Declining breeds of domesticated animals

As farming has become more industrialized and energy-intensive, a small number of breeds have become dominant - specialized animals that respond well to high-energy diets, confined living conditions and intense medical treatment. This specialization develops narrow gene pools which may be susceptible to diseases.

In Canada, Holstein cow stands in 95% of the dairy stalls and there are only six commercial poultry breeds. In UK this century at least 20 breeds of British farm animals have died out.

1. Special breeding for rate-of-gain production rates and narrow gene pool may hurt the people if consumers' taste, climatic patterns and diseases change in the future.

1. Neglected food resources
2. Decreasing genetic diversity of animals

1. Loss of domestic biodiversity

1. Geographically isolated settlements

1. Destruction of rural subsistence economy

1. Protecting farm animals
2. Domesticating animals
3. Conserving endangered species of farm animals
4. Compiling database of domestic animal genetics
5. Compiling data base of wild animal genetic resources

1. Endangered
2. Decline