India is a vast country, rich in biodiversity. With its geographical area of 329 million hectares, India has almost all the climatic conditions and ecological zones found in different parts of the world, ranging from perpetual snow cover to equatorial and tropical conditions, from mangroves to humid tropics and hot and cold deserts as well as all the intermediate conditions. Before the advent of fossil fuel, animal energy was the only source of farm power and that also mainly from bullocks. In the recent past, a number of native breeds are facing fast genetic degradation and dilution because of intensive production system and unplanned introduction and use of exotic germplasm. This scenario, if continued, might result in depletion of the invaluable native germplasm having better potentiality for production, draught capacity, resistance to diseases and heat tolerance ability. In general, indigenous breeds provide the necessary genetic diversity needed by modern agriculture as a means to ensure stability and are vital building blocks for future livestock breeding programmes. Conservation of indigenous animal is needed for Genetic insurance, Scientific study, Economic potential, Environmental considerations, Cultural and ethical requirements, Energy source by In situ or Ex situ conservation techniques. There are some agencies like NBAGR involved in livestock conservation and the government also implemented projects for breeds conservation. There are many successful stories such as Sabarmathi Ashram goshala in the conservation of native breeds. Many foreign countries have realized the genetic potential of our indigenous breeds and using them for improvement of their germplasm. It is high time to proceed to conserve our germplasm.

1. Conservation of farm animal
genetic resources
Dr. K. ILAYAKUMAR
M.V.Sc Scholar
Division of Animal Genetics

2. Introduction
India has rich and diverse genetic resources, with some of the best breeds of dairy,
draught and dual-purpose cattle being available.
 Most of the indigenous breeds of cattle excel in draught capacity, longevity,
fitness and overall lifetime productivity than the temperate breeds.
 Many indigenous breeds are on the decline.
Some are „insecure‟, some are „vulnerable‟
and some others are „endangered‟.

3. Contribution of livestock in Indian
economy
Milk; Draft power;
Organic manure;
Dung as fuel ;
Bones, hides &
skins ; Meat ;
Employment
Production of Major
Livestock Products
Milk 137.6 m.t.
Eggs 63,024 m.
Wool 46.1 m. kg.
Meat 5.9 m.t.
Livestock
contribution to
National GDP and
Agriculture GDP is
4.1 % and 25.6%
respectively.
India ranks First in world milk production
India contribute 43% of world carabeaf production
India ranks third in Egg production

4. Status of livestock genetic resources in
India and the World
Species No of breeds
in world
Population No of breeds
in India
Population Rank
Cattle 1019 1.4billion 37 190 million 2(13%)
Buffalo 123 168 million 13 108 million 1(57%)
Goat 576 924 million 23 135 million 2(15%)
Pig 543 966 million 2 10 million 1%
Sheep 1155 1 billion 39 65 million 3(6.5%)
Horses 694 58 million 6 0.625 million 1%
Camel 85 19 million 8 0.4 million 2.1%
Donkey 157 53 million 1 0.319 million 0.26%
Poultry 15 729 million 5
Source: Statistics Division (FAOSTAT) & Ministry of Agriculture -India

5. Distribution of livestock in India
Cattle
37.28%
Goat
26.40%
Buffalo
21.23%
Sheep
12.71%
Pigs
2.01%
Others
0.37%
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY,DAIRYING AND FISHERIES

6. Why the indigenous animals are important???

7. Disease resistance in Indigenous
livestock
Disease/parasite Breed(s) or
genotype(s)
showing the
favourable
phenotype
Compared to
which breed(s) or
genotype(s)
Experimental
conditions
Results Reference
Theileria annulata Sahiwal cattle Holstein Artificial infection of
isolated monocytes
Less severe clinical
signs in the Sahiwal,
gene expression profile
of monocytes differs
between the two
breeds
Glass and Jensen,
2007
Tuberculosis Zebu cattle Holstein Natural and artificial
infection
Zebu have fewer
clinical signs and
decreased morbidity
Ameni et al., 2007;
Vordermeier et al.,
2012
Fasciola gigantica Buffalo Ongole cattle Artificial infection Buffalo have 1/5 the
number of flukes
Ongole cattle have
Wiedosari et al., 2006
Rhipicephalus
microplus
Nelore cattle Charolais Natural infection Fewer ticks carried by
the Braford, Brangus
and Nelore
Molento et al., 2013
Infectious bursal
disease virus
Aseel chickens Commercial Artificial infection TH1 immunity,
upregulation in the
Aseel
Raj et al., 2011
Newcastle disease Naked-neck chickens Frizzle- and
smoothfeathered
chickens
Artificial infection Naked-neck shows
lower mortality
Bobbo et al., 2013

