 12;    000 years ago and many subpopulations evolved due to adaptations to varying environmental conditions to which the animals were submitted due to migration of man over the centuries;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-35982008001300016

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Universidade Federal de Vicosa

【 摘 要 】

Most livestock are not indigenous to Brazil. Several animal species were considered domesticated in the pre-colonial period, since the indigenous people manage them as would be typical of European livestock production. For over 500 years there have been periodic introductions resulting in the wide range of genetic diversity that for centuries supported domestic animal production in the country. Even though these naturalized breeds have acquired adaptive traits after centuries of natural selection, they have been gradually replaced by exotic breeds, to such an extent, that today they are in danger of extinction To avoid further loss of this important genetic material, in 1983 Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology decided to include conservation of animal genetic resources among its priorities. In this paper we describe the effort to genetically characterize these populations, as a tool to ensure their genetic variability. To effectively save the threatened local breeds of livestock it is important to find a niche market for each one, reinserting them in production systems. They have to be utilized in order to be conserved. And there is no doubt that due to their adaptive traits, the Brazilian local breeds of livestock can play an important role in animal production, to meet society needs.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC