Contemporary Condition and Prospects

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Animal Genetic Resources of Azerbaijan

• Contemporary Condition and Prospects
  
• Ayaz Mammadov
• Member of National Committee of Azerbaijan Animal
  Genetic Resources,
• Web Editor of Azerbaijan AgroWeb
• E-mail zodlu_77_at_yahoo.com
• Tel [phone]
• 994 12 449 91 29
• Fax [phone]
  28 January 2005
• Tbilisi/ Georgia

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• Since the ancient period the population of the
  Country is busy with live-stock-raising. There is
  a favorable condition for live-stock-raising
  development in all of the belts of
  climatic-natural zones. Azerbaijan mainly
  consists of flat country, foot-hill and highland
  regions.
• Taking into account the natural-climatic and
  economical conditions of each region separate
  live-stock species are breaded, which is more
  rapidly adopted to this condition, gives a high
  capacity of outcome of crops, survives several
  diseases and which has stable heritage
  indications.

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THE NATIONAL PROGRAM ON ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES

• The main goals
• Collection, restoration, reproduction, studying,
  rational use, the documentation and preservation
  of Animal Genetic Resources.
• Stable Maintenance of country with the provisions
• Steady development of AnGR

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Review of Azerbaijan Animal Genetic Resources

• It was investigated on all live-stock species and
  defined that there are 10 cattle breed (8 of them
  are local breeds), 2 buffalo breeds (1 of them is
  local), 15 sheep breeds (12 of them are local
  breeds), 3 goat breeds (2 of them is local),
  about 20 hen breeds (5 of them are local), 5
  geese breeds (1 local breed), 7 duck (1 local
  breed), 6 horse (4 of them local), 2 camel (1 of
  them is local), 6 bee (of them 4 local) and 80
  silk-worm (of them 50 local) in Azerbaijan. And
  their main dissemination area were defined.
• It was established the Genefund on the Azerbaijan
  buffalo breeds at Dashuz farm of Sheki district
  and Yaver farm of Neftchala district.
• Also it was created Genefund on the Garabagh and
  Garadolag sheep breeds at the Garabagh SRS
  (Scientific Research Source).
• There were established the genefund on the local
  poultry breeds at the Genetic Resources
  Institute.
• It was published Catalogue of Animal Genetic
  Resources

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Catalogue Local animal species of Azerbaijan
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Genetic Resources Institute

• On the purpose of collection, presentation,
  development, inventory, food security and
  selection of the genetic resources, strengthening
  of sustainable utilization activities on the
  purpose of completely carrying out the National
  Inventory a new Genetic Resources Institute has
  been established under the Azerbaijan National
  Academy of Sciences on the base of the Resolution
  ?12 of January 30 2003 of the Cabinet of
  Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic.
• According to the National Programme the GRI was
  entrusted to conduct these activities as well
  co-ordination relevant institutions activities
  in the Republic on the field of collection,
  investigation use of the genetic resources,
  including livestock and silkworm.
• A Data Base of the Animal Genetic Resources of
  Azerbaijan has been created and developed.

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MANAGEMENT OF GENETIC RESOURCES OF THE
BIODIVERSITY
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Data on a condition of animal industries.
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PRIORITY DIRECTIONS OF AnGR ACTIONS

• Gathering of valuable breed, restoration,
  preservation and steady use
• Inventory of a National Genefond of a
  biodiversity and identification
• Certification of a biodiversity and creation of
  an information databank
• Strengthening of cooperation with the
  international organizations
• Creation of the centralized condition of storage
  (Gene Bank) of the National Genefond
• Preparation of regional project on AnGR,
  including Brown-Caucasian cattle breed.

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• Preparation of the highly skilled staff, increase
  of their qualification
• Maintenance the executors of the Program with
  computer techniques and the equipment
• Search of donors, additional sources of financing
  of the Program
• Preparation of National Strategy, Politics and
  the Program of preservation and steady use of a
  animal biodiversity
• Preparation of regional projects on An GR

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Problems

• Currently, concerning to live-stock genetic
  resources conservation and utilization the
  following actual tasks are considered purposeful
• Having registered of animals in all farm
  categories
• Arrangement of all animal breeds identification

