Characterization of Local Farm Animal Genetic Diversity for Better Resource Use and Climate Change Adaptation

Animal husbandry makes an important contribution to human nutrition with high-quality products. Embedded in global nutrient cycles, however, the production of animal-sourced foods also contributes significantly to the emission of greenhouse and other climate-relevant gases, and thus to climate change. On the other hand, farm animal production is directly and indirectly affected by the impacts of climate change. Climate change forecasts assume regionally increasing temperatures and strongly fluctuating precipitation with heavy rainfall events and droughts. As a result, farm animals will suffer more strongly from heat stress in the future. Consequences are an increased susceptibility to livestock diseases and a reduced production performance, especially in high-performance breeds. Fluctuations in precipitation and heavy rainfall could also lead to fluctuations and reductions in the yield of fodder crops. Thus far, the role of local farm animal genetic resources and unconventional livestock species in the adaptation to new climatic and agro-ecological conditions and mitigation of animal production’s effects on climate change has been inadequately discussed despite farm animals being an important user of natural resources and contributor to climate change.

The sustainability of animal production systems and future food security require access to a wide diversity of farm animal genetic resources. A broad genetic basis within and among breeds/ livestock species is needed to adapt to new agro-ecological conditions such as limited (in quantity and quality) livestock feed resources, land and water resources, as well as increasing pressure on animal health. Furthermore, there are differences in enteric methane emissions within and among breeds that suggest a potential for genetic improvement in this trait through selection. Characterization of breeds with modern genomic tools should be applied to identify breeds that have genetically adapted to marginal conditions and to get critical information for breeding and conservation programs of local farm animal genetic resources. Especially many farm animal genetic resources in developing countries have not yet been characterized, but may have developed favorable characteristics to adapt to changing climatic and agro-ecological conditions while mitigating climate change effects of animal production systems in the future.

Keywords: conservation, genetic characterization, farm animals, genetic diversity, resource use, climate change, adaptation, mitigation

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