A.T. Bogdan1, V. Git1, T. George’, S. Petrescu1,
D. Bogdan2, S. Lungu2 and H. Grosu2
1) University Professors, National Centre for Animal Reproduction
and Selection, Bucarest.
2) Professors Doctors. Agricultural University, Faculty of Zootechnology,
Agricultural University, Bucarest
The fundamental strategical objective in animal breeding and in the development of animal production in Romania for the next period, is the transition to the market economy and the preparation of the Romanian agriculture for its integration, in the very close future, in the European Economic Community.
The first animal breeding program in Romania was published in 1971, it was completed and developed over the years into a new concept which was published in 1987.
The elaboration of these two issues was took into account all the elements of a modem concept of improvement (performance testing, the pyramidal structure, progeny testing and matings etc.).
For 1996 we prepare the third issue of the National Animal Breeding Program which will complete and bring changes to previous issues, especially in the methodology of the breeding value estimation (by using BLUP methodology - Animal Model).
The National Animal Breeding Program is coordinated by CNRSA and it is implemented in the field by the national network for animal reproduction and selection comprising the National Centre for Animal Reproduction and Selection, district agencies for animal reproduction and selection and the S.C. SEMTEST SA. It operates with the assistance of scientific research and agricultural teaching specialists under the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and of Food and of the Academy of Science.
Through a steady improvement of activities of successive animal generation, the accrued genetic gain was materialized in many elite farms (seed stock) in the form of an average milk production over 5 000 or 7 000 kg according to the breeds, through a daily gain of 1.2 kg/day for beefs and of 600/700 kg in the case of pigs according or respective performance
As a result of the improvement activity of all species, new lines, breeds and hybrids with high productivity were homologated. The modem concepts of genetic resources management are applied.
Though the animal breeding programs in Romania is competitive, from the point of view of concepts and principles of genetic improvement, with the breeding programs of countries with developed animal husbandry, its stipulations were never fully implemented because of the lack of financial support to equip technically the national reproduction and selection network with modem means for handling semen, for applying biotechnology in artificial insemination, for official production control and for central computing of reproduction and selection records,
It is estimated that the actual genetic potential of animals is used today in Romania in a proportion of only 60 to 65 % because of some deficiencies in animal nutrition (insufficiency of protein in the diet, unbalanced diets. the lack of protein concentrates with high biological value and of vitamin mineral supplements all that results in nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders.
For a permanent increase of genetic potential (value) of all animal species and for speeding up the improvement process the following strategies are required:
- restructuration-reorganization of the reproduction and selection activities through Government of Romania and European Union Phare Project: "Technical assistance for privatization of animal reproduction and selection services";
- the extension of the official production control in order to create a large base for selection, from 360,000 cows (20 % of all) in 1995 to 900,000 in 2000 (50 % of all),accompanied by an increase of selection intensity;
- utilization and extension of modern reproduction biotechnology (artificial insemination, embryo transfer), in 1995 as regards cattle 1,235,000 inseminated cows (76 %), 380,000 sows (23 %), and 825,000 sheep (12 %). This influenced the pressure of selection through males;
- hastening the improvement process of the animal stock by importing breeding material (especially frozen semen and embryos with high genetic value) for utilization in selected matings in elite farms, in research stations and institute; for the multiplication and spread in the production stock with the help and under the control of the National Centre for Animal Reproduction and Selection, applying BLUP - Animal Model in breeding value estimation. The improvement process will imply also increasing the bull number engaged in own performance testing from 104 in 1995 to 750 in 2000;
- improving testing technologies through increasing the farms size in order to enable contemporary comparison of individual values;
- including in the improvement objectives the economic traits utilized in developed countries, (like milk protein percentage, meat carcass percentage, meat quality etc) and their control, at an European standard level;
- organizing and running animal breeder associations in Romania on specific species and breeds requires a long term strategy, which defines purposes. role and tasks like those associations in the West European countries;
We consider that Romania has favorable agricultural and ecological conditions to obtain constant and high level vegetal productions (in 1995 over 7 million tons of cereals were obtained of which 3 millions ton were exported), but the future strategy forecasts that the development of animal production will become prevalent in Romanian agriculture in order to use our vegetal production.
Finally, Romania has a valuable genetic potential as regards all species of animals which are under selection process, as a result of the implementation of the national breeding programs coordinated by CNRSA and applied in the elite farms, and of the infusion of biological material with high genetic value. in particular from West European countries. therefore, on the horizon of the year 2000 our country will not only be a producer for domestic market but a potential exporter of agricultural products.