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• Republic Electronically Center Establishment on
  data acquisition and interpretation concerning
  to live-stock
• Semen Genebank establishment of major animal
  breeds used in the Republic.
• Reserving of existing farms breeding various
  breeds in purity and establishment of new ones.
• Research on useful conservation technologies

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Documentation AnGR

• There are the data in catalogues, field
  magazines, reports and references about the
  investigated genetic resources of animals
• National Inventory is conducting for
  documentation the AnGR according to the world
  standards
• The National Information Network for inventory is
  established

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The local animal breeds of Azerbaijan and its
characterizations
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Red Gazakh
Brown Caucasian
It is milk-meat cattle breed. It is received as a
result of crossing of local Caucasian cattle with
Swedish manufactured breed. It is authorized in
1960. During crossing the blood of Azerbaijan
zebu is also used. The body structure and
productivity quality have improved and its
ability to adaptation to the local conditions is
kept. It is brown. The live weight of cows is
400-450 kg, it gives approximately 2000-2500 kg
milk a year the fatness of which is 3,8-3,9 .
Net meat weight is about 50-55 percent. At
present the breeding of this strain is being
carried out in the direction of further
improvement of the exteriors and increase of
productivity qualities.
It is a product of national selection. It is in
golden red color, sometimes in dark- red. The
Gazakh cattle is characterized with having strong
constitution, proportional body structure. It is
resistant to diseases, heavy climatic conditions.
Milk productivity of cows during lactation
period makes up 1900-2000 kg, milk fatness is
4,2-4,6 percent on average. The average live
weight of cows is 380-400 kg, and the live weight
of bulls is 450-500 kg. Net meat weight of
young cattle exceeds 50 percent. The red Gazakh
cattle are kept in small amount in farms of the
people of Agstafa, Gazakh, Tovuz and Gedebey
regions.
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Azerbaijan buffalo
Azerbaijan zebu
As a result of breeding-selection work carried
out for a long time and the creation of favorable
conditions of feeding, both the productivity and
exterior indicators of the Azerbaijan breed of
buffalo have improved considerably. Azerbaijan
breed of buffalo was authorized in 1970. Average
milk productivity of mother buffalo during
lactation period is between 1300-1500 kg, the
fatness of which makes up 8-12 percent. The
average live weight of mother buffaloes is
400-500 kg and buffaloes around 800-1000 kg. The
Azerbaijan breed of buffaloes are reared in clean
conditions and is distributed in all the zones of
the republic
Azerbaijan zebu is one of the rare kinds of fauna
of the republic. It is black and dark-brown
colors with a clear hump on a back. Azerbaijan
zebu and its hybrids are resistant to the local
conditions and diseases. It is improving and
strengthening a number of biological features in
accordance with the local conditions. Along with
being early fast-ripening, the average weight of
Azerbaijan zebu is 300-310 kg , net meat output
is about 58,8-60 percent . On average it gives
more than 500 kg of milk a year. Fatness of its
milk is 5-6 percent. Azerbaijan zebu are reared
in Lenkoran-Astara zones of the republic
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Balbas
Azerbaijan mountainous merino
Balbas sheep are a product of national
selection. Wool of these sheep is semi rough, and
they are reared in Nakhichevan Autonomous
Republic. The constitution of Balbas sheep is
dry and strong, they are high, fat-tailed and
have long tail which consists of two parts.
Head, neck and legs are without wool. They are
white, but there are black spots at the tips of
their eyes, noses, ears and on knees which they
inherited. The wool has shining-white colors of
the same type and is irreplaceable raw material
for the carpet industry. On average 1,8-2,0 kg
wool is sheared from one ewe and 2,5-3,5 kg from
one ram. The live weight of a ewe reaches 70-80
kg and the live weight of a ram 85-90 kg. Milk
productivity is 125-135 kg a year and the fatness
of milk reaches 5,4-7 percent. Balbas sheep also
possess high fertility. Every 100 sheep give
birth to 125 lambs a year.
Azerbaijan mountainous merino sheep was
established as a result of long-term
