Present Status of the Latin American Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources

Conservation of Animal

Genetic Resources in

Latin America and the

Caribbean and Present

Status of the

Regional Focal Point

Arthur S. Mariante

Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean

Rome, July 2016

INTRODUCTION

When the first settlers arrived to the Americas they did not find any

domestic animal species known in Europe;

This was reflected on the letter sent to the King of Portugal, one

week after the discovery of Brazil, on April 1500:

“They do not till the soil nor rear animals. Here there are no bulls,

cows, goats, sheep, chickens, nor any other animal accustomed to

living with man: they only eat these yams, which are plentiful, and

such seeds and fruits as the earth and the trees cast away; and, as

such, walk stronger and better fed than us, despite the amount of

wheat and vegetables we eat”.

Pero Vaz de

Caminha

INTRODUCTION

Periodic introductions of livestock resulted in a wide range of

genetic diversity that, for centuries, supported domestic animal

production in the region;

Through natural selection the animals became adapted to specific

ecological niches, and became locally adapted;

By the end of 19th century and beginning of the 20th century,

exotic breeds started to be imported, and they almost replaced

the locally adapted ones;

To avoid the loss of this genetic material, many countries of the

region decided to include conservation of animal genetic

resources among their priorities;

Many Latin American and Caribbean countries are conserving their

locally adapted breeds. Some of those countries have strong

Conservation Programs:

ARGENTINA

CONSERVATION IN ARGENTINA

Gene Banks are being kept by the National Institute

for Agricultural Technology – INTA:

Cattle - 5 Banks

Sheep - 3 Banks

Goats - 2 Banks

Poultry -1 Bank

Honey bees - 3 Banks

Camelids - 1 Bank (Guanacos)

CATTLE IN ARGENTINA

Argentina is well known by the high quality of the

exported beef;

Cattle population is around 55 million head;

The most important commercial breeds are

Aberdeen Angus and Hereford in the temperate

zone and two composite breeds, Brangus and

Braford, in the subtropical areas;

There are three lines of Criollo cattle: Formoseño,

Patagónico and Pampeano;

ARGENTINEAN CRIOLLO CATTLE

In 1850 Argentina had 20 million head of cattle

First Conservation Nucleus was established in 1959.

Today there is a Breeders Association (AACGBC)

and the population exceeds 200,000 head

ARGENTINEAN SHEEP

Estimated population: 12 million head

Wool production: 55 thousand tons./year

Meat production: 13.5 thousand tons./year

22 commercial breeds

Population of Criollo sheep in Argentina is

around 1 million head

Santiago del Estero Corrientes

Santiago del Estero

Argentinean Criollo Sheep

Argentinean GoatsPopulation > 4 million head kept by smallholders

Argentinean Criollo Goats

Argentinean Guanacos

The total population of Guanacos in

the Andean region is 575,000 head.

Argentina alone has 550,000 head,

or 95% of the total population of the

species

BRAZIL

CONSERVATION IN BRAZIL

The Animal Conservation Program was established in

Brazil in 1983;

Endangered livestock breeds of seven species were

identified, and Conservation Nuclei were established;

Most of those breeds were extremely endangered at

that time, and a Gene Bank was immediately created

to avoid the loss of the locally adapted breeds;

Even though the animal production depends on

commercial breeds, Brazil considers the

conservation of the locally adapted ones extremely

important for animal breeding programs.

Gene

Bank

North

Northeast

Central-West

Southeast

South

Brazilian AnGR Network

Regions

In Situ Conservation in BrazilLarge species

In Situ Conservation in BrazilSmall species

Potentially Productive Native Wildlife

included in the Conservation Program

Ex Situ In Vitro Conservation

A new building has been recently inaugurated, to store

the Brazilian Gene Bank, including animals, plants and

microorganisms;

Genetic material collected in the different Conservation

Nuclei is being stored in this new Gene Bank Building;

A Liquid Nitrogen Plant was installed, reducing greatly

the cost to maintain the cryopreserved material.

Ex Situ In Vitro Conservation

Information System for Animal Genetic Resources

ANIMAL GRIN

United States, Brazil and Canada developed jointly an

Information System for AnGR (Animal GRIN);

The main feature of Animal GRIN is to monitor

information on AnGR by conservation teams of the

three countries on their Gene Banks and in situ

populations in one single Database, that can be

consulted on the web by the international community;

Even though this software was developed by two

countries of N.A. and one S.A. country, it is expected

that, in the future, Animal GRIN could be used by other

countries of the region – Mexico already demonstrated

interest.

“Information to Bring the World Together”

Canadienne (Canada)

Hereford (USA)

Criollo Lageano (Brazil)

COLOMBIA

Colombian CattleAmong the Latin American countries, Colombia has the

richest variability of Criollo cattle breeds:

Blanco Orejinegro

Caqueteño

Casanareño

Costeño con Cuernos

Chino Santandereano

Hartón del Valle

Romosinuano

San Martinero

These Criollo cattle breeds are being conserved by ICA, with a

close relationship to ASOCRIOLLO, a Breeders’ Association.

