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Randall cattle in the USA: rescuing a genetic resource from extinction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

D.P. Sponenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
C. Creech
Affiliation:
59 Ore Hill Road, South Kent, CT 06785, USA
W.J. Miller
Affiliation:
218 Parkridge Circle, Ames, IA 50014, USA
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Summary

Randall Cattle are a landrace from the northeast USA. The cattle are triple-purpose and well adapted to the cold northeast geographic region. The current population descends from 14 cattle that remained after the death of the original owner, though only 12 of these represented unique founders due to interrelationships among the 14. He had kept the cattle as an isolated strain for nearly 80 years. Blood-typing results point to a north Atlantic origin for the breed, which is consistent with the history. The policy and practice of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has been to carefully document landraces and to assure their conservation. Focused breeding strategies have succeeded in rescuing the original 13 animals and expanding the population to nearly 300 in 2006. The breed is gaining popularity as a hardy, adapted and useful genetic resource. Breeding management has decreased overall inbreeding while at the same time managing the contributions of the various founder animals.

Résumé

La race “Randall” est une race locale du Nord-Est des Etats-Unis. Il s'agit d'une race a triple propos et elle s'adapte bien à cette région froide. La population actuelle s'est formée à partir des 14 animaux découverts après la mort de leur propriétaire qui avait conservé son troupeau isolé pendant plus de 80 ans. Le type de sang révèle une origine de la race proche au bovins de la région Nord Atlantique, ce qui coïncide avec l'histoire de cette race. La “American Livestock Breeds Conservancy” a établi un document détaillé des races locales pour s'assurer qu'elles ne disparaissent pas. Grâce aux stratégies d'élevage du noyau initial on est arrivé à 300 têtes en 2006. La race est appréciée surtout en tant que race rustique, bien adaptée et utile. La gestion de la population a permis la diminution de la consanguinité tout en assurant l'apport de chacun des animaux d'origine. Cette race est en augmentation et son futur est assuré.

Resúmen

La raza “Randall” es una raza local del nordeste de los Estados Unidos. Se trata de una raza de triple-propósito, bien adapatada a este región fría. La población actual se fundó con 14 cabezas descubiertas después de la muerte del dueño original que había mantenido su ganado aislado durante unos 80 años. Los tipos de sangre colocan el origen de la raza en los bovinos de la región nordatlántica, lo que corresponde con la historia de la raza. La “American Livestock Breeds Conservancy” ha documentado las razas locales para asegurar que no se extingan. Las estrategias de cría han tenido éxito en el rescate de las 13 cabezas originales, y la cabaña ha aumentado hasta 300 cabezas en 2006. La raza es popular como raza rústica, bien adaptada, y útil. El manejo de la población ha disminuido la consanguinidad, pero asegurando la contribución de cada animal fundador. El número de animales de esta raza está ya creciendo y el futuro está asegurado.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2007

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References

List of References

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