The economic valuation of farm animal genetic resources: a survey of available methods

Genetic erosion of domestic animal diversity has placed 30% of the world's breeds at risk of extinction, often as a result of government policy/progra mmes. Conservation and sustainable development of animal genetic resources (AnGR) require a broad focus that includes the many 'adaptive' breeds that survive well in the low external input agriculture typical of developing co untries. Environmental economic valuation methodologies have an important r ole to play in supporting decisions regarding which breeds should be conser ved and how this should be done. However, AnGR, in general, and valuation m ethods in particular, have received very little attention. This paper provi des a survey of the methods available for the valuation of AnGR and the ste ps that must be taken in order to test some of the more promising methodolo gies in practice. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.