Chairs Corner

The Board of Directors of the Foundation have had a very active and fruitful past few months. Meetings were arranged with government officials, politicians and industry organizations, so we could present to them in a logical and reasoned manner, why all should support the conservation of farm animal genetic resources.

Dr. R.S. Gowe, the retired Director of the world renowned Animal Research Centre (now disbanded but previously operating at the Green Belt Farm in Ottawa) was engaged to assist in preparing the Foundation’s Policy Proposal for Government. The international reputation of the Research Centre was richly enhanced by the reputation of Bob Gowe himself. He stands out as one of Canada’s foremost innovative animal scientists and an administrator par excellence, who squeezed full value from every research dollar entrusted to him. Please study the extract of his report in this newsletter.

The members of the Executive Committee met in Ottawa with the Government Caucus on Post Secondary Education and Research chaired by Dr. Peter Adams the M.P. from Peterborough. They have given the Foundation their powerful endorsement; our cause has been introduced on the Floor of the House of Commons, and underscored by a Pre?Budget open letter to the Minister of Finance from the Caucus.

The Honourable Lyle Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and his staff continue to faithfully support the Foundation. I have had productive meetings with Mr. Samy Watson, Deputy Minister, who fully appreciates the value of the livestock sector in the agricultural economy of Canada.

In January we presented the Government with our formal proposal for the establishment of an animal genetic resource policy in Canada. I urge those who have not seen this proposal to write us today for a copy.

Coincidentally, the January issue of the authoritative farm journal “The Furrow” published by the John Deere Corporation demonstrates substantial corporate responsibility on pages 9 to 13 inclusive in the feature “Fighting Ag’s Genetic Erosion”. This is required reading.

Finally, because we are all very much in this together, may I ask you to lend a hand whenever you can. We have a good selection of Foundation literature on our shelves. It needs to be in the hands of every person involved in the livestock sector. You can help make this happen if you have a modest supply with you to hand out each time you attend a function of any kind where members of our industry are present. Tell us what you can use and they will be sent to you promptly.

Best Wishes
Donald McQueen Shaver, O.C., D.Sc.
Chair

CANADIAN BEEF BREEDS COUNCIL TESTIMONIAL

The Canadian Beef Breeds Council’s Executive Vice-President Herb McLane recently had this to say about “Preserving Variation in Genetic Resources”.

“The Canadian livestock and poultry industries contribute significantly to the Canadian economy through their domestic production, providing quality products for further processing and for the export of many agricultural and food products, The animals that are raised also provide purpose and satisfaction to those individual Canadians that choose a rural way of life.

Canadian agricultural and food industries enjoy a well-deserved domestic and global reputation as producers of superior genetics, quality livestock and poultry products, and safe, healthful, and satisfying foods. The sophisticated production and processing industries of today ensure that the best animals are identified to meet market conditions as Canadian producers and processors strive to remain competitive in Canadian and international markets.

The success that Canadian producers and processors enjoy is due, in part, to the variation that is or was inherent in livestock and poultry stocks from which the genetics have been drawn to produce contemporary products for which there is demand. This selection can reduce variation through a convergence of populations, strains, or breeds. Variation in genetics provides an invaluable resource which can be relied upon if and when market conditions change or a catastrophic event compromises current genetic stocks, Members of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council support steps that ensure genetic diversity for future generations of Canadians.”

CFAGRF POLICY PROPOSAL
– Dr. R.S. Gowe

The Canadian Farm Animal Genetic Resources Foundation, industry specialists and scientists that work with animals and poultry breeding problems are convinced there is an urgent need for action on genetic resources conservation. The first step is for a clear achievable plan to start preserving at-risk genetic material to prevent further losses. In a series of reports and articles, the CFAGRF has pointed out the general direction the Canadian Government should take to actively stop the loss of important genetic stocks, and also slow down the great loss in genetic variation that is taking place in several important, widely used domestic breeds of livestock and poultry.

Several sub programs will be needed to take into account the current differential state of knowledge on techniques for preserving sperm, eggs, and embryos of different species. There will need to be full cooperation from the different breed and species teams, and breed industry organizations, for the program to be successful. This has already been assured through the establishment by the Foundation of species committees and breed sub-groups. A standing technical committee of Canadian experts in the field of germplasm conservation is required.

The need for systematic national programs to preserve genetic material has been recommended by knowledgeable and involved scientists for many years. The United States has recently put in place a strong program for the preservation of their genetic resources. This program will include extensive cooperation with the breeding industry to ensure the program will not infringe on the private ownership of stocks and procedures to ensure the owners are protected.

Plant scientists in Canada, the USA and many other countries recognized many years ago the need to preserve plant genetic material, and they have obtained the strong support of their governments. Canada has a very comprehensive program in this area. It is difficult to understand why there is not a similar program for livestock and poultry.

FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING
– Dr. Steve Morgan-Jones, AAFC

Dr Steve Morgan-Jones spoke on the subject of Livestock Genetic Conservation at the Foundation’s annual meeting in Ottawa November 20th, 2002. He confirmed that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has no resources currently invested in animal and poultry genetic resources, and relies on volunteer groups for this activity. Dr. Morgan-Jones also confirmed that AAFC has a major plant collection at the Centre in Saskatoon, which is well funded. This Centre exchanges genetic material worldwide. He went on to identify why a Livestock Germplasm Conservancy is needed, under the following headings:

• Importance of livestock to Canada’s agriculture (55% of farm income)
• Intensive agriculture-specialized breeds (poultry, pigs, dairy) and increasing
• Susceptibility to disease
• Consumer expectations
• Major crises such as Foot and Mouth/ Newcastle disease
• Potential to find useful genes in diverse populations

The Foundation appreciates the work and support Dr. Morgan-Jones has done on our behalf and we look forward to continuing this good relationship as we move the process along.

FOUNDATION PERSPECTIVE

The Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recommends that each country establish a National Focal Point. Briefly they recommend that this include the Government, the commercial sector, training institutions and research institutions. What the Foundation sees is that a National Advisory Board might be structured in accordance with these suggestions and that the Foundation might take on this role and over the next year or so, cease to exist and evolve into such an advisory board.

Dr. Roger Buckland, Foundation Director, has developed a draft budget for the capital and operating costs of a Centre for animal and poultry genetic resource conservation.

This is as follows:

LIVESTOCK GENETICS –HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES

Dr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.):

“Mr. Speaker; diversity of species is a critical foundation of the success of life on the planet. In the same way, genetic diversity of livestock, cattle, hogs, poultry and so on in Canada, is the foundation of the quality and security of our food supply.

While Canada is doing a good job of nurturing the genetic diversity of food plants, we are doing little to preserve and promote livestock diversity. As a result we are depending upon fewer and fewer strains of farm animals. For example, most cows in Canada are very closely related to each other. This is a dangerous situation in terms of risks of disease and future development of livestock varieties.

I urge that livestock genetics be given special attention in the budget. We need a national center for the conservation of our research into livestock genetics like the one we have for plants in Saskatchewan. Let us listen to the Canadian Foundation for the Conservation of Farm animal Genetic Resources and act soon on this before it is too late.”

Volume 137; Number 035; 2nd Session; 7th Parliament

NEW DIRECTOR

The Foundation welcomes Dr Bill Guenter to the Board of Directors. Dr. Guenter is with the Department of Animal Science at the University of Manitoba. He will be taking an active role in both the Membership and Assessment Committees as well as ably representing the interests of Manitoba.