breeding-selection work by crossing the Gedebey
merino sheep with fat-tailed bozakh sheep and
Askaniy merino sheep. The authors of this breed
of sheep are academician F.A.Melikov, senior
lecturer M.N.Sadigov and other scientists.
Azerbaijan mountainous merino sheep breed was
authorized in 1947. In comparison with local
merino sheep Azerbaijan mountainous merino sheep
is bigger. The head is covered with more wool.
The live weight of ewe is 40-50 kg, rams 75-90
kg. On average 7-10 kg wool is sheared from one
ram and 4-6,5 kg from one ewe. Azerbaijan
mountainous merino sheep is widely distributed in
Ganja-Gazakh zone.
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Bozakh
Mazekh
Bozakh sheep are basically raised in the western
areas of Azerbaijan (Gazakh, Agstafa, Tovuz,
Shamkir, Gedebey, Khanlar, etc zones.). It is a
product of national selection and was established
by crossing Garabakh and Tush sheep. The
constitution of them is dry, strong. They have
long ears are fat-tailed. The color of their wool
is grey and sometimes tinged with violet. The
live weight of ewe is 45-50 kg and of rams 55-65
kg. 1,8-2,5 kg wool is sheared from one ewe and 3
kg from one ram. The length of wool reaches 8-15
cm. Milk productivity makes up 25-30 kg, the
rate of giving birth to twins is 10-25 percent.
It is a product of national selection. This
breed is similar with balbas breed of sheep in
appearance. They are fat-tailed and the tail is
consisted of two parts. Sheep of this breed are
without horns but rams are horned. There is no
wool on their head, neck and abdomen. Up to 10
percent is white color and small number are
black. The live weight of ewe is 45-57 kg, and
rams 67-78 kg. Mazekh sheep are sheared once a
year. The wool of Mazekh sheep is rough, 1,4 kg
wool is sheared from one ewe and 1,7 kg from one
ram a year. Milk productivity is 75-90 kg a year.
Mazekh sheep are crossed with Balbas rams in
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. They are also
reared in the boundary zones of Azerbaijan with
Georgia.
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Garabakh breed
It is a product of national selection. Garabakh
breed of sheep are fat-tailed, the tail is in
triangular form, and are crop-eared. There is no
wool on head, limbs, abdomen and the bottom part
of neck. The wool of sheep are multi-colored.
Ewes are hornless, rams are horned. The live
weight of ewes is 47-51 kg, and rams 61-74 kg.
Wool is rough, mixed. On average 2,3 kg wool is
sheared from one ewe and 3,2 kg from one ram.
Milk productivity is 35-40 kg, fatness of milk
is 7,6 percent. Every 100 ewes give birth to
100-115 lambs a year. This breed of sheep is
spread in many regions of the republic and are
reared in Garabagh, Central Steppe and
Mugan-Salyan zones of Azerbaijan. They are raised
under the summer and winter pastures conditions
of Azerbaijan.
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Herik
Gala
It is a product of national selection. Gala sheep
are widely spread in the Absheron peninsula. They
are meat wool-milking sheep, are pertaining to
fat-tailed type of genetic group of sheep. Head
is large, ears are long, limbs are high. The live
weight of rams is 56-100 kg, ewes 48-76 kg. The
tail of Gala sheep is hanging down and consists
of two parts. The weight of fat-tail makes
6,3-10 kg. 3,4-4,5 kg wool is sheared from one
ram a year and 2,8 kg from one ewe. They give
about 61 kg of milk a year. Every 100 ewes give
birth to 102-110 lambs a year. Gala sheep are
kept in winter pastures the whole year round.
Herik sheep are established by national
selection. Herik sheep have rough wool and are
reared in Shaky-Zagatala zone of the country.
They were crossed with Tush ram in order to
increase the wool productivity and live weight of
lezgy sheep. The received hybrids then were
raised and called as Herik breed. Herik differs
from Lezghin sheep hybrids a little. Hybrids
established as a result of crossing Tush and
bozakh breeds in Ganja-Gazakh zone are also
called Herik.
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Lezgi breed
Shirvan breed
Shirvan sheep are created as a result of national
selection. Exterior and productivity qualities of
them are close to Garabakh breed of sheep,
however they look like a little to lezgi sheep
breed in terms of the tail form and quality of
wool. Up to 8 percent of sheep is white and the
rest are colored. About 18 percent of wool is
fine-fleeced and reminds wool of lezgi sheep. On
the average 1,6-2,2 kg wool are sheared from one
ewe and 2,8 kg from one ram. The live weight of
