OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS OF THE
The indigenous dairy sheep breeds of the Pyrenees -Latxa, Manech and Basco-Bearnesa- have a high economic and social value, but their survival is threatened by the presence of other breeds with much more intensive production systems.
Through the ARDI project, a joint action is proposed, to advance towards the common management of the different genetic improvement programmes that exist in this Euroregion with the aim of increasing their competitiveness and reinforcing their settlement and exploitation.
The strategic objective of the ARDI project is to move towards the common management of the genetic improvement and selection programmes for the Latxa and Manech breeds of sheep.
To strengthen cross-border connections.
To develop innovative methodologies that allow cross-border genetic evaluation.
To develop methodologies and technologies to be able to work with functional traits that have an important impact on the competitiveness of the sector.
To develop structures that facilitate the common management of selection schemes.
The main objective of the ARDI project is to move towards the common management of genetic improvement and selection programmes for the Latxa and Manech breeds of sheep through:
1.1 Exchange of semen.
1.2 Organisation of fairs and exhibitions and visits to insemination centres for livestock breeders.
1.3 Visits and technical visits to insemination centres and research centres to familiarise with methodologies and models of genetic evaluation.
1.4 Standardisation of mammary morphology califications.
2.1 To introduce the genetic value of imported Manech males in Latxa evaluations.
2.2 Application of the Test-day for composition evaluations.
2.3 Evaluation of the genetic variability and inbreeding of the populations.
3.1 Preliminary analysis and description of the traits longevity, resistance to parasites and heat stress.
3.2 Problems of the implementation of genomic selection in small populations.
4.1 Collective definition of selection strategies and objectives.
4.2 Analysis of the applicable legislation.
4.3 Creation of the most suitable structure.
