Development of policies and strategies for self-sustaining breeds.
This book is the result of Action EURECA 012 AGRI GEN RES 870/2004 (EURECA). The EURECA project ‘Towards self-sustainability of EUropean, REgional, CAttle breeds’ was undertaken by a Consortium of 10 European partners (10 countries) between 2007 and 2010. The Consortium investigated different factors affecting the sustainability of local breed farming. Through the exchange of experiences and research outcomes across countries, and through interaction with a variety of stakeholders, the Consortium aimed to contribute to the conservation of local cattle breeds in Europe.
The EURECA project received financial support from the European Commission, Directorate- General for Agriculture and Rural Development, under Council Regulation (EC) No 870/2004. The financial support from the EC served as co-funding for the national funding sources of the project. Therefore, the Consortium partners are particularly grateful to the national funding agencies for their important role in supporting the strengthening of conservation policies and strategies for local cattle breeds across Europe, and – last but not least – to the farmers, stakeholders and experts who contributed voluntarily to the project with data and opinions on the topic of the EURECA project.
Why conserve local breeds?
Since the domestication process in the Neolithic Age, livestock has spread all over the world as a result of human migration or interchanges among neighbouring human populations. As they reached different places they slowly adapted to the specific environmental conditions of the area and to the ‘cultural’ preferences of their new herdsmen, giving rise to the livestock’s genetic diversity. In the old days, domestic animals were multifunctional; they were used for draught work, clothes, manure, fuel and food. It was not until 18th century in Europe when these differences between animals within the same species acquired a name, and were called ‘breeds’.
After the industrial revolution, the traditional use of domestic animals for draught work, clothes and manure was slowly but steadily substituted by industrial products. With the increasing demand for protein of animal origin, breeds were intensively selected for food purposes and the development of specialised dairy and beef breeds began. This process started at different periods depending upon the country and region. Intensively selected breeds and their high-input high-output production systems have been very successful and widely disseminated, displacing many native breeds which had not undergone any selection process.
Luckily, many of the native breeds have survived in areas where high-input highoutput systems were not established for economic, cultural or environmental reasons. Native or local breeds are nowadays usually characterised by their limited geographical distribution. Sometimes the expansion is greater, crossing neighbouring regions within a country or even bordering countries, and the breed is then called a regional breed. Throughout this publication we consistently use the term ‘local breed’.
Globally, about 20% of all breeds or livestock populations are considered to be ‘at risk’ and 9% are already extinct (FAO, 2007). Similar figures can be shown for cattle breeds in Europe where at least 130 previously known cattle breeds are already ‘extinct’ (www.fao.org/dad-is). In terms of numbers of breeds, the majority of the cattle breeds in Europe can be categorised as local breeds. As a large number of breeds became endangered, the ‘hidden’, previously ignored, values started to be recognised. For some decades now, European society has recognised the important environmental, social, cultural, market and public values of these cattle breeds. It is time to understand the state of European local cattle populations in order to develop well oriented policies and strategies for preserving all the values related to the maintenance of cattle genetic diversity in Europe.
Local Breeds
History
The Finnish cattle breeds belong to the distinct northern group of Fennoscandian cattle breeds. Over time the breeds have had genetic inputs from neighbouring cattle populations. About a hundred years ago the native Finncattle was divided into three breeds – Eastern, Northern and Western Finncattle. The Western Finncattle (WFC) has long been the most common breed in the favourable agricultural regions. Now they are found in other regions as well. WTC animals are beige-brown, with some occasional white markings or spots. Practically all present-day animals are polled.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
The Finncattle population started declining when the Ayrshire and Holstein were introduced (’50-’60). New attention was focused on Finncattle breeds in the 1980’s. When Finland joined the European Union in 1994, the subsidy programme was set up to support the farms keeping native Finnish breeds. Now there are some 3,000 WFC individuals linked with 1,700 herds in the animal register, with two thirds of the cows belonging to the milk recording scheme. The breeding programme aims at improving the milk production and functional traits. The semen storage contains over 260,000 doses from 160 bulls, with about 40 born before 1980.