ewes makes up about 40 kg, and rams 48-50 kg.
Shirvan sheep are raised in Shirvan, ?ugan zones
and on the Absheron peninsula.
Lezgi sheep is a product of national selection.
Lezgi sheep are small (short), they have lower
limbs. Their constitution is strong, trunk is
short, however the breast is well developed. They
are fat-tailed. The body is white but the limbs
and head are brown and black color. The live
weight of ewe is 30-37 kg, of rams 45-50 kg. On
average 1,4 kg wool is sheared froma ewe, and
2-3 kg from a ram. They are raised in the
northern zones such as Zagatala, Gazakh, Sheky,
Yevlakh, Goychay, Agdash and Gabala regions of
Azerbaijan.
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Jaro sheep
Sheep Godak
It is created by national selection. They are not
big, extremities are short, strong, fat-tailed,
the back part is in closed form, the constitution
is dry and strong. They are resistant to heavy
conditions, capable to long driving, and are well
adapted to the local conditions. Up to 80 percent
of sheep are white, while head and limbs are grey
and black. The live weight of ewes is 30-37 kg,
and rams 40-42 kg. On average 1,4 kg wool is
sheared from a ram a year and 2-3 kg from a
sheep. Milk productivity is 30 kg. They are
reared in the northern areas of Sheki-Zagatala
and Guba-Khachmaz zones.
Jaro sheep is a product of national selection.
It is received as a result of crossing of
Garabagh, Shirvan and Shahsevan breeds of sheep.
Its wool is rough, and 1,8-2,4 kg of wool is
sheared from one ewe a year, 2,5-3 kg from one
ram. The live weight of ewes is 35-40 kg, and
rams 45-50 kg. They are resistant to high
temperature and humidity of the local conditions.
Horns of rams are twirled. The tail is in the
compact form. Fatness of milk is 6,5-7 percent.
Every 100 ewes give birth to 105-110 lambs a
year. They are reared in Lenkoran, Astara, Lerik,
Yardimly regions of Azerbaijan.
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Garadolag
Goat
In order to improve local breeds of goats Angora
breeds of goats from Turkey beginning 1936 and
they were placed in Ganja-Gazakh and Upper
Garabagh zones of Azerbaijan. The local goat
breed is distributed in all the zones of
Azerbaijan. The ex-terrier of the local goats are
the following head is light, the direction of
horns is upwards, withers are narrow and with
proud carriage. They are well adapted to
difficult conditions of the maintenance. They are
milked 5-6 months, milk productivity is 150 kg
with the fatness of 3,8-4,6 percent. The live
weight of goats is 35-40 kg, net meat weight
from one goat reaches 48-50 percent. Goats are
pastured in summer and winter pastures together
with sheep.
Garadolag sheep are one of the strains of
Karabakh breed of sheep. It is created as a
result of national selection in the 30th of XX
century with the participation of an owner, Haji
Mamadhuseyn Rahimov . Garadolag sheep are
considered to be more productive in comparison
with the Garabakh sheep breed. The live weight of
rams reaches to 72-78 kg and ewes to 55-60 kg.
2,5-3 kg wool is sheared from rams a year and
2-2,5 kg from ewes.. 100 mother sheep
approximately give birth to 110-115 lambs a year.
The wool is rough and semi-rough. This breed is
particularly spread in Agjabedi, Imishly, Barda
and Beylagan regions
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The Garabakh breed
It is the most ancient mountain - riding breed of
Azerbaijan. The Garabakh horse breed alongside
with having fine exterior qualities, it possesses
a proportional constitution, and it is resistant
to herd conditions. Their color is brightly
golden and red. It rendered significant influence
on the improvement of breeds of horses in
Trans-Caucasian, Northern Caucasus, and also the
Don breeds of horses. Main characteristic
exterior features of the Garabakh breed of horses
is the following a dry head, very shapely,
medium high withers, crupper and back are
straight, a wide breast, limbs are dry,
temperament, the constitution is strong. The
height of withers makes 148,5 cm, girth of breast
165,8 cm, a girth of metacarpus18,3 cm.
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Dilbaz breed
The Dilbaz horse is created at the end of XVIII
and the beginning of XIX centuries as a result of
crossing local horses with east breeds. With the
Garabakh breed of horses as well. Alongside with
being used for riding, carrying loads and for
carting, Dilbaz horse is very resistant to herd
conditions. The colour of Dilbaz horses is grey
and bay. The constitution is dry and strong, a
head is attractive also dry, has burning eyes,
