Chairs Corner

As your new Chair I want first to say a very special thank you to our past Chair, Donald McQueen Shaver, O.C., D.Sc. for his outstanding contribution. In particular I wish to acknowledge his services to The Foundation; the cause of the conservation of farm animal genetic resources; and last but certainly not least his tireless efforts to correct the very severe structural deficiencies in research funding for animal agriculture by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

After serving the foundation for a number of years as Honourary Chair he stepped forward in July 2001 to serve as Chair of the Foundation. It is through his personal commitment and dedication that the Foundation has been able to move forward with a major expansion in membership and to ensure a broader understanding among Canadians, from all walks of life, of the importance of farm animal genetic diversity to the well being of Canada’s livestock and poultry sector and as a result to the Canadian consumer.

In moving forward the case for the establishment of a Canadian Centre for the Conservation of Farm Animal genetic Resources Dr. Shaver has brought together a number of initiatives to further this objective. He has strengthened the Board of Directors of the Foundation; initiated two independent evaluations, both of which underscored the very real need for Canada to establish a policy with respect to its farm animal genetic resources; presented a brief to The Government Caucus on Post Secondary Education and Research on the need for such a policy; and submitted to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada a proposal for the establishment of a Canadian policy on the conservation of farm animal genetic resources. This latter is currently under active review by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

I am also very pleased to be able to report that Dr. Shaver will not be leaving The Foundation but has returned to his role as Honourary Chair and as such The Foundation and Canada will continue to benefit from his leadership, vision and determination.

Don, on behalf of so many Canadians who have been touched by your tireless efforts we say thank you.

Roger Buckland
Chair

CANADIAN ADAPTATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Canadian Farm Animal Genetic Resources Foundation appreciates the support of CARD to develop its Communication Plan. The $61,000.00 commitment has enabled the Foundation to complete several key initiatives including the newsletter "The Gene Scene", educational brochures, technical material, a comprehensive web-site with links to many other countries and related organizations, and a Policy Document to provide direction to Canada's future developments in the critical area of animal and poultry genetic resource conservation. This funding commitment will be completed in December 2003.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Conservancy in Scandinavia
Genome Canada
National Animal Germplasm Program – United States
Post Secondary Education And Research In The 2003 Budget Debate
Letter From The Honourary Chair
Rare Breeds Canada/CFAGRF Partnership
Heritage Protection of French Animal Species

CONSERVANCY IN SCANDINAVIA

Denmark’s efforts to conserve the genetic resources of old livestock breeds have been evaluated by a committee appointed by the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council. In the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries’ external weekly newsletter, the Minister writes that the report thoroughly discusses the problems associated with the conservation of old livestock breeds.

In Finland, the attention is directed at breeds and native populations, which are considered to be at risk, according to the FAO classification. According to the Finnish Secretary General, the national plans for securing a sustainable development of the genetic resources will also be bases on the Finnish national report, which was sent to FAO.

In Sweden, there are 35 old, native farm animal breeds or strains. Due to breed imports and crossbreeding, most of these have been outperformed as commercial production breeds during the past 100 years. Most of these breeds are very small in number, which is why the Swedish Board of Agriculture has classified them as breeds at risk of extinction. The Swedish Board of Agriculture is responsible for animal genetic resources within the domestic farm animals.

The motto for the activities of the Nordic Gene Bank of Farm Animals NGH) in the coming years is to create added value through sustainable management of Nordic farm animal genetic resources. This implies that the conservation and utilization of genetic resources shall be regarded in a general and long-term perspective. The consequences of sustainable management include the demand that genetic diversity is maintained in such a way that the genetic resources can be adapted and utilized by future generations.
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GENOME CANADA

Genome Canada has a number of projects underway in the plant area but little to date in animals and poultry. Projects include:

• Functional Genomics of Arabidopsis
• Enhancing Canola Through Genomics
• The Canadian Potato Genome Project

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NATIONAL ANIMAL GERMPLASM PROGRAM- UNITED STATES

The recent newsletter on the "National Germplasm Program” (NAGP) in the United States highlights developments in that country on the flexibility for economic growth and production of high quality protein through biodiversity.

The overall NAGP collection in Fort Collins continues to grow. Presently, 36 breeds and 41 unique lines of dairy, beef, sheep, goats, chickens, and swine are included in the collection.

Sufficient quantities of Holstein semen and embryos have been acquired so that the breed can be considered secure and, if need be, regenerated. The Holstein collection consists of over 500 bulls and 150 embryos. The collection has been developed by contributions from ABS Global, Select Sires, the University of Missouri's control line, and industry wide sampling performed by The National Policy Coordinating Committee for Poultry. The semen acquired represents Holstein genetics from the 1960's to bulls currently being progeny tested.

The National Policy Coordinating Committee for Poultry designated 37 research lines at ARS's Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory in East Lansing, Michigan as part of the "National Registry of Genetically Unique Animal Populations". Further developments are assuring a secure future for poultry breeds.

The Beef cattle collection currently has germplasm from 14 breeds in the repository.

The swine collection is expanding with emphasis on Yorkshire breeds.

Further developments are also occurring in the areas of Aquaculture and Small Ruminant Populations. The NAGP has nation wide committees for Swine, Beef, Dairy, Poultry, Aquaculture, Small Ruminants, and a Technical Committee. These Committees meet on a regular basis. Further information is available at the NAGP web-site www.ars-grin.gov/nag/.

