Friesian cattle, Chios sheep and Damascus goats have become dominant livestock breeds in Cyprus. Chios sheep were found to be superior to the indigenous Cyprus FatTailed and the imported Awassi with respect to precocity, fertility and prolificacy. Awassi performed very well with regard to milk yield and lamb viability. Crossbreds were more or less intermediate. Crosses of Chios with Cyprus Fat-Tailed have contributed substantially to the improvement of milk and meat production from sheep in the country.

Damascus goats are very good in litter size and milk yield; a specific strain of the indigenous goat also appears to be a valuable genotype.

The origin and breed characteristics of the native pig of Sri Lanka are reported. The breed suffers from many disadvantages including inter alia small litter size, heavy preweaning mortality and poor growth rate. Nevertheless, it will remain a valuable genetic resource and a source of meat, providing additional income to the household economies in the western coastal belt of Sri Lanka.

The Barroso cattle of Guatemala was developed on the Pacific coast of Guatemala as a dualpurpose breed suited to a tropical environment. Numbers are fast diminishing but one large herd remains where certain measurements were made to describe the breed.

In Hungary there is an official programme for maintaining domestic animal genetic resources which is supported financially by the government. The following breeds are involved: Hungarian Grey cattle; Water buffalo; Racka, Ciggja and Cikta sheep; Mangalica pig; Nonius, Mezohegyes Halfbred, Gidran, Kisbér Halfbred, Shagya Arab and Lipizza horses and some poultry and dog breeds.

The characteristics of the Ongole cattle of India are described, their distribution and numbers in India and other countries is given, and plans are outlined of the need to conserve and to improve the breed.

Resources available for animal genetic conservation should be used judiciously. Thus breeds qualifying for conservation should not only be numerically endangered but also possess genetic merit. In determining genetic merit, future changes in market requirements or production systems should be considered. There is an urgent need for an evaluation of the present commercial value of rare breeds in breeding programmes. Support for rare breed preservation in Great Britain is implemented through conservation programmes, evaluation studies and education at different levels.