DEVELOPING BIODIVERSITY INDICATORS FOR LIVESTOCK IN GREECE

摘要

Animal production policies in Greece do recognize the varying and often conflicting claims of rural development, tourism, industry and urbanization. Differences in climate, topography and soil lead to a great diversity in the agricultural potential ofthe different regions of the country. In most cases, the official recommendations as well as the governmental encouragement and efforts have tended so far, to introduce high yielding strains and breeds. As a consequence, the indigenous cattle breeds have either been completely replaced by high yielding, but very demanding, animal populations or they are in the process of being rapidly replaced through massive upgrading by imported types that respond better to improved feeding and management and intensive production conditions. On the better lands, intensive or semi-intensive ruminant (e.g. dairying and intensive fattening) and non-ruminant (poultry, pigs) production has been integrated with the other agricultural sectors, whereas on the poorer lands extensive suckling cows and small ruminant production, forestry and tourism developed complementary to answer the existing needs.