Over the centuries since mankind first started farming, genetic variation has allowed the selection of the improved crops and livestock that have fed an ever increasing population. Maintaining genetic variation is crucial if we want to continue to improve our livestock and respond to changes in climate, disease or consumer preferences. The following article by Sarah Blott, John Williams and Chris Haley describes work at the Roslin Institute on the evaluation of genetic diversity in European cattle breeds.
Click here to download the article Genetic Diversity among European Cattle Breeds.
This table contains the key to the mapping within the article:
Key | |||||||
Abbrev | Breed | Abbrev | Breed | Abbrev | Breed | Abbrev | Breed |
AA | Aberdeen Angas | GA | Galloway | LM | Limousin | SA | Salers |
AY | Ayshire | GB | Gelbvieh | LO | Longhorn | SD | South Devon |
BB | Belgian Blue | GL | Gloucester | LR | Lincoln Red | SH | Shorthorn |
BA | Blonde d’Aquitane | GU | Guernsey | PH | Poll Hereford | SM | Simmental |
BG | Belted Galloway | HF | Hereford | MA | Maine-Anjou | SX | Sussex |
BS | Brown Swiss | HL | Highland | MC | Marchigiana | WB | Welsh Black |
BW | British White | HO | Holstein-Fresian | MR | Meuse-Rhein-Yssel | WP | White Park |
CH | Charolais | IC | Icelandic | MU | Murray Grey | ||
CI | Chianina | JS | Jersey | PM | Piemontese | ||
DX | Dexter | KY | Kerry | RM | Romagnola |