Declining breeds of domesticated animals
Name(s):
Endangered species of farm animals
Nature
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.
Incidence
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.
Claim
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.
Narrower
Aggravated by
Strategy(ies)
Value(s)
Reference(s)
Type
(D) Detailed problems