?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Livestock+breeds+and+Organic+farming+systems&rft.creator=Van+Diepen%2C+Pauline&rft.creator=McLean%2C+Dr+Barbara&rft.creator=Frost%2C+David&rft.subject=+Breeding+and+genetics&rft.description=Organic+livestock+farming+has+grown+in+Wales+in+recent+years.+It+is+focused+on+producing+animals+from+a+predominantly+forage-based+system%2C+with+an+emphasis+on+maintaining+animal+health+through+improved+welfare+and+a+reduction+in+the+use+of+routine%2C+conventional+veterinary+treatments.+Breeding+and+feeding+are+important+factors+of+the+health+and+welfare+of+farm+animals+in+organic+systems.+The+guidelines+of+EU+regulation+(EC)+1804%2F1999+address+the+issue+of+sourcing+of+(breeding)+stock.+Moreover%2C+only+activities+such+as+the+use+of+genetically+modified+organisms+(GMOs)+and+embryo+transfer+are+excluded%2C+and+few+provisions+are+included+that+concern+breeding.+A+number+of+breeds+used+in+conventional+farming+could+be+considered+as+%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99high+maintenance%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99+animals+requiring+regular%2C+prophylactic+veterinary+treatments+and+high-energy+concentrated+feeds+to+meet+their+potential.+Such+breeds+may+be+unable+to+fulfil+their+potential+performance+under+an+organic+system.+A+number+of+breeding+strategies+are+outlined+briefly%2C+including+traits+that+are+important+for+organic+production+systems.+Sire+reference+schemes+have+been+introduced+on+organic+farms+in+recent+years.+There+is+an+increase+in+conservation+grazing.+Some+breeds+adapt+well+to+these+systems%3B+especially+local%2Fnative+breeds+since+they+utilise+lower+quality+feed%2C+are+more+resilient+to+climatic+stress%2C+and+are+more+resistant+to+local+parasites+and+diseases.+Several+actions+are+being%2C+and+have+been%2C+undertaken+to+maintain+breed+diversity.+However%2C+the+need+for+a+genetic+pool+of+breeding+stock+from+which+to+select+is+not+reflected+in+the+national+strategies+for+livestock+production.+A+Countryside+Council+for+Wales+(CCW)+report+(Yarwood+and+Evans%2C+2002)+identified+18+breeds+of+sheep+and+3+breeds+of+cattle+associated+with+Wales.+Several+surveys+have+shown+that%2C+on+organic+farms%2C+the+Suffolk%2C+Lleyn+and+the+Texel+are+the+main+sheep+breeds.+The+most+popular+beef+breeds+on+organic+farms+are+Welsh+Black%2C+Charolais+crossbreed%2C+Limousin%2C+South+Devon+crossbreed%2C+Aberdeen+Angus+and+Hereford+crossbreed.+On+organic+farms%2C+more+native+breeds+seem+to+be+used+than+on+conventional+farms.+A+few+of+these+breeds+are+further+discussed.+Consumer+demand+is+a+significant+driver+of+policy+and+standards%2C+and+value+for+money+is+still+a+major+factor+in+determining+consumer+buying+behaviour.+The+demand+for+lean+meat+and+for+homogeneity+of+both+fresh+and+processed+products%2C+particularly+in+the+major+supermarkets%2C+impacts+on+breeding+policies.%0D%0AResearch+has+shown+that+Welsh+consumers+prefer+organic+Welsh+meat+and+milk.+Economic+viability+of+beef%2C+sheep+and+milk+production+depends%2C+in+many+cases%2C+on+subsidies.%0D%0A%0D%0AAn+increasing+number+of+breed+societies+in+Wales+and+the+UK+have+become+involved+in+promoting+their+breed+as+a+brand.+However%2C+a+recent+Welsh+survey+showed+that+13%25+of+organically-produced+lambs+were+still+being+sold+as+nonorganic+due+to+finishing+specifications+(41%25)%2C+a+lack+of+organic+market+outlets+(54%25)+and+other+reasons+(4%25)%2C+such+as+a+lack+of+organic+abattoirs+(OCW%2C+2006).%0D%0A%0D%0AAs+market+requirements+are+standardised+and+allow+for+little+differentiation%2C+some+traditional+and+rare+breeds+face+marketing+difficulties.+Furthermore%2C+loss+of+small-scale+abattoirs+can+reduce+the+ability+for+differentiation+of+breeds+to+enter+niche+markets.+Large-scale+abattoirs+use+standardised+methods%2C+which+do+not+allow+for+differentiation.+As+mentioned+in+a+report+from+DEFRA+(2006)%2C+the+national+strategies+for+livestock+production+do+not+reflect+the+need+for+a+genetic+pool+of+breeding+stock.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlthough+breeding+has+to+focus+on+what+the+market+wants+(mass+or+niche+market)%2C+other+factors+also+have+to+be+taken+into+account.+The+choice+of+breeds%2Fbreeding+used+in+the+organic+livestock+sector+needs+to+ensure+the+profitability+of+the+farm%2C+safeguard+animal+health+and+welfare%2C+focus+on+conserving+genetic+diversity%2C+and+promote+human+health.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe+various+breeds+outlined+in+the+report+show+various+benefits.+It+is+important+to+conserve%2C+develop+and+utilise+local+breeds+that+are+genetically+adapted+to+their+environment.&rft.date=2007-03&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10822%2F1%2Fbreeds07.pdf&rft.identifier=Van+Diepen%2C+Pauline%3B+McLean%2C+Dr+Barbara+and+Frost%2C+David+(2007)+Livestock+breeds+and+Organic+farming+systems.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F10822%2F