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Gene conservation and traditional animal breeds' products in Croatia

Care on autochthonous breeds in Croatia has been emphasized during last two decades. Breeders some of autochthonous breeds are achieving their goals through different interest groups. There have been founded mostly in situ conservation programs, with rare ex situ programs integrated into global breed conservation program. State through responsible institutions makes breeding strategy and breeders are economically supported by annual subsides. State subsides are given to breeders of seventeen autochthonous domestic animal breeds form which some are critically endangered. Most autochthonous endangered breeds conservation programs are based primarily on state subside means, neglecting fact that they are only short-term replacement for smaller market competition and should be encouragement to develop economic exploitation programs. Permanent and safe protection can be achieved through integration of nucleus herds with economical exploitation programs. After making compatible levels of subside means for different species, it was initiated intensive searching for suitable economic utilization even for on market not concurrent breeds. Present situation is especially difficult for some horse, donkey, cattle and pig breeds. The most autochthonous sheep breeds are economically good used and in present conditions have good chance for sustainable conservation. Food with 'Protected Designation of Origin', 'Protected Geographical Indication' and 'Traditional Speciality Guaranteed' is possibility in which are interested breeders of autochthonous breeds. Recognizing animal breed worth, worth of future supported autochthonous breeds breeding models as well as possibilities for promoting particular food trade marks in EU market, breeders and general public were initiated to protect autochthonous breeds through traditional products, some of them almost forgotten. Examples of successful traditional products integration into gene conservation programs are: sheep of the island Pag-Pag cheese, black slavonian pig-Slavonian kulen, Istrian cattle-Istrian beef and Lika sheep-lambs meat. Neighbouring country experiences are valuable in strategic planned breeding of autochthonous endangered breeds and finding out optimal solutions for theirs economic exploitation.

autochthonous breeds; traditional products; conservation programs; Croatia

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