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The American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy has published "A Conservation Breeding Handbook" that describes
livestock and poultry breeds as genetic resources and explains how individual
breeders can help in their conservation.
Although the handbook was written
primarily for people interested in rare breeds, it addresses subjects of
interest to all animal breeders. Among these are developing a philosophy; the
concept and practice of selection; a comparison of conservation and improvement
breeding; and the uses of breeding systems, such as inbreeding, linebreeding and
crossbreeding. The book discusses the considerations necessary in establishing a
conservation herd or flock, from choice of species and breed through purchase of
stock and participation in breed associations, registries and other networks.
"A Conservation Breeding
Handbook" includes detailed breeding programs for the genetic management of
herds or flocks as well as rescue protocols for critically rare populations. The
programs described are based in the science of genetics but include management
considerations which are essential to success.
While some experts claim that
individual breeders cannot be trusted with genetic conservation, the handbook's
authors, D. P. Sponenberg and C. J. Christman, maintain that individuals have
always been stewards of rare breeds, and the involvment of many people is the
only sure way to protect this wealth for the future. "A conservation Breeding
Handbook" is designed to equip breeders--individually and in groups--for
stewardship.
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