The canary islands breeds: Past, present and future (Razas autóctonas de las islas canarias: Pasado, presente y futuro)

Fresno M.

Description

Abstract
We describe the means developed by official and private institutions for the conservation of Canary Breeds. We evaluate the response to concrete actions comparing the evolution of their census with presented at the Warwick Conference (1989).
Resumen
Se describen la evolución de las Razas autóctonas canarias y las medidas que se han de tomar de cara al futuro, tanto por organismos oficiales como por entidades particulares, para evitar el peligro de desaparición de dichas razas.

Sujets

• Sheep
• Pig
• Goat
• Cattle
• Oveja
• Cerdo
• Cabra
• Vaca

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1992
• Nombre de lectures: 10
• Langue: English

Extrait

CANARY ISLANDS BREEDS
THE CANARY ISLANDS BREEDS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
RAZAS AUTOCTONAS DE LAS ISLAS CANARIAS: PASADO, PRESENTE Y FUTURO
Fresno, M. *, J.F. Capote *, M.E. Camacho **, N. Darmanin * and J.V. Delgado **.
* Unidad de Producción Animal Pastos y Forrajes. C.I.T.A. Apartado 60. La Laguna. 38080 Santa Cruz
de Tenerife. Spain.
** Departamento de Genética. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad de Córdoba. 14005 Córdoba. Spain
Additional Keywords Palabras clave adicionales
Sheep. Pig. Goat. Cattle. Oveja. Cerdo. Cabra. Vaca
SUMMARY
We describe the means developed by official microclimates, to which animal and
and private institutions for the conservation of vegetable species, have adapted deve-
Canary Breeds. We evaluate the response to loping diverse authochtonous breeds.
concrete actions comparing the evolution of Until the colonization towards the
ththeir census with presented at the Warwick end of the XV century, the archipie-
Conference (1989). lago was populated by people of dif-
ferent origins who exploited different
animals, goats, sheep, pigs and dogs.
RESUMEN Other breeds, including those which
formed the basis of the European
Se describen la evolución de las Razas agrarian economy, such as equine and
autóctonas canarias y las medidas que se han de bovine, were introduced later.
tomar de cara al futuro, tanto por organismos The America's discovery converted
oficiales como por entidades particulares, para the Islands into a stopping off point
evitar el peligro de desaparición de dichas razas. for all the transoceanic routes of that
time permitting contact with diverse
cultures and their autocthonous breeds.
INTRODUCTION The primitive autocthonous and
imported animals which received fo-
The Canary Archipielago (seven reign genetic inputs, developed into
islands and six islets) is situated in the the ethnically different modern breeds.
Northwest of Africa. There are no The majority of the canarian domestic
excessive climatic variations in tempe- animals are of virtually unknown
rature and trade winds bring sufficient origin, although three distinct models
humidity on those islands which are may be admited (Delgado et al , 1991):
sufficiently high. MODELS OF PREHISTORIC EX-
The pluviometry is variable, thus TRACTION. In this model we found
favouring the establishment of diverse animals which were developed from
Arch. Zootec. 41 (extra): 513-518. 1992. Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 513.FRESNO et al.
those existing on the islands before ornamental plants, etc.) which absor-
the conquest, probably proceeding bed the greater part of the labour.
from the African continent in th Lastly, the expansion of the tourist
company of the aborigine populations sector which has reconverted th
which were incorporated into th majority of the agrarian population to
blood of multiple foreign breeds after the service sector, entailing competiti-
colonization. Examples are the Majo- vity for the farming use of earth.
rero, Presa Canaria, and the Garafiano With regard to the actual situation,
Sheep dogs; the three types of Canarian some populations are stable or in ex-
Caprines, Ovines (Canarian and Pal- pansion, such as the case of goats
meran) and the Canarian Black Pig. belonging to the Canarian Caprine
MODELS WITHOUT PREHISTORIC Group, the Canarian Breed of Sheep,
EXTRACTION. These are breed the Spaniels, Presas, Majorero and
derived from those introduced after Garafiano dogs, and more recently as
the Conquest, which maintain a series to be in inminent danger of extinction,
of homologies as the Canarian Spaniel such as the Palmeran Sheep and Cow
and Canarian and Palmeran Cows. and the Black Canarian Pig.
UNDIFFERENCIATED MODELS. Cer- For the fact of the Canary Isles
tain animals introduced after th constituted the last port of the Old
conquest, were integrated into the World, it is significant that they were
Canarian agriculture and have not used as the only means of fresh food
significantly changed from its origi- for the long journeys for live animals.
nal type. Among them are hens, some It can be supposed that some of these
lepidoptera, equines and camelidae. animals disembarked at their destina-
