Economical and ecological importance of indigenous livestock and the application of assisted reproduction to their preservation

Among the many mammalian species that are threatened as the result of habit at destruction are numerous species of rare or little-known native livestoc k that possess features that render them ideally adapted to their environme nt. Because of the vital and valuable role many of these species play both to the ecology and economy of their native countries, attention is being di rected towards initiating breeding programs that might insure their continu ed survival. This review introduces and highlights the importance of some o f these indigenous species and outlines efforts currently underway to apply assisted reproductive technologies to their conservation. (C) 1999 by Else vier Science Inc.