SWOT
S: High dry matter content of milk; high efficiency in low-input conditions; middle-sized animal fits nicely into old cow sheds.
W: Low profitability; small population size for efficient selection schemes.
O: Suitable for branded cheese and other products.
T: Declining number of farms and missing partnership.
History
The Dutch Deep Red cattle used to be part of the Meuse-Rhine-Yssel (MRY) breed. After the Second World War, the colour pattern of MRY changed to more white and light red. Some farmers continued breeding with their own bulls and so their more ‘deep red’ cattle became genetically isolated from the more white population. Nowadays the Deep Red cattle has become an official breed. Deep Red cattle are extremely suitable as free roaming cows in nature reserves because of their robustness. The population shows an increasing trend.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
There is an active breed society, called ‘Het Brandrode Rund’. In 2007, 454 pure-bred Deep Red cows and 66 purebred Deep Red bulls were registered in the herdbook. The breed society is very active in organising the breeding programme, in selecting bulls, and in promoting the breeds. Inbreeding is a major point of attention. In 2008, semen from 12 Deep Red bulls as well as 14 embryos were frozen and stored in the Dutch Gene bank (CGN).
SWOT
S: The foundation ‘Het Brandrode Rund’ actively promotes the breed, and ‘Brandrode Rund’ is also used as a brand name.
W: The maintenance of the breed depends largely on volunteers and hobby farmers.
O: An important opportunity is to make money with special breed-related products. This will improve the profitability and also the brand awareness of the breed.
T: The most significant potential threat for the Deep Red cattle is the small population size, without a clear breeding goal.
History
The French Ferrandaise breed is a cattle breed originating from the Puy de Dôme ‘département’ in the ‘Massif Central’ (mountain range in the centre of France), not far from the city of Clermont Ferrand. Traditionally it is a triple-purpose breed (milk, beef, work). Calves were very much appreciated for veal. Milk from Ferrandaise cows was the source of typical local cheeses like ‘Fourme d’Ambert’, ‘Fourme de Montbrison’, ‘Fourme de Rochefort’, and ‘Bleu de Laqueuille’. Today, it is not possible to associate Ferrandaise breed with a specific product or breeding system. A little more than half of the animals are bred in suckling herds. The other animals are bred in dairy herds. The breed is appreciated for its versatility both in suckling and milking systems. The total number is increasing.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
Bulls of different origins have been found and collected since 1979. Today, 29 bulls are available for artificial insemination with a good genetic diversity which prevents inbreeding (total inbreeding of females is 2%). Since 1980 a register of all Ferrandaise animals has been recognised as the official herdbook and is held by the ‘Institut de l’Elevage’. Every year all breeders are contacted or visited. The female population in 2008 was around 1000.
SWOT
S: The good functional traits are recognised and the genetic variability is well preserved, particularly through the AI bulls available.
W: There is a shortage of references on the breed as well as a product directly linked to the breed.
O: The national and regional interest in the breed is strong.
T: The dependence on continuity of support from Institut de l’Elevage.
History
The Polish Red breed is descended from the prehistoric line of short-horned cattle (Bos taurus brachyceros). The origins of Polish Red cattle are in the second half of the 19th century, when herds of this breed were established in Polish lands, especially in the south. In the interwar period, the Polish Red breed accounted for 25% of the national cattle population. In the 1960s, there were still about 2 million cattle of this breed, which accounted for 18% of the population. This was followed by a rapid decrease in the population of Polish Red cattle, due to the emergence of more productive breeds and the use of improvement crossing with imported red cattle (mainly Angler). Nowadays, the trend of the population is upwards.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
To protect the breed from extinction, a programme for the genetic resources conservation of Polish Red cattle was started in 1999. The programme is currently coordinated by the National Research Institute of Animal Production. The current population of Polish Red cattle stands at 1,450 animals in 180 herds. By 2013, the number of cows is projected to reach 4,500. The current subsidy per cow involved in the programme is €330.
