MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCE IN GREECE WITH UNDERTAKEN AND PLANNED PRIMARY ACTIVITIES Dervisis Dimitrios _,Ligda Christina_, and Georgoudis Andreas Aristotle University of Thessaloniki _ National Agricultural Research Foundation
Institutions involved in the management and conservation of AnGR Ministry of Rural Development and Food Aristotle University of Thessaloniki National Agricultural Research Foundation Other Research Institutions / Universities Regional Authorities NGOs
NGOs There are several NGOs which are working on the conservation of national cultural heritage. Among their activities they raise awareness on biodiversity of farm animal breeds. Organize seminars and workshops Organize exhibitions in order to promote the characteristics of local breeds, especially in the frame of different local cultural events. Inform people through leaflets about the existing local breeds, the danger of extinction of several breeds and the importance of maintaining them for the needs of future. Visit schools and make relevant presentations or help groups of pupils to make presentations of local breeds to the whole school.
Species Breeds Location Number of Animal (2002) Cattle Tinos Keas _aterini Sykia Greek Buffalo Greek Brachyceros Cyclades Cyclades Thessalia & Cent. Macedonia Chalkidiki Wetlands in all the territory All Greece (Mountainous and islander regions) relics relics 175 relics 1154 1117 Sheep _atafigiou Roumoulkiou Chalkidikis Ikarias Leukimis Katsika Argous Zakinthou Florinas- Pelagonias Asterousiou _nogeion Sarakatsaniko Skopelou _imis Chiou Agriniou Dramas Thrakis Kalaritiko Pilioritiko West & Centr. Macedonia Centr.& West makedonj'a Chalkidiki Samos Corfu Hipiros Peloponnese Zakynthos, Peloponnese,Aitol/nia West Macedonia Crete Crete All Greece (mountainous regions) Magnisia Evia All the Country Ajtol/nia, Arta Drama Thrace Hipiros, Thessalia, Aitol/nia Magnisia, Larissa relics relics relics 20 relics 1169 686 838 497 relics relics 1000 2167 590 8784 531 relics 144 4090 2592 Goats Skopelou Thessalia 6696 Pigs Local pig breed All the Country relics Horses Ilias Peneias Thessalia Skirou Pindou Messara Zakinthos, Peloponnese Aitol/nia, Attici Zakinthos, Peloponnese Aitol/nia, Attici Thessalia Thessaloniki, Evia, Thessalia, St. Greece Hipiros, Macedonia, Thessalia, St. Greece, Kefalonia Peloponnese, Crete 20 138 399 168 556 126
Table 2 : Level of subsidy per livestock unit and head. Species Livestock unit/head Subsidy /livestock unit Subsidy /animal Cattles < 6 months 0,0 0,0 0,0 6 months < Cattle of < 2 years 0,6 312 187 Cattle of > 2 years 1,0 312 312 Sheeps (except Chiotiko) Goats 0,15 194 29 Chiotiko sheep 0,15 158 24 Horses < 6 months 0,0 0 0 Horses > 6 months 1,0 475 475 Pigs 0,4 190 225
Main Priority Actions Old actions 1) Planning the implementation and administration of a database for AnGR 2) European Cryo -conservation of Heritage Sheep Breeds Scoping Study 3) Possible way of conservation the multipurpose Tsigai and other indigenous sheep breeds in Central- Eastern European and Balkan counties 4) ECONOGENE
Main Priority Actions New actions 1) Heritage Sheep Breeds 2) Indicators and Methodologies for European Breeds Status. 3) Current Status of Brachycerus and Grey Cattle populations in the South Eastern European Countries and possibilities to develop strategies for their sustainable conservation through the production of quality products 4) Project for the conservation of the sarakatsaniko sheep breed in the Southeast Europe
Kymi Skopelos Kalarritiko Anogeiano Piliou Kefallinias
Kalarritiko
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Ministry of Agriculture (I) General Directorate of Animal Production Directorate of Inputs to Animal Production Basic laws concerning farm animal breeds in Greece, their state and the main measures for the protection of those breeds which are in danger of extinction Decisions and Directives on AnGR Collaboration with the Focal Point on different topics concerning AnGR, i.e. Country Report on the SoW-AnGR Application of the EU policy Organization of seminars for farmers about the importance of conserving the AnGR and management aspects of maintaining breeds Edition of informative leaflets for the different farm animal species Directorate of Animal Production Contribution to the preparation of the Country Report on the SoW-AnGR Animal Genetic Improvement Centres Responsible for herd books and registries keeping Support to the farmers in order to reach the breeds goals
Ministry of Agriculture (II) General Directorate of Agricultural Application and Research Directorate of Environment Protection Responsible for the EU subsidies payment according to the relevant regulations
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, Animal Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, also : Has been appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture as the Focal Point of FAO infrastructure for AnGR. Collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and other institutions and organizations on AnGR. Acts as the General Secretariat of the National Committee for the preparation of the Country Report on the SoW- AnGR
National Agricultural Research Foundation Departement for Genetic Resources The department is responsible for the genetic resources with experience and long collaboration with FAO in the frame of the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Local Authorities Regional Authorities (Prefectures) The regional zootechnical authorities, under the prefectures, in collaboration with the Directorate of Environment Protection and the Animal Genetic Improvement Centers, are involved in the payment of the EU subsidies.
Universities Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production Agricultural University of Athens Department of Animal Production Education The conservation of AnGR has been included lately in the Universities curriculum (importance of maintaining biodiversity, management of small breeds, sustainable animal production) Activities The above universities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the regional and the regional zootechnical authorities have been involved in the first registration of farm animal breeds in danger of extinction and organized their first herd books
Other Research Institutions Apart from farmers who maintain animals of breeds in danger of extinction, there are several research institutions which are maintaining animals of those breeds. Many studies regarding zootechnical and genetic aspects of the local breeds have been accomplished