Colombian Cattle

Casanare

Hartón del Valle Romosinuano

Costeño con Cuernos

Hartón del Valle

Blanco Orejinegro

Paso Fino Colombian Horse

The Paso Fino, that

descends from Spanish

breeds is also included in the Conservation Program

CHILE

Conservation of AnGR in Chile

Chile has a particular geographic formation: it is long

(almost 6,000 km) but narrow (between 90 to 300 km), with

a huge variety of ecosystems;

Due to genetic erosion, the majority of locally adapted

breeds that live in those specific ecosystems is

endangered;

In the Chiloé Island, one of the sites of the GIAHS initiative

has come distinct locally adapted breeds due to their

physical and reproductive isolation.

Caballo Chiloé

Ovejas Chiloé

CUBA

Risk Category Species/Breeds

CriticalGoats

• Cabra Criolla Cubana

Poultry:

• Beijing Duck

• Berberie Duck

• 4 Lines of Guinea fowls

Cattle

• Sardo Zebu

Risk Status of Cuban AnGR

Endangered(less than 1,000 females)

Horses

• Criollo de Trote

• Cubano de Paso

• Patibarcino

• Pinto Cubano

• Burros Criollos

Cattle

• Crimousin

• Brown Swiss

Sheep

• Pelibuey Blanco,

• Negro y Pinto

Pinto Cubano

Risk Status of Cuban AnGR

EndangeredCattle

ChacubaCrimousinCuban Milking Criollo

Crimousin

Risk Status of Cuban AnGR

MEXICO

National Center for Genetic Resources

Conservation of AnGR in Mexico

There are many initiatives on conservation of AnGR in Mexico,

and in recent years the most significant one has been the

creation of the National Center for Genetic Resources – CNRG;

A very interesting work has been done with indigenous

populations by the University de Mexico, on the conservation

of sheep in the region of Chiapas.

AnGR Conservation in Mexico

Criollo breeds are being utilized in crossbreeding programs

with zebu cattle breeds, to improve production;

Another species being conserved is the pig. And within this

species, the emphasis is on the Pelón breed, that similarly to

the Iberian pig, has almost no bristles.

½ ANGUS ¼ CRIOLLO ¼ GUZERATPelón

PERU

Conservation of Camelids in Peru

Peru has a strong conservation program in Camelids, which are very important for the indigenous population living in the Andes.

Population of Camelids in Peru:

Alpacas 2,900,900

Llamas 1,006,574

Vicuñas 103,161

Guanacos 3,810

South American Camelids

Alpacas Llama

Vicuña

Peruvian Guinea Pigs (Cuyes)

Originally domesticated for their meat in the Andes;

They continue to be a major part of the diet in Peru, Bolivia

and Ecuador, particularly in the Andean Region;

Outside the Andes, they are used as pets and in labs;

Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean

The Regional Focal Point for Latin America and the Caribbean

was created in 2007, when Brazil was elected.

Since then, two attempts have been made for a new election, but

not a single Institution postulated to host the RFP-LAC;

The lack of funding has been the major problem of the RFP-LAC,

as the region does not have similar ways to transfer funds from

one country to another, as European countries, for instance;

For this reason, all the Regional Workshops for NCs that have

been held in the region were the ones funded by FAO.

COUNTRY COUNTRY COUNTRY

Antigua & Barbuda Dominica Nicaragua

Argentina Dominican Republic Panama

Bahamas Ecuador Paraguay

Barbados El Salvador Peru

Belize Grenada Saint Kitts and Nevis

Bolivia Guatemala Saint Lucia

Brazil Guyana St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Chile Haiti Suriname

Colombia Honduras Trinidad and Tobago

Costa Rica Jamaica Uruguay

Cuba Mexico Venezuela

Situation of Latin American Countries in relation to

the appointment of National Coordinators for AnGR

From the 33 countries: 26 appointed NCs and 7 not appointed yet

This year, a Regional Workshop for National Coordinators was held in

Cuba, jointly with the International Conference on Animal Breeding,

with the participation of 12 NCs and one FAO staff.

REGIONAL WORKSHOP

Countries represented at the Workshop

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Guatemala

Mexico

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

A very active DAD-Net for Latin

America and the Caribbean is

operational:

Created in May 2013

Operated by the Uruguayan NC

227 Members

From 5 regions

From 34 countries

> 1,400 messages already sent in thec

last 2½ years.

DAD-NET LAC

Projects financed by the Funding Strategy for the

Implementation of the Global Plan of Action for AnGR

Two Regional Projects:

Argentina, Brasil and Costa Rica – Goats

Bolivia y Perú – South American Camelids

Two National Projects

Chile – Cattle and Goats

Uruguay – Sheep

INTEGRATING COUNTRIES OF THE REGION

One of the topics discussed during the recent Regional

Workshop was the possibility of searching for funds for

bilateral or regional partnership in the region involving

national institutions that give emphasis on the integration

among countries of the region;

At least eight national and one regional institutions were

identified that can fund partnership projects.

CONCLUSIONS Even though the RFP could not be more active as it was

expected at its creation, we can see that the region is

stronger and the National Coordinators more connected since

its creation;

We hope that the RFP could be strengthened to help countries

on the conservation of their locally adapted breeds, whose

adaptive traits are fundamental for animal breeding programs;

We should not forget that even starting with no breeds at all, the

region has today some of the leading exporter countries in

terms of animal products.

Thanks

arthur.mariante@embrapa.b

r