SWOT
S: Good adaptation to harsh environmental conditions (resistance, undemanding character, good conversion of farm-produced feeds).
W: Lower milk production and lesser quality of beef compared to that of specialised dairy and beef breeds.
O: Presence of EU economic incentives and therefore new breeders joining the Polish Red breed conservation programme.
T: Reduced demand for more expensive organic products due to the crisis.
History
The Italian Modenese cattle is thought to originate from the heterogeneous cattle population (reddish coat) farmed in the area of Carpi (Modena Province, Northern Italy) in the mid 9th century, with influences from Podolian cattle (grey coat), through some selection for milk (major emphasis), meat (less emphasis), and for a white coat. An official herdbook was started in 1957, and stopped in 1975. In 1986 a new National Register was started, which is still active. The population reached a maximum of 120,000 cows in 1940, and fell to a minimum of 300 cows in 2000. Today the population consists of 650 cows, of which 60% are farmed in herds mixed with Italian Friesian.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
Conservation activities started in the 80’s with limited results. These included: inbreeding control, cryo-conservation (semen from 54 bulls is stored for about 20,000 doses), development of a branded Modenese Parmigiano Reggiano cheese made with Modenese milk only and a branded Modenese meat. Two cooperatives for production and valorisation of the branded products were recently created: ‘Valorizzazione prodotti bovini di razza Bianca Valpadana Modenese’, and ‘Bianca Modenese società cooperativa agricola’. Slow Food set up a ‘presidium’ on the breed. Most farmers benefit from the EU agri-environmental subsidies, approximately €150 per adult cow/year.
SWOT
S: Better functional traits vs. mainstream breed (longevity, fertility, hardiness).
W: Milk and meat production is much lower than for specialised mainstream breed.
O: National and regional interest in local breed conservation and presence of EU economic incentives.
T: National breeder organisation (APA) currently not very interested in the Modenese.
History
It is thought that the Irish Kerry is derived from the little black cow, the Celtic shorthorn, brought by Neolithic man in his migration northwards from the Mediterranean basin. They were first recognised as a breed in 1839 and the herdbook was established in 1887. The number of animals registered per year has fluctuated between 50 and 280 throughout the 20th century. Currently about 300 animals are registered per year. Like many rare breeds, one of the reasons for the decline in numbers has been the displacement of Kerry cattle in favour of other breeds, such as Friesian and Holstein.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
In order to maintain or increase the number of Kerry cattle in Ireland a number of schemes are available to help breeders that keep these animals. A premium of €76 is payable per calf registered in the herdbooks subject to certain restrictions. In addition, under the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme, participants are eligible for a payment of €216 per animal per annum. Semen has also been collected from a number of bulls over the last few years. In 2002, semen from 42 bulls was available (alive or from storage banks). 16% of the available bulls were born before 1985, 15% between 1985 and 1994, 25% between 1995 and 1999 and the remaining 31% were born between 2000 and 2002. The oldest bull with semen was born in 1957.
SWOT
S: Can survive and produce reasonable amounts of high solid content milk in harsh weather and grazing conditions.
W: Small population size.
O: Collaboration with Irish Cattle Breeders Federation for data recording, breeding scheme and conservation strategies.
T: Difficult to acquire animals for semen and embryo collection based on their mean kinship.
History
The Italian Reggiana cattle was first reported to be farmed in the areas of Parma and Reggio Emilia by monks around the year 1000, and was the most important cattle in these areas in 1809. Pedigree registration started in the 50’s and in 1986 the national Herdbook was created. Population size increased to 41,000 cows in 1950, but then the substitution with Brown Alpine and Holstein cattle started. In 1970 the population had dropped to 8,000 cows, and in 1981 the minimum of 450 cows was reached. Since then a positive trend has been observed, also linked to conservation activities, including the production of a specific Parmigiano Reggiano cheese made with Reggiana milk.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
In 1991 a group of passionate breeders created a consortium to add value to the breed by producing the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Since its appearance on the market, this branded Parmigiano Reggiano has been welcomed by consumers ready to pay between 30 and almost 100% more for generic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Other conservation activities include cryo-preservation (semen from 155 bulls for approximately 17,000 doses) and index selection with control of inbreeding
SWOT
S: High quality of the breed-related product (Parmigiano Reggiano cheese).
W: Small population size: difficulties in breed development, inbreeding risk.
O: National and regional interest in local breed conservation.
T: Risk of having a supply of the breed-related-product that exceeds demand, and a risk of product falsification.
History
During the latter part of the 19th century local Belgian dairy cattle were crossed with Shorthorns. At the beginning of the 20th century crossbreeding stopped and until the 1950s selection was strongly focused on milk. Between 1950 and 1970 meat production became more important, and breeders preferred muscular development, discarding milk production. In 1974 the decision was taken to create two separated lines, called the Meat Belgian Blue Breed (BBB) and the Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue Breed (DP-BBB). In 1998, the DP-BBB was considered as an endangered species. Since 2007, the population trend has been stable.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
The muscularity of BBB animals is highly dependent on the presence of the mutation in the myostatin gene (called the mh allele) responsible for double muscling. This mutation is admitted in DP-BBB and in 2009 43% of genotyped animals were mh/mh. Calving ease was always given an important weighting in the breeding goal in order to limit the difficult calvings with Caesarean section. Currently, less than 30 bulls are available for AI. All breeders practice AI and 60% of them have bulls for natural mating. The working group also tries to manage the inbreeding.
SWOT
S: The main strength is the comparable profitability with mainstream milk or beef breeds, due to the dual-purpose type and the dynamic and active Breeding Association.
W: The low number of approved bulls for AI and it future impact on inbreeding is considered as a weakness for the breed.
O: One of the main opportunities is the maintenance of the national and European financial support and the regional technical support to DP-BBB breeders.
T: The possible end of the EU milk quota system and/or agri-environmental measures is considered to be one of the main threats for DP-BBB breeders.
History
The Groningen White Headed is a native Dutch breed. The first descriptions of this breed go back to the 14th century. Already in the Middle Ages portraits of red and black White Headed cows were being painted. Friesian cattle traders bought White Headed cattle for slaughtering on a cattle market in London at the end of the 19th century. At the start of the 20th century, 90% of all cattle in the Province of Groningen consisted of White Headed cattle. White Headed cattle were also bred in the Province of Zuid-Holland, around Leiden, and along the Rhine in Utrecht. The number of pure-bred cows is less than 1000 but the population trend has been increasing slightly over the past few years.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
There are a number of national and regional breed interest groups. One major breed interest group, called the ‘Blaarkop Stichting’, is very active in promoting the breed. In the mid ‘70s most farmers started using Holstein Friesian (HF) semen from the United States. By crossbreeding White Headed with HF, the milk production increased but the typical appearance of White Headed lasted for some generations. The recent increasing interest in functional traits, like feed efficiency, fertility and health, may offer new opportunities for the Groningen White Headed. Semen from 49 Groningen White Headed bulls, collected between 1973 and 2005, is conserved in the National Gene Bank (CGN).
SWOT
S: The strengths for the White Headed cattle are their good performance on functional traits and also the productivity and popularity of in particular the (F1-)crossbreeds.
W: There are a limited number of good AI-bulls available, and the genetic variation within the breed is a point of concern.
O: The biggest opportunity for the Groningen White Headed cattle is the new interest in functional traits and therefore in the use of White Headed sires for crossbreeding with Holstein Friesian.
T: The expected abolishment of the milk quota, combined with environmental legislation and further emphasis on increasing the efficiency of milk production are considered as threats.
