Local chicken breeds are an important reservoir of genetic resources. They are highly
adapted to the natural environment and are also an integral part of the rural
population's way of life. Selective breeding by humans has led to the creation of many
chicken breeds characterized by high productivity, which has led to the displacement
of local breeds. Genetic resources are the building blocks for the development of
poultry. Therefore, the registration and conservation of local chicken breeds is of
great importance. There are two approaches to the conservation of local chicken
breeds: In-situ and ex-situ conservation. In situ conservation involves keeping live
chicken populations in their adaptive environment, while the ex situ conservation
approach involves methods such as cryopreservation and keeping live chickens in
specific locations. Conservation of local chicken breeds is part of the activities in
many countries. It includes various activities: Improvement of knowledge on
biological functions, conservation of typical morphological traits, development of
selection strategies, control of inbreeding and valorization of strategies for
dissemination of breeds in local production systems. The effectiveness of
conservation programs depends on the possibility of cooperation between the actors
involved in the conservation of local breeds (e.g. governments, research institutions,
breeders' associations, farmers, hobby breeders). It is known that the conservation of
local breeds is associated with high costs and that farmers must be supported with
subsidies for the rearing of chickens of rare breeds.
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