Conserving the Genetic Diversity of Domesticated Livestock

Abstract

Domesticated animals live and produce in an environment influenced by both natural and human factors. These agricultural environments are important to maintain for human survival and also for their interactions with natural environments. Effective conservation of domesticated biodiversity can help to assure sustainable agricultural systems that minimize negative influences on natural environments. In addition, livestock biodiversity is a component of total biodiversity and for several species is the only remaining source of diversity because the wild ancestors are now extinct. Conservation of livestock biodiversity depends on cultural and biological approaches. Each of these has differential importance depending on the specific location of the genetic resource as well as the human culture in which it resides. Effective global conservation blends these in different measures to assure positive outcomes that succeed in securing the genetic resource as well as its contribution to human survival and well-being.

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of Philippine native pigs highlight five priority populations for conservation

“…Effective agricultural biodiversity conservation is important for sustainable food systems (Sponenberg, 2020 ). Biodiversity has three levels, as outlined by Hvilsom et al.…”

“…Effective agricultural biodiversity conservation is important for sustainable food systems (Sponenberg, 2020). Biodiversity has three levels, as outlined by Hvilsom et al (2022): ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity, defined as the "amount and distribution of genetic variation within species or populations."…”