A.J. van der Zijpp

Dynamics of livestock production systems, drivers of change and prospects for animal genetic resources

Este resumen analiza los factores clave que han cambiado en el sector ganadero y hace una evaluacion de como han influenciado la corriente actual y las prospectivas futuras en los distintos sistemas de produccion ganadera y mercados en el mundo. Tambien se analizan los consiguientes impactos sobre la gestion de los recursos zoogeneticos para la alimentacion y la agricultura. La tendencia se da tanto en paises industrializados como en via de desarrollo pero las respuestas son distintas. En los paises en via de desarrollo estas tendencias estan afectando la capacidad ganadera para contribuir a la mejora de la calidad de la vida y reduccion de la pobreza, asi como la utilizacion de los recursos naturales. En el mundo industrializado la proximidad de la base de recursos zoogeneticos con los sistemas de produccion ganadera industrial plantean la necesidad de mantener un mayor rango de recursos zoogeneticos para hacer frente a las incertidumbres futuras, tales como el cambio climatico y las zoonosis. En este capitulo se discute: � Cuales son los principales factores de cambio en los sistemas ganaderos? � Como responden los sistemas de produccion ganadera a los factores de cambio a nivel mundial? � Cuales son las implicaciones para la diversidad de recursos zoogeneticos y para las prospectivas futuras de su utilizacion? � Cuales son los pasos inmediatos que puedan permitir la mejora de la caracterizacion de los recursos zoogeneticos, su utilizacion y conservacion? Sobre la base de un reciente analisis de la situacion actual, la perdida de razas indigenas y el nuevo desarrollo de la ciencia y la tecnologia, existen distintas acciones complementarias que pueden empezar a ayudar a mejorar la gestion de los recursos zoogeneticos y mantener opciones futuras en un mundo lleno de incertidumbres. Tales acciones se resumen asi: � Fomentar la continua utilizacion sostenible de razas tradicionales. � Permitir el acceso y movimiento para venta de recursos zoogeneticos dentro y entre paises. � Conocer la relacion entre poblaciones ganaderas, razas y genes con el entorno fisico, biologico y economico. � Conservar stocks para hacer frente a incertidumbres futuras. La incertidumbre sobre las implicaciones de cambios rapidos, multifaceticos y globales para cada sistema de produccion ganadera y los consiguientes cambios futuros en la demanda de recursos zoogeneticos requieren una accion colectiva para hacer frente a la conservacion de recursos zoogeneticos a largo plazo como bien publico mundial. La conservacion de los recursos zoogeneticos por si sola no resolvera los problemas pero es un paso importante para mantener las opciones futuras.

Unique cultural values of Madura cattle: is cross-breeding a threat?

In Indonesia, cross-breeding local cattle with European beef breeds is widely promoted to stimulate beef production. This cross-breeding is threatening local breeds that have often different functions, including cultural roles. This study analysed the cultural values of Madura cattle and the effects of cross-breeding on local traditions in Madura Island. Bull racing (karapan) and cow conformation contests (sonok) are traditional cultural events on Madura. Since 2001, cross-breeding with Limousin is allowed. The local government also promotes a conformation contest for cross-bred (madrasin) cattle. Quantitative and qualitative information were collected through participatory approaches involving farmers (n = 97), government officials, community groups, key informants and through direct observation of sonok, karapan and madrasin events. Phenotypic characteristics were collected from 184 cows. The Madura cattle population and production systems are not homogeneous. Four cattle types could be distinguished: karapan, sonok, madrasin and conventional Madura cattle. These cattle were found in three discrete areas, differing in land sizes, cropping and cattle keeping in terms of management practices and importance of specific cultural practices. Sonok and madrasin cows were significantly bigger and had higher body condition scores than karapan cows and the conventional Madura cows in the madrasin area. Madura cattle participating in cultural events were valued at prices that were 2–3.5 times higher than Madura cattle not participating in cultural events. Cross-breeding will not directly influence the cultural events or the management practices of Madura cattle in the karapan and sonok areas; however, outside the karapan and sonok areas, crossbreds are rapidly replacing conventional Madura cattle. The present top-down approach towards conservation and breeding strategies has to be turned into bottom-up approaches that consider the needs of the sonok and karapan Madura cattle sub-populations. Monitoring and characterization studies have to collect information at different aggregation levels and have to be aware of the sub-populations. The Madura example shows that the cultural values of livestock can be a main driver for maintaining relatively small populations of local breeds.

