PRESERVING GENETIC VARIANCE RESOURCES IN COMMERCIAL AND NONCOMMERCIALPOPULATIONS

Genetic diversity is the basis for livestock breeding. Diversity withi n breeds may be reduced by effective breeding methods in commercial br eeds; diversity between breeds may be reduced by disappearance of non- commercial breeds. Two means of preserving diversity are discussed: th e development of breeding methods that aim at genetic gain yet account for loss of diversity, and the setup of gene banks to preserve curren t diversity for future use.