Their situation has evolved in tion and have influenced the constitu-
parallel to the rest of autocthonous tion of the autochtonous American
breeds in other countries, and their breeds, as can be seen by morphological
effective have been reduced during observation of examples. As yet, nei-
the present century, principally due ther the influence of the canarian or
to the following causes: european breeds in the development
The movement of select breeds of the New World populations have
whose production was increased b been sufficiently studied, despite the
intensive farming methods. Alongside interesting nature of the question.
this phenomenum, mechanization has
displaced the traction animal.
The decapitalization of the agrarian AUTOCTHONOU S
sector which was maintained until the CANARIAN BREEDS.
fifties, with an enormous amount of
emigration to the cities and abroad, PALMERAN BOVINE BREED
making farming obsolete. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. This
The implantation during the second breed is located in the centre and
half of the century towards, highl north of the Isle of La Palma.
profitable vegetable cultivation for ACTUAL SITUATION. It can be obser-
exports (bananas, tomatoes, flowers ved in table I that the methods ap-
yeyeese
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 514.CANARY ISLANDS BREEDS
plied haven't been sufficient and the- ACTUAL SITUATION. The censu
re continues to be a gradual decrease reflected in table II is an overestimate
in the actual numbers of these animals from the actually registred animals.
comparing it with those of forties and The Cabildo of Tenerife, the Cana-
fifties. There is a movement from the rian Association of Arrastre and the
north to the centre of the Isle. Consejería de Agricultura have contri-
Until the present time, the conser- buted to maintain the breed.
vation of this breed had been contri- The succes of these methods is
buted by the Cabildo of La Palma fundamentally due to the enthusiasm
with the maintenance of a herd and which has been awoke in the recupe-
the Canary Departament of Agri- ration of these animals and the rescuing
culture with a reproduction program. of the practise of the autocthonous
PERSPECTIVE OF THE FUTURE. To send and traditional sports.
different sires to Reproduction Cen- PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE. In
tre of Badajoz (Junta de Extremadura). crease in the bank of semen with the
To increase the semen and em- incorporation of new sires.
bryonic banks. Introduction of the embryonic bank
To establish a reproductive program in the reproduction Centre in Badajoz
for this breed including the formation Reproducion programme with th
of artificial insemination techniciens. formation of techniciens.
The posibility of a differenciated
complementary premium for mainte-
nance of this breed is being discussed. Table II. Census of canarian bovines.
(Censo de bovinos canarios).
CANARIAN BOVINE BREED
1.982 1.989 1.991
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Th
TOTAL 4.050 5.700*principal collection is found in the
550Isle of Gran Canaria, with another
3.500nucleus, which is continually increa-
sing, in Tenerife, plus isolated exam- * Cabrera y Roig, 1992
ples in other islands.
BLACK CANARIAN PORCINE
Table I. Evolution of the census of the BREED
palmeran bovine. (Evolución del censo de GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. Th
bovinos palmeros). most stable nucleus is in the island of
La Palma, althoug there are small nu-1.982 1.989 1.991
clei in the rest of the islands, excepting
El Hierro. In the last few years anTOTAL 265 237 223
important nucleus has been created in43 32 30
Tenerife which is outstanding.147 140 135
< 12 months 75 65 58 ACTUAL SITUATION. The significant
increase show in table III is basicall
yesee
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 515.
hembras
machos
hembras
machosFRESNO et al.
due to the support of the Cabildos of this is insufficient.
Tenerife, La Gomera and Lanzarote PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE. Gua-
coworking with the Cabildo of La rantee the sale of the younstock.
Palma. The creation of these nuclei Differenciated aid to manteinance
augurs a better future for this breed. the population.
One of the principal dangers which Plan of conservation and reproduc-
faces this breed is that of the apperance tion supported by the Departament of
of cross-breeds. Animal Production (Consejería d
PERSPECTIVE FOR THE FUTURE. Agricultura).
Support of the breed in the different Support of the creation of
isles of the Archipielago. protective society.
Program reproduction to reduce
consanguinity.
Study of aids to maintain animals.
Evolution of its products; meats, Table IV. Distribution of the Palmeran
cured meats, etc., on a small scale as Ovine. (Distribución de la Oveja Palmera)
luxury articles.
1.982 1.989 1.991
TOTAL 40 51 51Table III. Distribution of the black
canarian pig. (Distribución del cerdo negro
37 55 47canario)
1.982 1.989 1.991
TOTAL 36 37 82
OVINE CANARIAN B