SUSTAINABILITY - A CHALLENGE TO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND BREEDING

Prospects of sustainable animal breeding are briefly reviewed from the animal breeding point of view. The aspects of sustainability included are: ecological sustainability such as environmental sustainability a nd maintenance of biodiversity as well as ethical and economical susta inability. Environmental degradation can be reduced by intensive produ ction at least on intermediate production levels. Biodiversity of live stock breeds can be maintained with globally diverse breeding goals co ntaining several traits and with national conservation schemes for rar e local breeds. Ethical sustainability can be taken into account by im proving health and longevity traits. Production must also be economica lly profitable, otherwise it is not sustainable. In optimising all the se aspects, the animal breeders have to lay down criteria for conserva tion programmes and re-evaluate breeding goals so that sustainability is taken into account.