History
The French Villard de Lans is a cattle breed that originates from the Vercors Mountains not far from the city of Grenoble, in the French Préalps. The Villard de Lans breed was maintained in its area of origin until the end of the 50’s. The decline in bovine labour was fatal for the breed, as was the aggressive disease prevention against tuberculosis and brucellosis and the installation of a policy of specialisation of the farms. At the beginning of the 20th century, the number of females totalled around 16,000 cows, falling to just over 100 cows at the beginning of the 80’s.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
Today it is not possible to associate Villard de Lans breed with a specific product or breeding system. A little more than half of the animals are bred in suckling herds, sometimes by part-time breeders and, in general, products are sold on local markets. The other animals are bred in dairy herds. Some herds are used for a branded cheese product: AOC ‘Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage’. Bulls of different origins have been found and collected since 1977. Today, 27 bulls are available for AI with a good genetic diversity which prevents inbreeding (total inbreeding of females is 3.9%) and in 2008 there was a total of more than 400 females.
SWOT
S: The historical link between breed and territory is strong and there are some passionate breeders.
W: Production of the breed is lower than the mainstream breed, and cooperation among farmers is limited.
O: There is a regional and national interest in the breed, and it should be possible to develop niche products.
T: There is competition from tourism and urbanisation in this territory.
History
The Eastern Finncattle (EFC) was recognised as a separate breed in the 1890’s. The EFC farmers founded a breed society in 1898, which initiated organised cattle breeding in Finland. First, attention was given to breed characteristics and the cows from peripheral villages were regarded as the most pure ones. Then there was a need to improve milk production. From the 1920’s onwards the emphasis on exterior traits made way for selection on recorded production. The EFC populations sank to the bottom lowest numbers in the 1980’s with only about 50 cows and less than 10 bulls left. At the moment the number of purebred cows is almost 800 and slowly increasing. Animals are typically red colour-sided with a broad winding white band on the back.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
The proportion of recorded cows is 32%. The AI organisation has semen stored from 48 bulls with a total of 75,000 doses. There are also 100 embryos in the cryobank produced from 18 cows (12 bulls). The breeding organisation FABA Service annually lists alternative bulls for each cow, recommended on the basis of overall co-ancestry measures in the population. Since joining the EU, the farms raising EFC cows have received a special subsidy.
SWOT
S: Unique and symbolic germ plasm in Finland.
W: Low milk yield.
O: Special features exploited in product development; ‘green care’ farms.
T: Less experienced farmers and hobby farmers have no interest in the development of milk production.
History
In the Spanish Breeds Official Census of 1979, Alistana-Sanabresa was considered as two different breeds: Alistana and Sanabresa. Just two years later, Alistana-Sanabresa appeared as a single breed in the Autochthonous Spanish Breeds Catalogue. The breed has a triple aptitude; it was used as a draught animal for agriculture labour, and its meat and milk was also consumed. Nowadays, the breed is dedicated to beef production. In the last decade the breed census seems to be recovering, to >2,500 animals. Alistana-Sanabresa animals can be found nowadays in most of Zamora and in many others provinces of Castilla y León.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
In the 70’s selected males were bred to deal with the shortage of Alistana-Sanabresa stub bulls. In 1995, a subsidies programme began to support endangered autochthonous cattle breeds. Three years later the Alistana-Sanabresa Pedigree Book was created. In the same year, a breed association was formed and from that date on they coordinated Alistana-Sanabresa farmers for the development and conservation of the breed. Alistana-Sanabresa farmers usually have their own bulls. In 2007 there were around 500 bulls available. There is no semen conservation programme, and a breeding strategy was non-existent. Recently, a breeding programme for beef production has started.
SWOT
S: High quality of breed products (meat) and low comparative cost of inputs.
W: High dependency on subsidies and lack of data and studies about the breed characteristics and its singularities.
O: Increase in demand for environmental friendly cattle farming and in demand for landscape and vegetation management of extensive cattle farming.
T: Rural depopulation and presence of many other local breeds in the region (North-West Spain).
