Research and development projects of relevance to farm animal genetic resources are available below.

Defra science and research projects

• FGG0808: The potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for sheep and cattle in the UK using genetic selection end 02/2010
• IF0180: Review of molecular characterisation studies relating to UK Farm Animal Genetic Resources. Start 03/2009 – End 09/2009.
• IF0182: Would livestock breeding goals change if carbon and nitrogen efficiency, rather than economic efficiency, were the priority objectives? Start 03/2009 – End 11/2009. 
• IF0183: Review of nutrient efficiency in different breeds of farm livestock. Start 03/2009 – End 11/2009. 
• IF0149: Determining strategies for delivering environmentally sustainable production in the UK ruminant industry through genetic improvement. Start 03/2009 – End 02/2010.
• AC0204: A study of the scope for the application of research in animal genomics and breeding to reduce nitrogen and methane emissions from livestock based food chains. Start 06/2007 – End 01/2008. 
• WC0717: Developing and indicator of Genetic Diversity in Selected Farm Breeds. Start 09/2008 and End 03/2009

Other useful reports

• The Sheep Trust: Geographical Isolation of Commercially Farmed Native Sheep Breeds in the UK – evidence of endemism as a risk factor to their genetic resources (PDF)