Main conclusions of the regional IGA
regional meeting, Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands), October 4-5,
"Local Goat
Genotypes and their Utilization in Management Systems as Means of
Conservation"
Jean Paul DUBEUF and Juan CAPOTE
The purpose of this meeting was to join an IGA regional
meeting with the regular Iberian Congress of the Spanish Society
of Animal Genetic Resources and the Portuguese Society of Animal
Genetic Resources. This meeting was located in La Palma, a small
Canary island with a local goat breed, the Palmera breed* and
specific extensive pastoral traditional systems.
Go to the web site of the meeting "Local Goat Genotypes
and their Utilization in Management Systems as Means of Conservation"
Around 90 scientists and technicians** from the
Iberian Peninsula, as well as from Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay,
Guatemala, etc.), who were involved in the conservation of local animal breeds
including; goats, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs and even snails, presented
theirs works and discussed the future of local breeds and their conservation.
The debates have underlined the gap between the often
intensified developed countries and the situation of goats in many rural areas
in developing countries. 700 scientific journal articles are published on goats
each year with 50% of them being produced in Europe and USA although most of
the goats are found on other continents. Most of the selection centers and
initiatives to characterize and preserve local and often endangered goat breeds
are located in the first ones; in the others, where goat numbers have increased
significantly, local and generally uncharacterized populations are the
majority. Used for the auto consumption of milk, meat and fibers by local
villagers, the goats contribute significantly to food sufficiency of the
population. The debates have confirmed that the absolute priority should be to
support the project of improving the conditions of management with simple and
clear individual (animal nutrition, individual within flock selection) or
collective (identification, animal health) tools and services.
The communications and main reports have also
specified the real genetic situation of the goat breeds and populations, thanks
to very recent new studies and very modern techniques using the genetics
markers and works applying micro satellites and mitochondria DNA markers. Although
these results have to be developed and confirmed, they show than for more than
others species, the genetic variability of the goat species is lower between
breeds, than between animals from a precise local population. For instance, the
relations between the Ibero-American goat populations and the Canarian,
Spanish, Portuguese, but also European and African or Asiatic breeds, have been
described in relation with commercial routes between these continents since the
first trips by Christopher Columbus.
The local breeds are key factors to differentiate the
quality of goat cheeses in relation with the production systems, the territory
and use of range lands. The evaluation of the direct or indirect effects of the
breed on the characteristics and economic valuation of the products has been
discussed mainly for more developed countries. There are presently few studies
on the direct relation between the breed and the quality of the products. Several
studies on goat meat have also shown that the small size local breeds can have
good characteristics for meat quality (suitable carcass conformation and
characteristics, high growth efficiency). The discussions have confirmed the
different stakes of quality between the developed (quality products, adding
value, certification), and developing (control of hygiene, animal health)
countries.
The participants have recommended developing works on
goats and village animal production, still very scarce and generally poorly
known. Ecological, sociological and even ethnological aspects are often more
important than technical results on animal production itself. They have clearly
confirmed the necessity, in agreement with the FAO recommendation, not to
develop exotic breeds and crossing that could affect the balance and coherence
of the local production systems. Several speakers have given examples that in
many cases, cooperation has been organized more for the benefit or with the
opinion of experts from developed countries without taking into account the
real needs of the local population.
More than ever the priority is to sensitize the
political deciders for a new politics of co-development and preserve these
local production systems, to compensate for the effects of general
globalization.
As a conclusion, the bridge between developed and
developing countries could be perhaps*** this strong relation of the local
breeds with the territory, the environment and the local know how and
production systems.
At the end of the regional Conference, Dr. Chris Lu,
IGA President presented the activity and services of IGA. During the discussion
following, the audience has expressed hopes for more practical services of
information and for the development.
Titles of the main conferences and communications
during the meeting:
- Bermejo, L. A., Mata J., Analysis of impact of
ecosystems, of extensive caprine production systems, during
six years of monitoring in the Canary Islands.
- Argüello, A., Castro, N., Capote, J., Local genotypes
and Quality products.
- Capote, J., Tejera, A., Amills, M., Relation between
the goat genotypes of the sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Bermejo, L. A., Mata J., Analysis of impact of ecosystems,
of extensive caprine production systems, during six years of
monitoring in the Canary Islands.
- Delgado, J.V., Amills, M., Molecular markers and Population
studies.
- Dubeuf, J.-P., Boyazoglu, J., An International Panorama
of goat selection and breeds.
- Rubino, R., Morone, G., A Methodology for the evaluation
of the milk potential production of the goat breeds.
