Page 35 - Green knowledge 2023

Success for national livestock breeds
Native Norwegian livestock breeds are no longer critically endangered. Thanks to the systematic efforts of enthusiasts across the country, the story of Norwegian breeds of cattle, equine, sheep and goat has become a success story.
In the late 1980s, the status of 17 national livestock breeds was either unknown or “critically endan- gered.” Some of them were on the brink of disap- pearing forever. On the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Genetic Resources Committee for Animal Genetic Resources was established in 1988, and thirty-five years later, conservation efforts have reached a significant milestone: none of the national livestock breeds are considered “critically endangered” anymore.
The success story is well-documented in the book “The Livestock Breeds That Wouldn’t go extinct,” published in 2023. Dr Nina Svartedal, at NIBIO Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre, was the editor along with Professor Odd Vangen at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
“The best way to preserve livestock is to use them,” Dr Svartedal says. Today, traditional Norwegian livestock breeds have found their natural place on many small and medium-sized farms throughout the
country. They contribute to production of meat, milk, wool, and farm tourism by extensively utilising local feed resources.
Although the situation now looks brighter, it is crucial that the good work continues. “We see that some farmers are replacing Norwegian Red Cattle (NRF) with old native breeds. They seek a smaller cow while contributing to the conservation of our national livestock breeds.”
“People must be allowed to try and fail to find their way. Not all farming methods suit everyone. How- ever, politicians must ensure conditions so that young farmers dare to invest in the future. If the conditions are right, the endangered livestock breeds native to Norway can look forward to a bright future,” Dr Svartedal says.
Photo: Erling Fløistad
Purpose:
Funding: Contact:
To highlight that none of the national livestock breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, or horses are critically endangered anymore; they are only considered endangered.
NIBIO’s basic allocation.
Senior Adviser Nina Svartedal. Email: nina.svartedal@nibio.no, phone: (+47) 993 89 469. Division of Survey and Statistics.
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