very shapely, medium high withers, crupper and
back are straight, a wide breast, limbs are dry
and strong. They overcome 1600 m distance for 2
minutes and 20 seconds. Dilbaz horse can carry
load of 130-140 kg to the distance of 50-60 km
every day.
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Guba horse
The Guba horse is distributed in the Guba -
Khachmaz, Absheron and Shamakhi zones beginning
from the end of XIX century. These horses are
well adapted to the local environment, poorly
exacting to care. Despite their small height they
are used for riding, carrying loads and for
carting. It is basically in bay color. The
constitution is dry and strong, is well adapted
to herd conditions. They overcome 1600 m distance
for 3 minutes and 25,4 seconds. At present the
Guba horse is being improved under the influence
of Garabakh and Dilbaz breeds of horses.
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Shirvan horse
These horses are distributed in the Kur - Araz
lowlands, are the remainder of Dilbaz and the
Karabakh breeds of horses. In comparison with
mountain horses, Shirvan horses are sizable, used
fro carting. The color is basically bay, dark bay
and red. The constitution is dry and strong.
Average height of withers is 140 cm, slanting
length of trunk is 142 cm, a grasp of a breast is
165 cm, and a grasp of metacarpus is 18 cm. The
distance of 1600 m they overcome for 3 minutes
and 18 seconds. Shirvan horses are well adapted
to herd conditions, run well. These horses are
especially distribued in Aghdash, Goychay,
Kurdamir, Ujar areas of the Shirvan zone.
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Camel
Camel-breeding is one of the most ancient
branches of the country. In Azerbaijan
one-humped (dromedary) and two-humped breeds of
camels are widely spread. The alive weight of
camels 4 years old reaches to 900 kg. Their
productivity during lactation period makes up
1600-1700 kg of milk. Fatness of milk is 5-5,5
percent. The camel wool is more expensive than
thin wool of sheep. 8-10 kg of wool is got from
1 camel on the average. Camel-breeding is
developed in ?bsheron, Beylagan, Barda,
Bilasuvar regions of Azerbaijan
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Local breed of geese
Local breed of duck
In Azerbaijan geese are reared for meat
production. Depending on natural climatic
conditions of the republic, local geese of
various breeds are reared in the republic. Local
breeds of geese are light grey. They produce
15-20 eggs a year on average. Having adapted to
the local conditions, most of the time they are
pastured and are less exacting to the
concentrated forages. The average live weight of
male geese makes 4-6 kg, female geese 3,5-4 kg.
Along with being high fertility they are good in
being fatten in pastures. Local breed of geese is
widely distributed in all the zones of Azerbaijan.
They are raised for meat production and reared in
all the zones of Azerbaijan. At the age of 5-6
months local ducks start to bear eggs. They
produce 90-100 eggs a year on average. The weight
of eggs makes 60-70 grams. Local ducks have the
qualities such as being early maturing and high
fattening ability. Their live weight at the age
of 2 months reaches to 1,8-2,0 kg on average. The
live weight of well-matured male ducks make
2,5-3 kg and female ducks 2-2,5 kg. They are
resistant to the local conditions and use
pasture forages highly.
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Azerbaijan breed of hens In Azerbaijan hens are
reared for egg and meat production.They are well
adapted to the local conditions. On average every
hen produces 120-150 eggs a year. The average
weight of egg makes 50-60 grams. The percentage
of chicken coming from eggs is high. At the age
of 4-6 months hens start to bear eggs. The live
weight of cocks of 2,5-3 kg, hens 1,8-2,5 kg.
Exterior and productivity indicators are
different depending on the rearing conditions.
Because of being resistant to diseases they are
widely raised in individual farms. Hens of the
Azerbaijan breed are raised in all the zones of
Azerbaijan.
Local breed of turkeys They are spread in all
the zones of Azerbaijan. On average they produce
50-60 eggs a year. They use well from green
pasture forages and are adapted to the local
conditions. Meat of turkey differs with its high
flavoring quality. The live weight of local
turkey(cock) reaches to 6-8 kg, turkey(hen) to
4-5 kg. Local breed of turkeys differs from other
breeds with being early maturing and having high
fatten ability.
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• T H A N K S F O R
• A T T E N T I O N