Over the past few weeks, ALBC staffers have been busy finalizing the 2010 Conservation Priority List (CPL). This list is a critical part of our work and allows us to take a "snapshot" of a breed's population status at a given point in time. The updated listed will be published in the March/April 2010 ALBC News.
ALBC often fields questions about the Conservation Priority List. Many people wonder how the list is compiled, what we count, how breeds get on the list, and more. Below is a question and 
answer series that help explain the procedures behind the CPL.
answer series that help explain the procedures behind the CPL. How does ALBC determine a livestock breed’s status in the U.S.?
ALBC monitors most mammalian livestock populations through their respective breed associations. Each year, ALBC requests registration data from breed associations. These data are indicators of active breeding populations in a given year. For standardized breeds of American origin, this may determine the breed’s conservation category.
A few breeds do not have breed associations. These are mostly landraces. In these circumstances, ALBC works directly with breeders to understand their herds/flocks and estimate breeding populations. ALBC also tries to help breeders organize themselves to support conservation. Such organization often has as the valuable byproduct of easier access to population information.
Why does ALBC only count registered animals?
Registered animals are those with documented pedigrees. Assuming that registries are operated with integrity (an assumption we make), we know registered animals to be purebred. Generally, animals that are intended as breeding stock are registered and will contribute their genes to the next generation. Historically, unregistered animals had jobs other than breeding. Most breed associations for standardized breeds have no system for re-claiming presumed purebred animals that are not registered. Therefore, undocumented purebreds are both excluded and lost from the purebred population, as are any unique genes that individual animals might carry. This makes continuity of pedigree registration from generation to generation very important. While this approach results in an undercount to varying degrees, it does consistently count those animals most likely to contribute to the next purebred generation.
How does ALBC determine the status or conservation category for each poultry breed?
Poultry censusing is different than censusing for mammalian livestock. Poultry censusing requires a much more extensive approach to get a good picture. With poultry, ALBC contacts hatcheries, known major breeders, and ALBC members. ALBC also sends out surveys through the American Poultry Association, breed clubs, and the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities. ALBC advertises its poultry census in magazines and makes the survey available on the ALBC website for anyone and everyone. We try to reach as many people as possible. We also gather information from individuals.
When ALBC performs a poultry census, what is counted?
When ALBC collects poultry census information only breeding stock are counted. These are the birds that will contribute to the next generation. If an individual is keeping just one bird, or a few hens with no intention of breeding, these won't be included.
How does ALBC determine global population numbers for poultry?
ALBC's mission is genetic conservation so we monitor global populations. This information provides us with a context for international breeds. This is a softer number but is a valid indicator of global population.
Global populations are estimated using data gathered by international conservation organizations including Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Rare Breeds Canada, Rare Breeds Australia, the Food and Agriculture Domestic Animal Diversity database (FAO DAD-IS), and similar organizations. ALBC also mines US and international publications to glean information about global population numbers. Additionally, ALBC staff communicates with colleagues and conservationists around the world to further explore international population numbers.
Global data is much more difficult to obtain for poultry. ALBC draws on the FAO DAD-IS database and information from sister international conservation organizations. ALBC asks many questions of the global data: is the breed in the other countries the same breed as that found in the US? Is the data source reliable? Does the data make sense, based on what we know and we are able to learn from national and international colleagues? Answering each of these questions will lead us to a determination of endangered status.
How is US and global information used?
ALBC has developed parameters for inclusion of breeds on the Conservation Priority List. These parameters also guide our annual review of the breeds.
For livestock parameters, visit: http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/parameters-livestock.html
For poultry parameters, visit: http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/parameters-poultry.html
ALBC seeks to put breed populations into a national and global context therefore ALBC uses both U.S. and global numbers in the annual review of its conservation priority list and to determine a breed’s status.
ALBC monitors most mammalian livestock populations through their respective breed associations. Each year, ALBC requests registration data from breed associations. These data are indicators of active breeding populations in a given year. For standardized breeds of American origin, this may determine the breed’s conservation category.
A few breeds do not have breed associations. These are mostly landraces. In these circumstances, ALBC works directly with breeders to understand their herds/flocks and estimate breeding populations. ALBC also tries to help breeders organize themselves to support conservation. Such organization often has as the valuable byproduct of easier access to population information.
Why does ALBC only count registered animals?
Registered animals are those with documented pedigrees. Assuming that registries are operated with integrity (an assumption we make), we know registered animals to be purebred. Generally, animals that are intended as breeding stock are registered and will contribute their genes to the next generation. Historically, unregistered animals had jobs other than breeding. Most breed associations for standardized breeds have no system for re-claiming presumed purebred animals that are not registered. Therefore, undocumented purebreds are both excluded and lost from the purebred population, as are any unique genes that individual animals might carry. This makes continuity of pedigree registration from generation to generation very important. While this approach results in an undercount to varying degrees, it does consistently count those animals most likely to contribute to the next purebred generation.
How does ALBC determine the status or conservation category for each poultry breed?
Poultry censusing is different than censusing for mammalian livestock. Poultry censusing requires a much more extensive approach to get a good picture. With poultry, ALBC contacts hatcheries, known major breeders, and ALBC members. ALBC also sends out surveys through the American Poultry Association, breed clubs, and the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities. ALBC advertises its poultry census in magazines and makes the survey available on the ALBC website for anyone and everyone. We try to reach as many people as possible. We also gather information from individuals.
When ALBC performs a poultry census, what is counted?
When ALBC collects poultry census information only breeding stock are counted. These are the birds that will contribute to the next generation. If an individual is keeping just one bird, or a few hens with no intention of breeding, these won't be included.
How does ALBC determine global population numbers for poultry?
ALBC's mission is genetic conservation so we monitor global populations. This information provides us with a context for international breeds. This is a softer number but is a valid indicator of global population.
Global populations are estimated using data gathered by international conservation organizations including Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Rare Breeds Canada, Rare Breeds Australia, the Food and Agriculture Domestic Animal Diversity database (FAO DAD-IS), and similar organizations. ALBC also mines US and international publications to glean information about global population numbers. Additionally, ALBC staff communicates with colleagues and conservationists around the world to further explore international population numbers.
Global data is much more difficult to obtain for poultry. ALBC draws on the FAO DAD-IS database and information from sister international conservation organizations. ALBC asks many questions of the global data: is the breed in the other countries the same breed as that found in the US? Is the data source reliable? Does the data make sense, based on what we know and we are able to learn from national and international colleagues? Answering each of these questions will lead us to a determination of endangered status.
How is US and global information used?
ALBC has developed parameters for inclusion of breeds on the Conservation Priority List. These parameters also guide our annual review of the breeds.
For livestock parameters, visit: http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/parameters-livestock.html
For poultry parameters, visit: http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/parameters-poultry.html
ALBC seeks to put breed populations into a national and global context therefore ALBC uses both U.S. and global numbers in the annual review of its conservation priority list and to determine a breed’s status.
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