Conservation of Genetic Resources

Transcription

1 Conservation of Genetic Resources Anna Rehnberg, Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre InterNorden 11th 13th August 2014 Spidsbergseter, Ringebu Organization of the work on genetic resources native to Norway Ministry of Agriculture and Food Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre Genetic resource committee on crops Genetic resource committee on farm animals Genetic resource committee on forest trees 1

2 Centre tasks > Preparation and implementation of action plans for the conservation and sustainable use of endangered genetic resources. > Overview of the status of national genetic resources on farm animals, crops and forest trees. > Convey the importance of genetic resources for future innovation and business development. > Coordinate, manage and support activities within the national work on genetic resource. > Represent Norway in relevant international meetings and negotiations. (FAO, European network for coordinators on genetic resources, NordGen etc.) Farm animals endangered breeds > Advise on conservation, sustainable use and management of native and endangered populations. > Establish networks between environments linked to farm animal genetic resources. > Establish gene banks for all species > Mapping and kinship control of individual animals and breeds (Kuregisteret og Sauekontrollen) 2

3 Farm animals endangered breeds > Announce funding for projects that promote conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources. > Provide funding to breed societies of endangered farm animal breeds > Provide information Cooperation with active farmers Brochures Seminar Criteria for being regarded as a breed native to Norway > The breed shall have been imported to or established in Norway before 1950 > The breed shall have been bred in Norway without major import of breeding material, unless the import has been in line with breeding goals defined by Norwegian breeding associations. > The breed shall have or have had economic and cultural importance. 3

4 Degree of endangerment determined by the FAO guidelines High reproductive capacity Low reproductive capacity Critical Endangered Vulnerable Critical Endangered Vulnerable No of breeding females < 100 < < < 300 < < Commercial Norwegian sheep breeds Norwegian White Sheep (NKS) White Spæl Sjeviot Pictures from and 4

5 Vulnerable Norwegian sheep breeds Old spæl Norwegian pelt T. Arnesen Old Norse Sheep Endangered Norwegian sheep breeds Rygja Blæset Steigar Fuglestadbrogete Dala Grey trønder 5

6 Sustainable breeding > Important for animals in all categories endangered or maintained > Sustainable breeding goals productive and functional animals > Maintaining genetic diversity > Increase of inbreeding below 0.5-1% per generation > Effective population size (Ne) > NKS: Ne 91 > Sjeviot: Ne 68 > White spæl: Ne 200 Sustainable breeding in smal populations > Breeding scheme with realistic goals > Registration of kinship > Registration of relevant production traits (if possible) > Maintenance of traditional breed characteristics > Monitoring inbreeding > Action plan for limiting and/or reducing inbreeding. > Use enough numbers of breeding males > Strive for «equal» no of offsprings avoid matadors! 6

7 The effect of No of males in a population Male Female Ne The use of a sufficient number of males in the population is of great importance for Ne and thus also for the development of inbreeding! Recruiting new AI-rams - for the native endangered breeds > The breed s society prepares which rams > NSG and the Genetic Resources Centre make a jointly decision on numbers > Covering the costs: > NSG covers the costs for a new AI-ram when the breed is selling more than 200 dozes of semen per year > for the breeds selling less: Norwegian Genetic Resources Centre covers appr 1800 EURO per ram. > The cryo preserved genetic material is owned by NSG A functionally collaboration between the national sheep breeding organization and the work on genetic resources 7

8 Native Sheep Breed No of AI-rams No of dozes for purchase No of dozes for long term storage (appr 50 dozes/ram) Norwegian White Sheep (NKS) * 963 (57) White spæl* 19 (79) Sjeviot * 11 (35) Norwegian Pelt ** 16 (31) Dala Rygja Steigar Blæset Fuglestadbrogete Old norse * Old spæl ** Grey trønder *Not endangered **Vulnerable 2012/2013 Objectives for cryo preservation > Semen available for breeding today > Commercial breeds: > An importent role for genetic improvement > Progeny testing > Equal access for all farmers to top breeding animals > A tool to reduce sale of live animals (sheep and goats) > Long term storage > Endangered breeds: > Access to semen from all breeds no matter where in the country your farm is located > A complement to the use of rams in natural mating 8

9 The bases of conservation of native sheep breeds in Norway - summary > Tool for registering of kinship > Network/breed societies for farmers > Collaboration between breed societies Genetic Resource Centre NSG > Access to breeding males and semen to avoid inbreeding problems Maintenance of genetic variation in breeds and between breeds! Thank you for your attention! 9