14.1.2 Concentration on a few breeds within species (2024)

In farm animals, the variation between breeds in performance is important in the start of a breeding program or farm activities. What will be the best breed given the production circumstances and which breed fits the best to our defined breeding goal? In the past 50 years the observation of substantial breed differences, especially in cattle, pigs and poultry, has led to a sharp selection of breeds, that were still developed. Many breeds and selection lines were set aside in this process. Specialization took place in animal production and only a few breeds were considered to be the best in milk, beef, pork, egg or broiler production. This global concentration on a few breeds is strengthened by the application of modern technology in breeding programs requiring high investments. Such investments are only profitable when the genetic improvement realized in breeding programs can be largely disseminated: when a lot of breeding material can be sold and the genetic improvement becomes profitable in a lot of offspring. The concentration worldwide on a limited number of breeds leads to an increasing number of breeds being considered unprofitable and consequently leads to risk of extinction.