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Abstract: Throughout human history, livestock producers have relied on a vibrant international exchange of genetic resources to achieve improvements in the quality and productivity of their animals. In recent years, however, some observers have argued that changes in the legal, technological, and economic environment now imply that international exchanges of animal genetic resources (AnGR) systematically benefit rich countries at the expense of poor countries. It is argued that international flows of AnGR are displacing the indigenous animal genetic resources of developing countries, and also that the genetic wealth of the developing world is being expropriated by rich countries. In reaction, there have been growing calls for limitations and/or barriers to the exchange of animal genetic resources. These discussions, however, seem to be based on limited information about the magnitude and direction of current trade flows in AnGR. This paper offers an analysis of AnGR trade flows from 1990 to 2005. The paper draws on national-level data from 150 countries that reported information to the United Nations Statistics Division. Three major trade categories were evaluated: live cattle and pigs for breeding, and cattle semen. Over the period studied, Europe and North America were the primary exporters of genetic resources for the species evaluated. OECD countries accounted for 98.7, 92.5, and 95% of cattle semen, live cattle, and swine exports in 2005, respectively. In evaluating the direction of trade between developed (North) and developing (South) countries, North–North trade had the largest magnitude, followed by North–South, South–South, and South–North. The data do not support the notion that Southern genetic resources are being used on a large scale in the North. We believe that importation from South to North is limited by the vast discrepancies in production efficiency and production systems between countries in the North and South. Given the low volume of South–North exchange, it seems doubtful that sufficient revenues could be acquired through a “benefit-sharing mechanism” to have any substantial impact on in situ or ex situ conservation efforts, or to generate benefits for poor livestock keepers in developing countries. We question whether global agreements or restrictions on trade will achieve the desired goal of conserving rare breeds and threatened genetic resources. We also doubt whether these agreements will succeed in improving the well-being of the poor. We suggest that resources instead be urgently employed for conservation and that more direct measures should be taken to aid poor farmers, ranchers, and herders in their efforts to conserve genetic resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper is one in a series of studies treating the prerequisites for international use of nationally estimated breeding values (EBVs) of sport horse stallions. One prerequisite for effective use of national EBVs across countries (populations) is genetic connectedness among concerned populations. Thus, genetic connectedness between five sport horse populations from breeding organizations in Denmark (DWB), the Netherlands (KWPN), Sweden (SWB) and from the two German breeding organizations Hanover (Han) and Holstein (Holst) was studied. The number of stallions in common (NSC), genetic similarity (GS), variance of the differences between estimated country effects (CEV) in two organizations and correlation between estimates of country effects (CEC) were used as measures of the genetic connectedness between organizations. Stallions with progeny tested in performance tests for young horses in at least one of the five organizations were used. The material included 2457 stallions, born between 1952 and 1997, for which 49446 progeny had been tested in the five breeding organizations. The numbers of stallions with offspring that had been tested in two, three, four and five of the participating organizations were 218, 58, 25 and 5, respectively. The material was arranged into groups according to birth-year of the stallion. Values for NSC, GS, CEV and CEC were calculated for each group to investigate whether there was any difference or trend in genetic connectedness over time. The same measures were also calculated for the whole data-set, considering all available information on pedigrees and progeny. Genetic connectedness was found between all participating organizations in all groups and grew stronger over time. The results were on a similar level to or better than comparable results for Icelandic horses and dairy cattle; they suggest that estimation of genetic correlations between similar traits tested in different organizations is feasible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Manure management systems are conducive to nutrient and carbon losses, but the magnitude of the loss highly depends on the nutrient element, the manure management system and the environmental conditions. This paper discusses manure management systems in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU-27) and nutrient losses from these systems, with emphasis on nitrogen (N). In general, losses decrease in the order: C, N>>S>K, Na, Cl, B>P, Ca, Mg, metals. Assessments made with the integrated modeling tool MITERRA-EUROPE indicate that the total N excretion in 2000 by livestock in EU-27 was ∼10,400 kton. About 65% of the total N excretion was collected in barns and stored for some time prior to application to agricultural land. Almost 30% of the N excreted in barns was lost during storage; approximately 19% via NH3 emissions, 7% via emissions of NO, N2O and N2, and 4% via leaching and run-off. Differences between Member States in mean N losses from manure storages were large (range 19.5–35%). Another 19% of the N excreted in animal housing systems was lost via NH3 emissions following the application of the manure to land. The results indicate that maximally 52% of the N excreted in barns was effectively recycled as plant nutrient. Various emission abatement measures can be implemented and have been implemented already in some Member States to reduce the emissions of NH3 and N2O, and the leaching of N and P. There is scope to reduce NH3 emissions by ∼30% relative to the reference year 2000, although the uncertainty in estimated emissions and in the estimated effects of emission abatement measures is relatively large. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Farm animal breeders are facing challenges. More and more powerful technologies are at their disposal for creating genetic change. At the same time, society is concerned about the impact of breeding practices and the use to which new technologies are being put. European breeders must compete in a global market. To meet these challenges, European farm animal breeders have conducted three projects to contribute to sustainable and transparent farm animal breeding and reproduction. In “Farm animal breeding and society”, an overview is presented of farm animal breeding in Europe and its technical, ethical, legal and consumer constraints and possibilities. In ‘SEFABAR’, European breeders, scientists and socio-economists have worked towards sustainable breeding and reproduction scenarios. In ‘CODE–EFABAR’, breeders aim to develop, with experts on ethics, communication and certification, and in close contact with NGOs, farmers'' organisations and policy makers, a Code of Good Practice for farm animal breeding and reproduction organisations. Along this Code of Good Practice organisations will be able to explain their goals and practices to the public in a transparent way. This paper reviews these projects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]