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In vivo conservation of Animal Genetic Resources











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    Book (series)
    Innovations in cryoconservation of animal genetic resources
    Practical guide
    2023
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    The livestock sector faces a range of challenges, including climate change, emerging diseases, competition for natural resources and evolving demand for animal-source foods, which is increasing globally, especially in developing countries. Genetic diversity of livestock is a key resource for allowing livestock keepers to address these challenges, but this diversity has been in a state of decline. The diminishing genetic diversity thus represents yet another obstacle for sustainable livestock production. Cryoconservation (i.e. ex situ – in vitro conservation) of genetic resources through gene banking provides one of the most powerful tools governments and other stakeholders have to manage genetic diversity in both the short and long term and thereby provide future generations with the tools to meet the challenges ahead. Gene banking genetic resources fits within the context of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, which was developed and adopted by FAO Member Nations. Specifically, Strategic Priority 9 of the Global Plan of Action is “Establish or strengthen ex situ conservation programmes” and Strategic Priority 11 urges countries to “Develop approaches and technical standards for conservation. To assist countries in the implementation the Global Plan of Action, FAO worked with experts from around the world to prepare technical guidelines. In 2012 FAO published FAO Guidelines on Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources. Gene banking is a long-term effort that needs to be viewed in terms of decades rather than years, as demonstrated by similar systems for agricultural crops. The responsibility for establishing such resources lies squarely within governments’ roles of providing public goods and food security. Gene banking of animal genetic resources is a technology-intense undertaking and the associated technologies are in a continual state of research and development. The livestock sector also continues to evolve rapidly. Since the development and release of the previous guidelines, numerous changes have taken place. Critical among these is a greater appreciation of the opportunities for actively utilizing cryopreserved material to enhance management of in vivo populations, rather than as simply an “insurance policy” to protect breeds against extinction. This key development has led to further changes in gene bank management. First, interaction with users of the stored material has increased. This in turn has created a need to involve stakeholders more closely in the management of genetic collections and to better monitor and document the processes of gene banking to ensure quality management.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Cryoconservation of Animal Genetic Resources 2012
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    The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, adopted in 2007, is the first internationally agreed framework for the management of biodiversity in the livestock sector. It calls for the development of technical guidelines to support countries in their implementation efforts. Guidelines on the Preparation of national strategies and action plans for animal genetic resources were published by FAO in 2008 and are being complemented by a series of guideline publications addressing specific technical subjects. These guidelines on Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources address Strategic Priority Area 3 of the Global Plan of Action – “Conservation” and particularly complement the guidelines on In vivo conservation of animal genetic resources which will be published in the same series. They have been endorsed by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The guidelines describe, in logical chronological order, the process of establishing a programme for cr yoconservation of animal genetic resources, starting with the process of confirming the decision to implement a cryoconservation programme. The task of organizing the institutions needed to meet the chosen conservation objectives is then described. This is followed by an overview of the types of germplasm that can be cryoconserved, and technical details regarding the physical plant required to set up a gene bank and the quantities of germplasm required to ensure the capture of sufficient genetic variability. Principles of cryopreservation are then explained from a biological point of view and cryopreservation procedures discussed for different species and tissue types. The main body of the guidelines concludes with sections on sanitary measures, data management, legal issues and capacity building. Appendices provide detailed protocols and lists of equipment and reagents for collection and cryopreservation of various tissues for a range of common livestock species.
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    Book (series)
    Phenotypic characterization of Animal Genetic Resources 2012
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    The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, adopted in 2007, is the first internationally agreed framework for the management of biodiversity in the livestock sector. It calls for the development of technical guidelines to support countries in their implementation efforts. Guidelines on the Preparation of national strategies and action plans for animal genetic resources were published by FAO in 2009 and are being complemented by a series of guideline publications addressing specific technical subjects. These guidelines on Phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources address Strategic Priority Area 1 of the Global Plan of Action – “Characterization, inventory and monitoring of trends and associated risks”. They complement, in particular, the guidelines on molecular genetic characterization and on surveying and monitoring of animal genetic resources. They have been endorsed by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The guidelines offer ad vice on how to conduct a well-targeted and cost-effective phenotypic characterization study that contributes to the improvement of animal genetic resources management in the context of country-level implementation of the Global Plan of Action. An overview of the concepts and approaches that underpin phenotypic characterization is followed by practical guidance on planning and implementing field work, data management and data analysis. The annexes include generic data collection formats for pheno typic characterization of major livestock species, as well as a framework for recording data on breeds’ production environments.

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