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What is Animal Breeding?
Farm animal breeding is the activity in farm animal production providing the next generation of farm animals. More information about breeding and reproduction can be found at the EFFAB website. |
Breeding and Sustainability
The production of animal products involves many global sustainability issues: animal health and welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, use of natural resources, integrity of the animal, food safety and public health, and production efficiency. Breeders are able to positively contribute to these challenges, by including them in their breeding programmes. |
The production of animal products involve many global sustainability issues: animal health and welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, use of natural resources, integrity of the animal, food safety and public health, and production efficiency. Breeders are able to positively contribute to these challenges, by including them in their breeding programmes. Code-EFABAR assist breeders in responsible breeding by focusing of key elements in the animal production process.
The six pillars of Code EFABAR
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Improved Animal Health and Welfare
High standards of animal health are critical to safeguard animal welfare, resource efficiency and secure public health and food safety. Certain individual animals are known to have improved resistance against disease. This means that breeders are able to select for such animals and develop breeds with a lower disease susceptibility. Code EFABAR promotes breeding strategies that prioritize animal health, well-being, and resilience while reducing the need for interventions such as antibiotics. By selecting for natural robustness, breeders contribute to higher welfare standards and more sustainable terrestrial, aquaculture and insect production. The code is regularly updated based on the latest scientific advancements and societal expectations, ensuring that breeding programs align with EU regulations, ethical principles, and sustainability goals. |
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Environmental sustainability Animal production involves emissions to the environment, such as greenhouse gas emissions and manure. As part of their breeding programmes, breeders may select animals capable of reducing the environmental footprint and improving the ecological efficiency of farm animal production. In addition, breeders are responsible for reducing the environmental impact of their organisation. |
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Genetic Diversity
Modern breeding programmes are designed to make optimal use of existing genetic variation, both between and within animal populations. Breeders carefully monitor and maintain the genetic diversity in their breeding populations, and work to avoid any inbreeding. In addition, genetic material may be stored in gene banks for relevant breeds and lines to help ensure conservation of biodiversity. Diverse breeding populations may also be maintained in-house to protect genetic resources for future demand. |
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Efficent Use of Resources Animal production involves the use of natural resources, such as water and feed. The input of natural resources for animal production is one of the main aspects causing environmental pressure. Efficient animals, animals requiring less natural resources, are more environmental friendly and at the same time more economically viable. Balancing efficiency criteria in breeding forms an integral part of sustainability. |
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Food Safety and Public Health
Modern breeding programmes are designed to make optimal use of existing genetic variation, both between and within animal populations. Food safety and public health are important aspects to secure safe and healthy food supply. Diseases can be transmitted both within animal populations and between animals and humans, as well as from one animal generation to another. Farm animal breeders work to improve animals' natural genetic resistance to disease, thereby reducing the need for veterinary medication and decreasing the risk of developing antimicrobial resistance. These risks are also taken into account in the development and implementation of breeding programmes; e.g., via specific pathogen free breeding programmes to deliver breeding stock to the production chain free of a number of important diseases. |
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Product Quality Product quality is a crucial issue for breeding organisations and consumers. The most appropriate animals in a population are selected for key traits to improve the product quality in the next generation in order to produce products with the desired quality. |
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