‘A pond with crocodiles never dries up’: a frame analysis of human–crocodile relationships in agro-pastoral dams in Northern Benin

Crocodiles, a protected species, share ecosystem services with local communities in agro-pastoral dams in Northern Benin. Using a comparative case study conducted in three villages and a framing perspective, this study aims to elucidate how stakeholders frame the presence of crocodiles, and how they use formal and informal institutions to deal with them. Respondents framed the presence of the crocodiles as problematic because of their negative effects on local livelihoods and peoples tranquillity. Both causes and solutions are, however, framed differently in the three communities. Whereas in Nikki and Sakabansi, respondents seek solutions in changing the ecological environment, requiring others (the council, fishermen, and crocodiles) to change their behaviour, Fombawi respondents seek to adapt their own behaviour by respecting and applying traditional and practical rules for sharing their dam. Damage per crocodile is the highest in Nikki and the lowest in Fombawi, suggesting that the crocodiles in Nikki behave more aggressively than those in Fombawi. Further investigation is merited to determine whether or not crocodiles behave less aggressively when dealt with according to specific institutions. Intensive communication among stakeholders in the three villages is recommended to exchange experiences and ideas that may support a peaceful human–crocodile relationship inspired by existing institutional solutions.

Is crossbreeding of cattle beneficial for mixed farming systems in Central Java

From 1980s onwards, Indonesias government has been implementing crossbreeding with European beef breeds through artificial insemination to improve the beef performance of local cattle, in response to the increasing demand for meat. Crossbreeding is promoted and implemented throughout the country, regardless of the various agro-ecological zones, each endowed with different feed resources in the smallholder farming systems. This study analyses the impact at farm level of crossbreeding in the different mixed farming conditions in Central Java. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected through participatory approaches involving famers (n = 252) in four study areas representing three agro-ecological zones: Wet lowlands (subdivided in two areas based on the history of breeding local cattle and crossbreeding), Wet uplands and Dry uplands. Phenotypic characteristics, reproductive performances, and carcass characteristics of Ongole and crossbred cattle were assessed, together with farmers’ reasons for keeping Ongole or crossbred breeding stock, the functions of cattle on the farms and the Gross Margins (GM) of the cattle component on Ongole and crossbred farms. Across different agro-ecological zones, crossbreeding is not changing the farming systems: herd sizes, farm types, experience in cattle keeping and functions of cattle were about the same for Ongole and crossbred farms. The agro-ecological zones differed in the cropping pattern and feed resources; however, they did not differ in amounts of dry matter and crude protein fed to individual animals. Crossbreeding is changing the individual characteristics of cattle and consequently the market prices of animals. In general, mature female crossbred cattle were approximately 25 percent heavier than mature female local cattle. Male crossbred progeny was 16 percent heavier their local counterparts, whereas female crossbred progeny was 24 percent heavier than female local cattle. In terms of reproduction performances, both local and crossbred cows performed well with calf crops ranging between 73 and 86 percent per year. Most farmers preferred crossbred over Ongole cattle. Simmental cross is the most preferred. GM for crossbred and Ongole farms were comparable within the different study areas; selling prices of crossbreds are higher, but feed costs too. Crossbreeding will continue. It is promoted by government policies and farmers are motivated to keep crossbred cattle as body weights and market prices are higher than for Ongole cattle; however, farmers said that they do not prefer upgrading to very high levels of Simmental. A viable Ongole population is needed to reduce the risk of upgrading to too high levels of Simmental.

Is cross-breeding of cattle beneficial for the environment? The case of mixed farming systems in Central Java, Indonesia

Cross-breeding with European beef breeds has become a standard approach for the intensification of smallholder cattle production in Indonesia. This study assessed the environmental impact of cross-breeding, in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and land use. We sampled 90 local Ongole and 162 cross-bred (Simmental × Ongole) cattle farms in four study areas. Expressed per kilogram of live weight of young stock produced, GWP (26.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (34.2 m2) of farms with Ongole breeding stock were not significantly different from the GWP (28.9 kg CO2–equivalents) and land use (37.4 m2) of cross-bred farms. Cross-bred young stock grew faster, but in general cross-bred cattle required more feed. In the current smallholder production system, the dominant cross-breeding practice of using Simmental semen on Ongole and F1 cross-bred cows does not result in lower greenhouse gas emissions or land use per kilogram of live weight produced compared with farms with Ongole cows. The advantage from the faster growth of cross-breds is counteracted by the higher emissions from feed production for cross-breds.