8. Status of milk protein, b- caesin variants among
Indian milch animals
A2 milk does not contain A1 beta-casein protein (release the potent opioid BCM-7 on digestion)
- may affect gut motility and absorption processes which may affect digestive wellbeing.
Less incidence of allergies, diabetes, obesity and cardio-vascular diseases
Europe - A2 milk is now the fastest growing with a share of 8 per cent of the milk
market, the sales increasing by 57 per cent in a year.
Status of milk protein, b-casein variants among Indian milch animals. Mishra, B. P.et al Indian J Anim Sci, 79, 722-725.

9. Unique features in Indigenous breeds
Cattle:
Sahiwal, Red Sindhi,
Gir
Nagori
Vechur
Punganur
Umblachery
Siri
Sheep:
Changthangi
Garole
Mecheri
Chokla, Patanwadi
Mandya
Goat:
Barbari
Jamnapari
Black Bengal
Black Bengal, Surti
Chegu, Changthangi
Andaman
Buffalo:
Bhadawari
Jerangi
Poultry:
Kadaknath, Tellichery
Naked neck
Frizszle fowl

10.  Brahman Cattle
It is a mixture of 3 Indian milch breeds. Gir, Kankrej and Ongole
Imported into the United States between 1854 and 1926.
It has been used to develop numerous other U.S. beef breeds including
Brangus, Beefmaster and Simbrah.
 Gyr cows of Brazil
used in many parts of world thanks to Brazilians marketing
It produce 20 to 30 litres of Milk a day.
Brazil which took Gir in the 1890s, now has around 4,000,000,
Brazilians have showed their respect to Gir as a stamp
depicting the image of Gir cow was released in Brazil
 Nellore Cattle(From Ongole)
1950s Argentina started its own breeding programme for the “Nellore
Argentino”
Uses of Indigenous breeds in foreign countries

11. But the scenario in India was different for
indigenous farm animal

12. Cattle Population
Exotic/crossbred and Indigenous
population during 1992-2012
19 th livestock census (2012) MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY,DAIRYING AND FISHERIES

13. Factors affecting animal biodiversity
The major annual decline in indigenous cattle population.
Kerala (-6.88%), Punjab (-5.48%), Haryana (-3.96%),
Tamil Nadu (-2.32%), Madhya Pradesh (-3.19%),
Karnataka (-3.34%), Maharashtra (-1.33%),
Uttar Pradesh (-1.52%) and Rajasthan (-0.93%)
The indigenous cattle breeds population - not only declining fast, but are also being
subjected to genetic erosion.
• Fast changing socio-economic levels of farmers,
• Intensive and mechanized agriculture replacing draft animal power,
• Shrinking grazing areas,
• Overemphasis on crossbreeding with exotic cattle for increasing milk
production,

14. Categories (Population status) FAO
Panel
Critical : Breeding female <100
Endangered: Breeding female 100-1000
Vulnerable : Breeding female 1000-5000
Insecure : Breeding female 5000-10000
Normal : Breeding female >10000

15. Breeds Need Conservation
Efforts
• Cattle breeds: Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Vechur and
Punganur
• Buffalo: Nili Ravi and Toda
• Goat: Barbari and Jamnapari
• Sheep: Magra, Pugal, Chokla, Mandya
• Poultry: Kadaknath and Naked Neck

