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Domestic animal diversity under threat, warns FAO

Our Bureau

MUMBAI, Dec. 7

IN the past 100 years, the world has already lost about 1,000 breeds, even as every week the world loses two breeds of its valuable domestic animal diversity and 1,350 breeds face extinction, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned in its latest edition of the `World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity'. The study was co-published with the UN Environment Programme.

Over the past decade, FAO had helped collect data from some 170 countries on almost 6,500 breeds of domestic mammals and birds. FAO's global databank for farm animal genetic resources contained information on 6,379 breeds of 30 mammalian and bird species , the report said.

Domestic animal diversity was unique and could not be replaced, according to FAO. The greatest threat to domestic animal diversity was the export of animals from developed to developing countries which lead to cross-breeding or even replacement of local breeds.

Domestic farm animals were essential for food and agriculture; they provided between 30 and 40 per cent of the agricultural sector's global economic value. Around two billion people were depending at least partially upon farm animals for their livelihoo d, the report observed.

Meat, milk and egg production would need to be more than doubled over the next 20 years to feed the growing world population. Farm animal production was also important for food, manure for fertiliser and cooking, draught power, fibre, hides and leather for clothing.

The Asia and Pacific region contained more than one-fifth of the world's animal genetic resources, with 1,251 domestic animal breeds recorded. The majority of the world's buffaloes and yaks, almost half of its muscovy ducks, pheasants and partridges, on e-third of its pig breeds and one quarter of its goat breeds were found in the region. Of the 1,251 breeds recorded, around 10 per cent were at risk. The figures might be under-estimated, FAO added.

FAO said using as many breeds as possible was likely to be the most cost-effective way of conserving and developing the animal genetic gene pool for the future.