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Adding value to local breeds with particular reference to sheep and goats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2013

C. Papachristoforou ,
A. Koumas  and
G. Hadjipavlou
C. Papachristoforou*
Affiliation:
Cyprus University of Technology, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Lemesos, Cyprus
A. Koumas
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute, Animal Production Section, Lefkosia, Cyprus
G. Hadjipavlou
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute, Animal Production Section, Lefkosia, Cyprus
*
Correspondence to: C. Papachristoforou, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus. email: c.papachristoforou@cut.ac.cy
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Summary

About 82 percent of the total known sheep breeds are local breeds, and for goats, the respective figure is 86 percent. From the scientific perspective, as local breeds are unique genetic resources, they are valuable. However, the relative value assigned to local breeds differs between interest groups. Using several strategies to improve the relative value of local breeds will strengthen the prospects of their sustainable use. In this context, marketing is perhaps the most powerful tool. Marketing strategies include identification and promotion of traditional meat, milk and wool products from sheep and goats linked to local breeds, highlighting the quality and culture associated with these products and facilitating access of farmers to commercial markets. Other important strategies relate to: promotion of local breeds as the best suited for use in landscape management, silvopastoral systems and organic farming; exploitation of unique characteristics of local breeds in agritourism (food, non-food products, souvenirs and recreation) and for educational purposes; sustainable use of local breeds in breeding schemes; educating people about the value and importance of local breeds; introduction of legislative measures; finally, research can serve as a very powerful tool to add value to local breeds by creating new knowledge and providing scientific evidence on particular biological characteristics.

Résumé

Environ 82 pour cent du nombre total de races ovines connues sont des races locales et pour les chèvres, le chiffre correspondant est de 86 pour cent. D'un point de vue scientifique et étant donné que les races locales constituent une ressource génétique unique, les races locales ont une grande valeur. Cependant, la valeur relative assignée aux races locales diffère selon les groupes d'intérêt. L'emploi de diverses stratégies visant à améliorer la valeur relative des races locales consolidera les perspectives de leur utilisation durable. Dans ce contexte, la promotion commerciale est peut-être l'outil le plus puissant. Les stratégies commerciales incluent l'identification et la promotion de la viande et des produits laitiers et lainiers traditionnels, des ovins et caprins, liés aux races locales, en mettant l'accent sur la qualité et la culture associées à ces produits et en facilitant l'accès des éleveurs aux marchés. D'autres stratégies importantes se rapportent à: la promotion des races locales comme étant les plus appropriées pour l'aménagement des paysages, les systèmes sylvopastoraux et l'élevage biologique; l'exploitation des caractéristiques uniques des races locales en tourisme rural (gastronomie, produits non alimentaires, souvenirs, loisirs) et à des fins éducatifs; l'utilisation durable des races locales dans les programmes de sélection; l'instruction de la population sur la valeur et l'importance des races locales; l'introduction de législations; et finalement, la recherche peut servir comme un outil très puissant pour donner de la valeur ajoutée aux races locales par le biais de la génération de nouvelles connaissances et en apportant des preuves scientifiques qui supportent la spécificité des caractéristiques biologiques.

Resumen

Alrededor del 82 por ciento del total de razas ovinas conocidas son razas locales, siendo el dato correspondiente para las cabras del 86 por ciento. Desde la perspectiva científica y dado que constituyen un recurso genético único, las razas locales son muy valiosas. No obstante, el valor relativo asignado a las razas locales difiere según los grupos de interés. El empleo de diversas estrategias para mejorar el valor relativo de las razas locales fortalecerá las perspectivas de su uso sostenible. En este contexto, la promoción comercial es tal vez la herramienta más poderosa. Las estrategias comerciales incluyen la identificación y promoción de los productos cárnicos, lácteos y laneros tradicionales, de las ovejas y cabras, vinculados a las razas locales, destacando la calidad y la cultura asociadas a estos productos y facilitando el acceso de los ganaderos a los mercados. Otras estrategias importantes están relacionadas con: el fomento de las razas locales como las más adecuadas para la ordenación del paisaje, los sistemas silvopastorales y la ganadería ecológica; la explotación de las características únicas de las razas locales en el turismo rural (gastronomía, productos no alimentarios, recuerdos, ocio) y con fines educativos; el uso sostenible de las razas locales en los esquemas de mejora; la educación de la población sobre el valor e importancia de las razas locales; la introducción de medidas legislativas; y finalmente, la investigación puede servir como una herramienta muy potente para dar valor añadido a las razas locales mediante la generación de nuevos conocimientos y proporcionando pruebas científicas que respalden la particularidad de las características biológicas.

Keywords

Sheepgoatslocal breedsrelative valueOvinscaprinsraces localesvaleur relativeOvejascabrasrazas localesvalor relativo
Type
Special Issue: Adding value
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 53 , December 2013 , pp. 157 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2013 

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