16. Need for conservation
1. Genetic insurance
2. Scientific study
3. Economic potential
4. Environmental considerations
5. Cultural and ethical
requirements
6. Energy source

17. Principles of Conservation
• Population size:
Stock should be maintained with optimum population size
above the level of risk
• Characteristics of the stock:
Pure form
Having special traits
Select diverse stock
• Environmental conditions
Maintain and conserve the locally adapted breeds and that too
in the same location
• Breeding methods
The genetic merit and diversity should be maintained using
appropriate breeding programme

18. Methods of Conservation
In Situ
Farmer‟s herds/flocks
Organized herds in breed tracts
Ex situ
Organized herds outside breed tract
Cryopreserved germplasm
• Embryos
• Somatic cells
• DNA
• Spermatogonial stem cells
• Semen

19. In situ Conservation
• Involves the maintenance of live population of animals in
their adaptive environment (original and natural conditions)
In situ conservation
Active Passive
 Sufficient genetic variability in the breed
population can be maintained
 Proper breeding plan
 Breed can gradually adapt to changing
environment over time
 Can be Done in a better and scientific way at
the organized farms under the control of Govt. to
ensure purity of the breed
Breed development through
animal breeding programme
Maintenance of live animal populations
Within their environments for breeds
which are at high risk of loss

20. Organized flocks/herds
 Maintenance of small population at a place away from the main
breeding tract of the breed is the ex situ conservation of the live
animals. This may be in the form of organized herd maintained in
a research institutions, bull mother farm, state owned livestock
farm, zoo or breed park.
 This population can be used in regeneration of endangered breed,
new breed development, DNA studies.

21. In situ conservation
Advantages
- Animals are still being utilized
- The performance characteristics can be properly recorded and
evaluated
- Breeds have the opportunity to evolve
Disadvantages
- Animals are at risk from diseases and other natural disasters.
- Genetic drift may result in unfavorable genetic changes if the
population is small,
- There is a risk of increasing inbreeding and hence homozygosity,
which is associated with reduced fitness.
- The animals may be less productive and so more costly to
maintain.

22. Ex situ conservation
In situ conservation may not feasible for the breeds
which are economically not viable and hence they
may lost due to economic pressure
Ex situ conservation can be done to handle this
situation
Ex situ conservation
In vivo In vitro

23. Ex situ Conservation
In vitro method In vivo method
Cryopreservation of sperm and oocyte Organized herd of research station
Cryopreservation of embryos Bull mother farms
Storage of DNA Zoo and breeding farms
Embryonic stem cells
Somatic cell cloning

24. Cryopreservation of sperms and
oocytes
• Semen of all species suitable for deep freezing
• Technique of freezing, storing and thawing of semen is simple
and a routine one
• Cryogenic storage of oocytes as a portion of ovaries from
slaughtered animals can be done for most of species of farm
animals, except cattle
• The conservation of haploid genome as semen, but not the
oocytes, has great limitation of the requirement, for IVF of the
animals of the opposite sex or both type of cells(sperms and
oocytes) of the same breed

25. Cryopreservation of embryos
Applications:
 Diploid and contain all genes, ideal for breed improvement,
conservation and revival of lost breed
Limitations:
 Can not be produced in large numbers and require large number
of elite donors
 Cost of production is too high to justify for conservation of breeds
which are low producing
 Require very skilled manpower for production and transfer

26. Conservation Agencies
• Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Govt. of India.
• State Govt. Animal Husbandry Departments.
• State Agricultural Universities.
• Animal Science Institutes Of ICAR.
• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
• Non Governmental Organization(NGO).
• Private Companies.
• Gaushalas

27. Management of AnGR
i. Identification, characterization, evaluation, documentation and
conservation
ii. Training of manpower for successful completion of the above
activities
iii. To develop breed improvement programmes on national level for
proper management of AnGR

28. Management of AnGR
Livestock survey:
– Census is conducted species wise
– The breed wise census data is essential
Breed descriptors:
• Information on habitat, physical and
morphological characteristics, performance
and genetic architecture of the breed
Identification:
– Country and source of data
– Species , breed or population and location
Characterization:
– Description of a breed in terms of breed
descriptors

