The livestock sector contributes to the livelihoods of an estimated 70 percent of the world's rural poor. The increasing demand for animal protein in low and middle income countries provides an opportunity for the poor to improve their livelihoods.

The mission of the Animal Genetic Resources - an international journal (previously entitled Animal Genetic Resources Information)  is the promotion of information on the better use of animal genetic resources of interest to food and agriculture production.

Genetic improvement is an essential component of the management of animal genetic resources and can make important contributions to food security and rural development. Yet, the majority of developing countries have not been successful in sustaining breed development programmes.

Many local livestock breeds and minor species are in decline and may be lost because they cannot compete with high-yielding exotic breeds. Conserving these breeds is important: many have unique traits, such as hardiness and disease resistance, that are vital for future livestock production.

Animal diseases that are known to spread primarily through human activities can be prevented and controlled through the application of biosecurity measures along the production and marketing chain, together with increased awareness and education.

These guidelines were prepared to support countries in the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, the first international agreed framework for the management of biodiversity in the livestock sector, adopted in 2007.

In 2005, some 1.4 billion people lived in absolute poverty and nearly 1 billion were affected by chronic mal- or undernutrition.

FAO Animal Production and Health Manuals

The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain has spread from domestic poultry to a large number of species of free-ranging wild birds, including non-migratory birds and migratory birds that can travel thousands of kilometres every year.

This book is the result of collaboration among epidemiological surveillance specialists at all the operational echelons of an epidemiological surveillance network: organisation, training, data management and evaluation. The coordinators of various networks contributed their valuable experience to this practical guide.

Conflicts between humans and wildlife have occurred since the dawn of humanity. In Africa, these conflicts have become more frequent and severe over recent decades as a result of human population growth, extension of transport routes and expansion of agricultural and industrial activities which together have led to increased human encroachment on previously wild and uninhabited areas.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) represents a threat to poultry industries worldwide and to people's livelihoods, and a potential threat to human health. The international community has a vested interest in minimizing the spread of this disease.

Le bien-être animal est de plus en plus reconnu comme un facteur important du succès du développement international.

El objetivo de este informe es realizar una evaluación del impacto global del sector pecuario sobre los problemas ambientales, así como de los posibles enfoques técnicos y normativos para mitigarlo. Esta evaluación se basa en los datos más recientes y completos a disposición y tiene en cuenta tanto los impactos directos como los derivados de los cultivos forrajeros necesarios para la producción ganadera.