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Livestock Biodiversity: Genetic Resources for the Farming of the Future

ISBN: 978-0-470-99543-3

November 2007

Wiley-Blackwell

280 pages

Description
Livestock biodiversity is integral to our culture, history, environment, economy and, most importantly, our future. Thousands of livestock breeds, from relatively small genetic pools, have evolved over time to suit particular environments and farming systems. This is both the result of natural processes and of human needs for specialized livestock – as our knowledge of genetics continues to increase we achieve a greater understanding of how this biodiversity evolved.

This book offers a detailed and comprehensive overview of livestock biodiversity. It explores the history behind it, shows how livestock biodiversity can be utilized as animal genetic resources through breed development and by crossbreeding, examines the state of world livestock biodiversity today, and emphasizes the importance of conserving and developing the biodiversity of livestock.

Special consideration is given to:

• How livestock biodiversity arose and is maintained in relation to human society

• How it can be used in sustainable agricultural development

• How it can be conserved for the benefit of present and future generations

• Why conservation biologists, as well as agriculturists, should be involved in its protection

About the Author

Stephen J. G. Hall is the author of Livestock Biodiversity: Genetic Resources for the Farming of the Future, published by Wiley.

Features

  • One of the first books to discuss, in the context of livestock biodiversity, genetics, animal breeding, animal production and sustainable development in a single text;

  • Will aid an awareness and understanding of the importance of conserving biodiversity of livestock breeds;

  • Contains essential information on genetic advances that will help objective planning of biodiversity conservation.