29. Management of AnGR
Evaluation:
Its is contemporary comparison of performance records
of two or more breeds under the same environment
Documentation:
Collection of existing data
Methodology of characterization:
i. Macro: Phenotypic characterization, conservation
ii. Meta: Phenotypic characterization
iii. Micro: Phenotypic and genetic characterization

30. Animal Data Bank
• Collection of data on any aspect of life in well organized,
meaningful and easily accessible way
• First data bank was initiated by
European Association of Animal
Production(EAAP) in 1980‟s
• Established a data bank at Institute of
AB&G in Hannover, Germany
• FAO Established data bank in Rome
in 1991 to cover all non-European
(FAO Global Data Bank for domestic livestock
Source: FAO

31. Animal Data Bank
Types of information stored in data bank are:
• General information
• Origin and development of breed
• Breed description
• Use and qualities of breed
• Management condition
• Performance trait information
• Additional information
Cattle
22%
Sheep
25%
Pig
12%
Goat
12%
Horse
14%
Buffalo
Asses
3%
Others
9%
Source: FAO

32. ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources
(NBAGR)
• Established on 21st September, 1984 at Bangalore and then shifted to
Karnal in 1985.
• This premier institute is dedicated to work with its mandate of
identification, evaluation, characterization, conservation and utilization
of livestock and poultry genetic resources of our country.
• Phenotypic and genetic characterization of majority (> 90%) of the
registered breeds of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, equines, camel and
poultry.
• Identification of more than 1600 SNPs for various major candidate
genes related with production, reproduction, environmental adaptation
and disease resistance traits in different species.
• VISION
Striving for excellence in innovative research to identify genetic
potential of indigenous livestock for improvement and conservation

33. International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN)
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) is an international organisation working in the field of nature
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• IUCN was established on 5 October 1948, in Fontainebleau, France
• It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy,
lobbying and education
• The organization is best known to the wider public for compiling and
publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the
conservation status of species worldwide.

34. Government Effort
Indigenous Breeds Project
-Improve their self sustenance and conservation in the long run.
-covers four indigenous breeds, viz. Ongole, Gir, Kankrej and Sahiwal
-State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes along with
associated herds kept by Government and Non-Government
organizations.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission
-Aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds in a focused and
scientific manner
-Rs 150.00 crores will be allocated for development, preservation and
conservation of indigenous breeds.
Kamdhenu Dairy Scheme 100 animals (Cows) in milk :
To ensure production and availability of high quality milk producing animals
To develop high yielding milk producing animals` germ plasm center of excellence
To ensure availability of high milk yielding animals to the farmers in the State.

35. Government efforts
National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (2002)
• It is envisaged that all breedable females among cattle and buffalo
population, would be brought under organized breeding within a period of
10 years.
• Genetic qualities and availability of indigenous breeds will be improved
and important indigenous breeds will be preserved.
Central Cattle Breeding Farms
-objective produce at least 10 progeny-tested bulls in each farm by
maintaining about 300 breedable females.
-abandoned in 1988
Tenth Plan has suggested that the goals of these farms should be changed and
they should be used either for conservation of indigenous breeds which are at
the verge of extinction

36. Successful stories of animal genetic resources conservation
The Art of Living Goshala (Bangalore):
Houses the Ongol from Andhra Pradesh, Kangayan from Tamil Nadu,
the Gir from Gujarat and the Sahiwal from Punjab.
Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala:
Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala founded in 1915 by Mahatma Gandhi.
The organization is currently managed by NDDB Dairy Services, a wholly
owned subsidiary of NDDB.
Kamdhenu Gaushala (Punjab):
Indian Breeds of Cows mainly Sahiwal, Gir, Kankrej and Tharparkar.
Focused on Indian Breed Improvement as its primary object.

37. Conclusion
“ The Treasure is here Don’t search somewhere ”
The hardy and disease-resistant Ongole breed saved the South American
country when the “mad cow disease” wiped out all the other American and
European breeds.
Deccan Herald,
May4, 2015