History
In ancient times animals settled in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula and evolved in isolation and dedicated to agriculture labour, which was also important for meat production. In the past, animals were named on the basis of its area of origin. The Spanish ‘Avileña’ group of herds located in the mountains of Avila Province and neighbour areas resisted to the regressive process that affected the Negra-Ibérica group. In 1980, both groups joined each other in the Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed. The trend of the population is upwards. In 1978, there were 80,000 suckler cows. Eight years later, there were 90,000 suckler cows, and in 2007 the estimated census showed 115,000 suckler cows.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
The Breed Association was created in 1971, and began to deal with the herdbook in 1975. It coordinated the animal performance recording plus the genetic improvement programmes, and it organised markets, meetings, and breed promotion activities. It has also stimulated farmers to develop breed-specific products. In 1990, the Protected Geographical Indicator Label, the ‘Carne de Avila’ was created and in 2000 a Breed Label emerged.
SWOT
S: Better functional traits than mainstream breed (e.g. robustness, health, fertility, longevity) and a strong historical link between the breed and the territory.
W: Lower productivity and carcass value than mainstream breeds, and therefore lower profitability.
O: Increase the quality of products, and increase the awareness for traditional local product conservation.
T: Increasing input costs.
History
The real selection of Red and White (RW) cattle in Belgium started at the beginning of the 20th century when the colour was fixed by the first breeding associations. The complete standards of the breed were established in 1924. The Dual-Purpose Red and White (DP-RW) had difficulty acquiring as strong a position as the other breeds. Specialised dairy farmers chose Holsteins, and dual-purpose oriented farmers chose Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue. Farmers specialising in meat production preferred the Meat Belgian Blue Breed. Indeed, officially, DP-RW does not exist anymore. Small populations maintained by a few breeders still exist, but they often use foreign bulls, mostly MRY. DP-RW cows are no longer registered in a herdbook dedicated to this breed. The population is declining.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
To date, there are still only a few DP-RW breeders in the Kempen and in the East Cantons but little data is available. Unfortunately, the survival of the DP-RW breed is not assured. There is no herdbook for this breed and no national or regional support for the DP-RW breeders.
SWOT
S: The main strength is the ease of management compared to mainstream breeds.
W: The main weakness is the difficulty in finding different origins of bulls and its negative impact on inbreeding and the lack of support from a breeding organisation.
O: A great opportunity would be the establishment of a herdbook, and the establishment of financial or technical support for DP-RW breeders.
T: The two main threats are the possible end of dairy quotas and the lack of generation transfer illustrated by the high interest among young breeders for the mainstream dairy breeds.
History
Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle (abbreviated to MRY) originates from two regions in the Netherlands; (1) along the rivers Meuse and Rhine, and (2) along the river Yssel. Cattle have been registered at CRV since 1874 and in 1905 the cattle were recognised as a breed when the MRY herdbook was started. Up to the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, MRY represented 25% of the total population of Dutch dairy cows (more than 500,000 cows). Since then, the number of cows has decreased rapidly. In 2004, approximately 14,000 purebred MRY cows were registered. In 2008 the number increased slightly to 15,000 cows.
Breeding, conservation and promotion
In 1994 the breed interest groups MRY-East and MRY-South were founded to promote the interests of the MRY cattle. The aim of the breed organisations was to select more MRY bulls to ensure a broader genetic base. Both organisations actively promote the strong characteristics of the breed, and are also involved in developing the breeding programme for MRY with the largest cattle breeding organisation in the Netherlands (CRV). The breeding goal of the dual-purpose MRY breed focuses on milk (35%), functional traits (25%), conformation (25%) and muscularity (15%). Semen from 176 MRY bulls, collected between the 1960s and 2005, is conserved in the National Gene Bank (CGN).
SWOT
S: One of the strengths of the MRY-breed is its profitability, as MRY cows realise a higher net profit per 100 kg milk than Holstein Friesians.
W: The most important weakness is the decrease in genetic diversity within the population.
O: An opportunity for the breed arises from the new interest among the current generation of young farmers looking for more robust cows.
T: A threat for the MRY cattle, on the other hand, is the abolishment of the milk quota in the EU, and the associated trend towards more efficient milk production per cow.
In the book 'Local Cattle Breeds in Europe' edited by Sipse Joost Hiemstra, Yvette de Haas, Asko Maki-Taneila and Gustavo Gandini, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Nederlands, 2010. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.
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