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ERFP Animal genetic resources in Europe

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ERFP Animal genetic resources in Europe

Exchange about in and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources in Europe

11/11/2025

[ 🐑 There are fewer than 100 Bardoka left in Serbia ]

The Bardoka, a type of Pramenka , is critically endangered. This indigenous breed has unique genetic characteristics that are essential for resilience in harsh environments and the sustainability of livestock farming systems in Europe.

Bardoka sheep are important for a number of reasons:
✅ Ecological role: they help maintain pastures and prevent the proliferation of shrubs.
✅ Genetic uniqueness: they possess alleles that give them resistance to disease and adaptability to climate.
✅ Cultural heritage: wool, meat and pastoral traditions are central to rural life in Serbia.

A study analysing 230 animals using 14 microsatellite markers revealed key information about the genetic diversity of Bardoka sheep and their relationship to the Karakachan and Île-de-France breeds.

🔗 Read the full study: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1193

05/11/2025

Malta Embarks On Major Initiative To Protect And Revive Its Living Cultural Heritage

04/11/2025

[ The Martina Franca : a rare genetic treasure from southern Italy ]

The Martina Franca donkey, native to the Puglia region, is more than just a breed: it is a living repository of unique genetic characteristics and cultural heritage. Once indispensable for agriculture and transport, this donkey is now endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining.

This breed is important for several reasons:
▶️ Distinctive characteristics: grey or black coat, white cross on the back; males approximately 1.35 m at the withers.
▶️ Behaviour and adaptability: calm, intelligent and resistant to the climate of southern Italy, invaluable characteristics for sustainable agriculture.
▶️ Genetic value: retains alleles linked to disease resistance and environmental adaptation, essential for the biodiversity of European livestock.
▶️ Population and conservation: their small numbers require careful breeding management to preserve genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding.
▶️ Cultural heritage: an integral part of traditional agriculture and military transport, it links history and biodiversity.

🔍 Part of the ERFP work is to help the preservation of rare breeds such as the Martina Franca donkey which are essential to the resilience and sustainability of livestock systems across Europe.

📌 To learn more about its genetic importance and current conservation strategies: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11240626/

28/10/2025

[🌍 Management of transboundary breeds in Europe: filling data gaps]

Transboundary breeds, i.e. those present in two or more European countries, represent an essential part of our diversity. However, their monitoring and management remain challenging.

The working group on transboundary breeds used data from the 's DAD-IS to:
✅ assess the current state of monitoring
✅ identify key gaps
✅ propose ways to improve conservation strategies.

Key findings:
▶️ Gaps in monitoring and reporting data hinder effective management.
▶️ Terminology and definitions differ between countries, complicating data comparison.
▶️ Limited information exchange between national authorities reduces coordination.

Key takeaways:
1️⃣ Fragmented efforts risk the loss of valuable genetic diversity.
2️⃣ Harmonised monitoring frameworks are essential for aligning conservation strategies at national and European level.
3️⃣ Coordinated management promotes the resilience of local breeds and the sustainability of food systems.

📄 Read the full study: https://www.genresj.org/index.php/grj/article/view/genresj.BPGX5961

21/10/2025

[🐂 Cyprus' indigenous – lessons from the project]

Cyprus' indigenous cattle, one of Europe's rarest local cattle , was the subject of the ARETI research project (2022-2025), funded by the A.G. Leventis Foundation and hosted by The Cyprus Institute.

Using archaeogenetics, historical sources and socio-economic studies, the project traced the continuity of Cypriot cattle from antiquity to the present day. This breed has unique genetic signatures linked to long-term adaptation to Mediterranean island conditions.

The main results of the ARETI project:
✔️ Archaeogenetic data confirming the presence of a distinct Cypriot cattle breed for over 3,000 years
✔️ Ethnographic work documenting the cultural role of cattle in rural communities
✔️ Scenarios for the sustainable management of a critically endangered breed

🤝 Collaboration was key: scientists from Trinity College Dublin (Smurfit Institute of Genetics), the Agricultural Research Institute, breeders, policymakers and artists worked together to connect science, heritage and practice.

Low-population breeds face common threats: reduction in effective size, loss of traditional knowledge, and low political recognition.

Interdisciplinary approaches, such as ARETI, provide models for conservation strategies beyond Cyprus.

📽️ Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zw_hCe6erk

14/10/2025

[ selection 🐄]

Genomic selection makes it possible to achieve faster gains in terms of:
👉 milk yield
👉 fertility
👉 adaptation characteristics.

For small local cattle , the stakes are high: every decision can shape — or diminish — their genetic future.

