Conservation of creole cattle in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Abstract

The situation of bovine breeding in the department of Santa Cruz and Bolivia during the last 25 years can be described as positive and encouraging. This improvement was due to the development of technical capabilities by private and public actors. The techniques of genetic improvement until 2005 were based on so-called quantitative genetics. As of the year 2005, the systems of improvement in the department begin to use the genomics (DNA) thanks to the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences implemented a modern molecular laboratory with the purpose of improving the veterinary diagnosis in the country. The implementation of this laboratory coincides with the consolidation in the Faculty of the herd of conservation of Creole cattle. The conservation of Creole cattle began with the implementation of the Yacumeño Criollo Cattle Conservation Center. In the Center works were developed to determine the genetic variability of the conserved herd and later more herds of Creole cattle were incorporated into the study. The next step was to develop molecular techniques for the study of characteristics that value Creole cattle, one of which is the determination of meat tenderness. All the experience gained in this period was directed to cover the other populations of Creole cattle in the department of Santa Cruz, such as the creole cattle of the Santa Cruz (semiarid region), the plains area and, finally, the inter-Andean valleys. The studies showed that there is still high genetic variability and the Creole is worthy of conservation. However, genetic erosion due to the introduction of foreign breeds that are decreasing the population of Creole cattle. It is important to develop government policies to protect this valuable zoogenetic resource.