The biodiversity crisis also affects farm animals

In Martintown, in Eastern Ontario, Kodie Gills tries as best he can to make a living from his small herd Of Lacombe pigs, the only Canadian breed of pig. Well adapted to outdoor life, its animals are raised on pasture and in the forest.

No need for large buildings and multi-million dollar investmentsunderlines this young farmer.

This lop-eared breed was developed at Agriculture Canada’s experimental farm in Lacombe, Alberta, in the 1950s. After booming, it fell into disfavor as pork production became industrialized.

Today, there are only a handful of Lacombe pig farms left in the country.

This story is being repeated around the world as agriculture becomes more specialized and focuses on the most efficient breeds. According to FAOmore than 70% of local breeds are at risk of disappearing.

However, as the climate changes, preserving the genetic heritage of these more hardy animals is urgent, points out geneticist Carl Lessard.

There are probably breeds somewhere that will be less sensitive to extreme heat or that will require less food to produce the same amount of milk or meat.he argues.

Mr. Lessard was for several years the curator of animal resources at Agriculture Canada’s cryogenic Bank in Saskatoon, a genetic gold mine where more than half a million doses of animal seeds are stored. breeding.

In tanks of liquid nitrogen, the sperm and embryos of heritage breeds rub shoulders with those of large breeds in production.

However efficient they may be, the animals found on large-scale farms are often more vulnerable to disease than their hardier cousins.

Heritage animals are reservoirs of genes that have sometimes been completely lost in large commercial breedsexplains Carl Lessard.

He cites the work of his American colleague Janet Fulton, who looked at the gene MHC Beta, responsible for the immune response (New window).

She found that commercial chickens really don’t have a lot of variation in this gene. But if we go to see heritage animals, we have access to a range of different variations of this gene, and that really demonstrated the importance of continuing to take care of our heritage animals in order to help our production. industrial in the future.

The erosion of genetic variability also weakens breeds of dairy cows such as the Holstein, champion of milk production, well known for its black and white coat.

A few years ago, researchers at Penn State University in the United States discovered that 99% of bulls of this breed in North America were descended from just two American bulls.

We crossed paths so much [les vaches Holstein] for milk production it has improved incredibly, but we have forgotten other traits that were important, like fertility. Producers are having more and more difficulty maintaining a good reproduction rate in cows and are forced to replace them regularly.

To find greater genetic wealth, producer associations can turn to the Saskatoon bank, a sort of insurance policy for them.

However, even if every precaution is taken, the success of artificial insemination is not guaranteed and varies greatly from species to species.

Of course, we would like to say that we always keep animals alive. This is the best way to ensure that [le patrimoine] genetics is preserved […]but it costs a lot of moneyadmits Carl Lessard.

Other countries, particularly in Europe, choose instead to financially support breeders of heritage breeds through subsidies, in particular.

In Canada, there is nothing for small farmerslaments Kodie Gills. Financial support would allow us to sell meat at a more affordable price for people. […] No matter how passionate we are about heritage breeds, a farm remains a business.

The next report of the FAO on the state of the world’s animal genetic resources is expected in 2025.

A report by Catherine Mercier and Geneviève Brault on this subject will be presented on the show There week green Saturday at 5 p.m. p.m. (6 p.m. h 30 HA) on HERE TV.