The project explored this balance in five iconic breeds:
▶️ MRY (Netherlands)
▶️ Vosgienne, Abondance, Tarentaise (France)
▶️ Norwegian Red (Norway)

Key takeaways:
🔍 Genomic selection improves targeted traits, but without careful monitoring, it risks increasing inbreeding and eroding rare alleles.
📊 Breeds with limited populations are most vulnerable, especially when a few breeding animals dominate the gene pool.
🛠️ Solutions exist: optimal selection of contributions, AI strategies and transnational exchanges in breeding can help maintain diversity.

📄 Full assessment here:
👉https://rumigen.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EAAP-Rumigen-WP4_from_DBlit.pdf

07/10/2025

[ : a matter of choice, not habit]

We often consider cryopreservation to be an essential step in conservation. Should we always resort to it?

↪️ A systematic review of priorities for cryopreservation of wild animals shows that not all populations need to be preserved ex situ and that resources should be used where they will have the greatest long-term impact.

Key points to remember:

✅ Essential for populations threatened with immediate extinction or irreversible loss.
✅ Need to establish clear prioritisation frameworks and transparent governance.
✅ Consideration of ethical, ecological and economic trade-offs, beyond technical feasibility.

💡 For rare animal breeds, the same principle applies: with limited resources, it is essential to know when to cryopreserve and when to focus on in situ conservation.

📖 Read the full open-access study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X25000017

30/09/2025

[🐑 sheep – a Polish breed resistant to harsh climates]

Świniarka , once common in the plains of Poland, are now endangered: there are fewer than 1,000 breeding ewes left in conservation flocks.

📌 Why is this breed important to preserve?
👉 Exceptional hardiness: it thrives on poor-quality pasture and withstands harsh winters.
👉 Low-input production: ideal for extensive, sustainable grazing systems.
👉 Genetic diversity: valuable traits for disease and parasite resistance.
👉 Cultural heritage: wool for traditional crafts, distinctive flavour of meat in local cuisine.

Records trace the breed's origins back centuries, with farmers relying on it to survive in resource-poor environments. Modern agriculture has replaced it with higher-yielding breeds, but at the cost of losing unique adaptive traits.

Today, specialised breeding programmes, supported by the National Institute of Animal Production Research, aim to maintain a minimum effective population of 200 head in order to preserve genetic health.

🔍 Future prospects
As climate pressures intensify, the conservation of this breed could prove essential for establishing resilient sheep farming systems across Europe.

23/09/2025

[Webinar - Monitoring inbreeding: a key step in saving rare ]

At the beginning of the summer, the EU Reference Centre for Endangered Animal Breeds (EURC eab) organised its first webinar, dedicated to how to effectively measure and monitor inbreeding. Experts shared:
▶️ practical tools
▶️ concrete examples
▶️ strategies that can be applied in conservation programmes across Europe.

📌 Key takeaways from this webinar:
✅ Why accurate genealogical and genomic data are crucial for rare breeds
✅ Key indicators for early detection of genetic risks
✅ Examples of monitoring in successful conservation programmes

🎥 The replay and slides are now available: https://www.eurc-eab.eu/publications-webinars

16/09/2025

[5,336,856 samples]

📌 With the arrival of three new genetic banks in our network, now has 27 members preserving 5,336,856 samples.
These samples are important because they play an essential role in preserving the we may need tomorrow.

👉 Read more: https://www.eugena-erfp.net/en/

09/09/2025

[How can a single action reinforce decades of conservation work?]

The IASRJ (EASRAB), the newest member of , has just uploaded:
✅ 428,872 semen samples
✅ covering 32 cattle and buffalo breeds

This update places the Bulgarian bank among the top five in Europe in terms of collection size.

Having large, well-documented collections in gene banks provides essential ex situ protection. They preserve rare and local breeds for future breeding, research and adaptation to challenges such as climate change and emerging diseases.

🔍 Explore the EUGENA database: https://www.eugena-erfp.net/en/genebank

02/09/2025

[ Strengthening the European network of banks ]

From 11 to 13 September 2025, the steering committee will meet on the sidelines of the 61st conference of the Society for Low Temperature Biology ( ) in Olsztyn, Poland.

During this event, various topics will be addressed:
✅ Improving ex situ conservation tools for rare and local breeds
✅ Sharing best practices in the collection and storage of genetic material
✅ Establishing cross-border collaborations for cryopreservation in Europe

📄 The agenda is available online: https://www.animalgeneticresources.net/index.php/event/eugena-steering-committee/

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