ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES UPDATES - SOUTH WEST PACIFIC REGION

9th Regular Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources(ITWG -AnGR)

FAO Rome4 – 8 July 2016

Countries in the SW Pacific Region

• 22 countries in the SW Pacific including;– American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated states of Micronesia,

Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn, French Polynesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis et Futuna.

– Area – 33 million km² (mostly ocean) Land – 551,060 km²– 7500 islands (500 – 1500 inhabited)– Population approx. 9 million in the region

South West Pacific RegionArea: 33 million km² Land: 551,060 km2 (98% in 5 countries) 7500 islands (500 -1,500 inhabited?) 9 million people (84%, in 5 countries)

Significant Animal Species in PICTs• The main breeds are: Pigs, cattle, goats, sheep,

horses, Poultry (chickens & ducks), bees.– Livestock is an integral part of Pacific people’s – Genetic diversity is raramount for improving

breeding and production parameters for future food security.

– Some specific local breeds – indigenous chickens & indigenous pigs in every country, Sheep -“Fiji Fantastic” breed + other adapted breeds.

Examples of animal breeds

The AnGR Process in the region

• 2002 – 2016– FAO Regional Training Workshop in Animal Genetic

Resources for Experts from the South Pacific Region,

– Preparation of national reports on the state of the world’s AnGR,

– Regional e-consultation on the Draft Report on Strategic Priorities for Action,

– 2006 - Regional Workshop: AnGR for Food and Agriculture (May 2006):– Funded by Australia and SPC

Actions Taken

– 2nd Regional Workshop: (August 2007) was the regional preparation for ITC, Interlaken

– Regional reps attended the International Technical Conference (ITC), Interlaken, Switzerland (Sept. 2007)

– 2008 – 2010 Implementation of the “SW Pacific AnGR Pilot Project on inventory and characterisation (funded FAO)

– 2013 – 2016 Implementation of the “Conservation of indigenous pig and chicken breeds in Fiji, Niue and Cook Islands

– 2016 onwards – Important to have some activities taking place in the region but funds are lacking.

Regional AnGR ProjectsInventory & Characterisation AnGR Pilot

Project1st regional project “AnGR inventory &

characterisation Pilot Project”.• Project Aim: To improve awareness of the animal genetic

resources by doing inventory & characterisation of indigenous pig and chicken breeds in six countries Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

AnGR Project Activities Collect 80 blood specimens on FTA cards for DNA analysis,

data and information from indigenous pigs and chickens from each country.

421 specimens (260 pig & 261 chickens) sent to ILRI laboratory in Beijing for DNA analysis.

Establishment of SW Pacific AnGR network and emailing lists; swpangr@lyris.spc.int

90 members have been listed in the emailing list Establish a platform for sharing information,

discussions and dissemination of information data to members

Pig AnalysisDNA Analysis:

– Significant genetic diversity found in all populations

– Fiji, Samoa and Tonga pigs have higher genetic diversity - a significant high level of inbreeding.

– There is significant genetic differentiations between the populations.

– Probable sources of origins ; Asia (2/3) and Europe (1/3)

Chicken Analysis• Microsatellite DNA data (ILRI)–

i) Genetic diversity within the six local chicken populations were high very close to that of the red jungle fowls, non- described chickens or unselected local chickens in Asia and Africa.ii) significant high levels of inbreeding within all

populationsiii) Significant genetic differentiations between six local chicken populations, suggesting different genetic entities: Fiji, Samoa and Tonga chicken populations in one cluster, Niue, Solomon and Vanuatu populations each in independent clusters.

Chicken ResultsGenetic distances between six

populations

Chicken analysis Cont..Chicken analysis:

• Niue chickens are by far the most specific and unique.

• Bayesian clustering-model program STRUCTURE detected no individual admixture between the local chickens and the commercial chickens nor any genetic introgression of the commercial chicken genetics into the local chicken populations.

2nd Regional AnGR Project

• FAO funded project – “Conservation of indigenous pig and chicken breeds in Fiji, Niue and Cook Islands”

• Objective – – To establish breeding, multiplication and

conservation centres of indigenous pig and chicken breeds in Fiji, Niue and Cook Islands, identified in the 1st project.• Fiji – 1 indigenous pig breeding centre• Niue – 3 indigenous chicken breeding centres (farms)• Cook Islands - 1 chicken breeding centre

Breeding, multiplication and conservation• Established conservation, breeding multiplication and

distribution sites in Fiji, Niue and Cook Islands (2014 -2016)

• Fiji - 1 pig conservation site– Breeding stock collected from around Fiji Islands– Breeding and production has started

• Niue – 3 chicken breeding, multiplication and conservation sites– Breeding stock collected from around the villages– Breeding and production started

• Cook Islands – 1 chicken breeding, multiplication and conservation site established. – Breeding stock collected form around the island– Breeding and production started.

Outcomes Achieved • Indigenous pig and chicken breeds conserved.

– Continue Conservation promoting of indigenous breeds

– Indigenous pig breed population bred, multiplied, conserved and distributed in Fiji

– Indigenous chicken breed population bred, multiplied, conserved and distributed in Niue

– Indigenous chicken breed population bred, multiplied, conserved and distributed in Cook Islands

Fiji - pig breeding, multiplication & conservation centre

Chicken centres in Niue

Chicken breeding conservation centre - Cook Islands

Major Threats to AnGR in the region • Global climatic changes – frequent natural disasters,

stronger cyclones, floods, droughts, tsunamis, quakes and sea levels rises resulting in contaminated water and salinity problems

• Unchecked breeding practices by livestock owners using high production exotic breeds thus threatening indigenous breeds.

• Destruction of local habitat of indigenous breeds due to logging practices and other development

• Exotic pests and diseases outbreaks

Priority Areas for SW

Pacific• SW Pacific Region is committed to the implementation of

GPAs for AnGR• Inventory and characterization needs to be done in all PICTs• Awareness and promotion of AnGR in PICTs to continue• Develop mechanisms to identify risk breeds • Have in place early response mechanisms to risk breeds.• Development Policy and regulatory required to support the

AnGR programmes

Future Activties• Committed to implement the Global Plan of

Actions including all the small island nations• Continue awareness and Advocacy, the

significance of diversity of AnGR in the region• Extend current inventory and characterisation,

conservation activities to other PICTs.• Conserve indigenous genetic resources to prevent

loss of biodiversity.• Assist animal genetic resources owners (rural

livestock farmers) to actively engage in sustainable conservation management practices.

Future activities • Livestock population census planned in many

countries to update populations and breeds. To determine risk trend of indigenous breeds.

• Establish niche market for potential animal genetic material to encourage sustenance of local resources (in-situ, ex-situ)

• Develop project proposals for the AnGR activities in the region.

• Policies and livestock strategies reviews to ensure AnGR activities are included in national policies.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION