Whitebred Shorthorn TV Debut
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| The BBC's Rural Affairs Correspondent Tom Heap
interviewed our Chairman Adrian Wheelwright at the
Autumn sale at Carlisle for a BBC television feature
to accompany the release of the Defra "Noah's
Ark" strategy. |
Genetic 'Noah's ark' strategy launched for the country's
farm animals
(Defra press release 06 November
2006)
A plan to conserve the genetic material of the country's
farmed animals was launched today.
The plan makes recommendations to the industry and Government
on how we can improve and maintain the diversity of our
livestock's genetic material in the future.
The recommendations fall under the following broad categories:
-
To maintain an advisory body to better inform the
public, industry and policymakers on the country's
farm animal breeds;
-
To improve the collection, quality
and availability of information and data on genetic
resources to provide effective ways for their future
use;
-
To support the prioritisation, development and
implementation of projects to conserve our genetic
diversity;
-
To maintain a co-ordinating function and
enhance issues surrounding genetic resources in other
areas of Government and Industry.
Jeff Rooker, Food and Farming Minister, said:
‘This plan is important economically, socially
and culturally. We have a fine tradition in this country
of breeding a diverse range of farm animals which in
many cases can be found across the world. However, there
are growing concerns over genetic diversity as growing
economic pressures have lead to a few specialised breeds
spreading across the globe . The threat of exotic diseases
is also a threat to diversity in some breeds.
'There are also new challenges and opportunities for
livestock farmers today and our genetic resources and
the expertise of breeders have the potential to meet
our pressing environmental and market challenges.
This strategic approach to manage our world renowned
genetic resources is to be complimented and I think all
involved would agree that this will help us form policy
in the years to come whilst at the same time ensuring
the survival of many of our loved and cherished breeds.' |