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POST SECONDARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN THE 2003 BUDGET DEBATE

The debate following the presentation of the February 18, 2003 Federal budget included the following from Mr. Peter Adams, Chair of the Government Caucus on Post Secondary Education and Research.

"It is my hope that in the future we will support animal genetics as much as we have supported research into plants and human genetics".
House of Commons, May 2003
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LETTER FROM THE HONOURARY CHAIR

Dear Friends

To those outside the realm of “hands on” agriculture research and production, it may seem unusual that anyone would develop a lifelong commitment to food production, as a means of service to one’s fellows, yet I write this from that perspective.

More than sixty years of traveling the world, and an increasingly close association with many aspects of food production, has served to raise my personal awareness of how fragile and cyclical the food chain on which we all depend, has become. We have major problems of population growth, depletion of finite resources, environmental degradation (and in many instances, destruction), and in some countries, poor checks and balances to assure food safety.

Except in densely populated areas, the major problem we face is indifference, because of existing regional abundance. Governments are ever ready to take advantage of voter apathy.

Nor do the industrialized countries recognize that for their own future security, they must commit to helping find an enduring solution to the chronic food shortages present in too many disadvantaged areas. Surely some of us are beginning to think that terrorism is not entirely based on religious differences.

Intellectually, Canada benefits from the contribution of many cultures. As one involved in a lifetime of world trade, I know how very well regarded Canadians are, around the globe. We are considered to be honest, generous, competent and fair-minded. In country after country, it was always a source of pride to me that for example- the Canadian Veterinary Health Certificate was never questioned by foreign governments, yet we had competitors whose national health certificates were frequently rejected, and for good cause.

If Canadian agricultural entrepreneurs are backed by a solid, well funded, world class research community under government auspices, -the sky is the limit for exports of our food products and breeding stock, because Canadians are both trusted and popular abroad.

The Foundation is professionally and scientifically grounded. We believe that our future as Canadians will best be assured if government is committed to make a much greater investment in the science of food production, and in particular to support farm livestock genetic resources, through a restored scientific infrastructure.

If I say at this juncture, that it has been an honour for me to Chair the Foundation. I believe you understand the reasons.

Dr. Roger Buckland is a long time friend with a reputation as one of Canada’s foremost thinkers in our agriculture industry. He and I have had many incisive conversations over the past year, and I know he has agreed to accept the pro-active role of Foundation Chair, at some personal sacrifice. I leave the post secure in the knowledge that Dr. Buckland will also be strongly reinforced by a competent, dedicated Board of Directors.

Now, it is time for the Livestock Sector to step up to the plate, in order that our goals are achieved in a committed and united manner. For myself, I am still on this team and will serve all Canadian agriculture in any capacity, as long as I am able.

Best wishes,

Sincerely

Donald McQ. Shaver, O.C., D.Sc.

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RARE BREEDS CANADA/CFAGRF PARTNERSHIP

Rare Breeds Canada through Ted Lawrence is conducting a pilot project to develop a database on a number of breeds of poultry and animals in Canada. This project, to take 6 months, will provide the Foundation and Rare Breeds Canada with documentation on a number of Canada's minority breeds including the Chantecler chicken, Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys, Canadienne Cattle, Canadian horse and a swine breed.

This is part of the Communication Plan prepared by the Canadian Farm Animal Genetic Resources Foundation in order to develop a national strategy for the conservation of Canada's animal and poultry genetic resources. The information will include physical descriptions, pictures, population size, changes in animal numbers over time, distribution in Canada, population trends, genetic information and research, effective population size, historic and current use, and a list of breeders and locations.

The Foundation is pleased to provide financial support to Rare Breeds Canada for this initiative. The results will be published jointly by Rare Breeds Canada and the Foundation.
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HERITAGE PROTECTION OF FRENCH ANIMAL SPECIES

At the last Salon International de l'agriculture held in Paris in February 2003, a seminar on the cryopreservation of animal genetic resources was held. Initiated by France, this forum allowed for representatives from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy and countries from northern Europe to compare their experiences.

Here is a summary of the presentation made by France at that seminar:

• France signed in 1992, the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity.
• That commitment led to the drafting of a National Charter for the management of genetic resources and to the creation in 1999 of the National Cryobank on the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture.
• The Cryobank's mission is to allow for the long-term preservation of the animal genetic resources.
• An advisory scientific committee was also set up.
• France is one of the first countries with the Netherlands and the USA to have initiated such a bank.
• The French Cryobank is interested in three types of materials:
  
  1. Type 1 corresponds to the endangered domestic breeds.
  2. Type 2 designates the rare breeds (lines), for example due to a particular genotype or an original pedigree.
  3. Type 3 sampling of breeds to have an image of their genetic variability at a given time.
     
• In February 2003, it is with the ovine species that the work is further ahead, but some work has already been done with all the other farm animal species.

The seminar also brought out that the principle of the Cryobank is not only ambitious but also precursory. It falls within the increasing awareness of the importance of the genetic resources as shown by several projects done by organizations such as the European Association for Animal Production and the FAO. Even if the task is challenging, one must not forget that part of the solution can be found at the International cooperation level.
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