GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SHEEP AND GOAT BREEDS IN SLOVENIA

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1 Sov Vet Res 2013; 50 (4): UDC :574.9(497.12) Origina Scientific Artice GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SHEEP AND GOAT BREEDS IN SLOVENIA Metka Žan Lotrič*, Gregor Gorjanc, Drago Kompan Department of Anima Science, Biotechnica Facuty, University of Ljubjana, Grobje 3, 1230 Domžae, Sovenia *Corresponding author: E-mai: Summary: Geographica distribution of sma ruminant breeds kept in Sovenia and incuded into the Nationa seection program was studied. Anayses of the popuation size and its structure were made together with the geographica distribution (geographica coordinates of focks ocations upon Gauss-Krueger coordinate system; the vaues of x and y). For individua focks the radia distance from the geographic centre of gravity was cacuated, and a distribution graph was made where cumuative distribution of animas depending on their distance from the geographic centre of gravity is presented. The cacuated geographica centre for the autochthonous breeds is in the area of their origin, whie traditiona and foreign breeds gravitate towards the centra part of Sovenia. It is characteristic of autochthonous breeds that the majority of their popuation is ocated within a sma radius, compared to foreign and traditiona breeds. So, the autochthonous breeds are mosty concentrated just to a smaer geographica area. Three Sovenian autochthonous breeds of sheep (Bea Krajina Pramenka, Istrian Pramenka and Bovec sheep) have 90 % of their popuation within a distance of ess than 25 km, whie the Sovenian autochthonous breed of Drežnica goat has 90 % of the tota popuation within a radius of ess than 30 km. Traditiona and foreign breeds are not confined to ony one region or area. Due to the occurrence of natura disasters or sudden outbreak of diseases the scarce Sovenian autochthonous sheep and goat breeds are considered as most endangered popuation. Key words: sheep; goats; breeds; geographica distribution; endangered breeds; endemic area Introduction In the report entited The State of the Word s Anima Genetic Resources for Food and Agricuture prepared by the Internationa Organisation of the United Nations for Food and Agricuture [1] an urgent need is stressed to improve the overview of each anima breed popuation (size, endangerment, etc.). However, other important factors such as geographica concentration shoud aso be taken into account Received: 13 February 2013 Accepted for pubication: 22 Juy 2013 [2]. This invoves the study of the distribution of individua species, breeds and focks of farm animas which is particuary important for the "in situ" conservation in an environment where the farm anima genetic resources originate from and where they deveoped their distinctive traits [3]. An assessment of the risk status of ivestock breeds or popuations is an important eement in the panning of anima genetic resources management. The risk status of each breed informs stakehoders whether, and how urgenty, actions need to be taken [1]. Gandini et a. [4] define degree of endangerment as a measure of the ikeihood that, under current circumstances and expectations, the breed wi

2 184 become extinct. Accuratey estimating degrees of risk is a difficut undertaking and incorporates both demographic and genetic factors. Ceary, current popuation size is important factor in determining risk status. A sma popuation concentrated in one area is at greater risk of being wiped out by natura disasters, disease, or inappropriate management [1]. An essentia aspect of risk is the geographica distribution of focks because potentia threat for farm anima genetic resources is positivey associated with high geographica concentration. Carson et a. [5] stresses that in determining the eve of risk status of certain breed besides the number of popuation, the number of focks within particuar breed etc., specia attention shoud be given aso to other factors such as geographica concentration of an individua breed. The exampe of a arge impact of the geographica concentration of animas on one area was ceary visibe in the UK during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 [5]. Sma numerous autochthonous breeds are often kept in a we-defined (origina) geographica area where they were seected to be maximay adapted to the oca conditions. However, some breeds can be present in very sma areas, whie other breeds are more dispersed. The species, which is tied to a specific geographica area, can be considered as endemic [6]. Breed diversity in sma ruminants in Sovenia is reativey arge. Sovenian autochthonous (Jezersko-Sočava sheep, Bovec sheep, Istrian Pramenka, Bea Krajina Pramenka, Drežnica goat) and traditiona (Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep, Sovenian Saanen goat and Sovenian Apine goat) breeds of sheep and goats and the foreign Boer goat are incuded into the Nationa seection program according to the breeding program of each individua breed. The goa of the breeding program are seected purebred femaes and maes that are suited to meet the individua needs and requirements of the sheep and goat breeders. This goa aso heps in the recovery of endangered species by preserving the existing gene poo and prevents inbreeding especiay in endangered breeds. The aim of this work was to evauate the potentia threat for the spread of infection in purebred focks due to geographica distribution in case the infection woud arise in the vicinity. Based on these resuts the conservation poicy coud be modified or improved by considering the geographica component. The risk of osing an endangered breed due to infectious diseases coud therefore be reduced. Materia and methods Popuation data of sheep and goat breeds in Sovenia for 2011 were obtained from the database of Nationa seection program for sma ruminants. The database incudes seection aspects for each individua anima (e.g. identification number, birth date, pedigree information and production recording) and is being updated daiy. The proportion of sheep and goat breeds covered by the database of Nationa seection program differs among breeds. For traditiona and foreign breeds the number of animas incuded in the database is ess than haf of the whoe popuation kept in Sovenia, whie the percentage of animas by autochthonous breeds incuded in the database is as foows: Bovec sheep = 76.4 %; Istrian Pramenka = %; Bea Krajina Pramenka = %; Drežnica Goat = % and Jezersko-Sočava sheep the ony non-endangered autochthonous breed = %. A purebred maes of individua breeds are used as breeding maes. We anaysed the popuation size and structure together with the geographica distribution (geographica coordinates of focks according to the Gauss-Krueger coordinate system, vaues x and y). Gauss-Krueger coordinates system is commony used in the Repubic of Sovenia ( where meter is used as a unit for x and y. A potentia danger of endemic diseases for a particuar breed is best show on the geographica map, where it is ceary seen how individua breed focks are dispersed or concentrated in a particuar geographic area. Data processing and presentation of the resuts was performed with the software package R [7]. By using coordinates (pairs of vaues x and y) we indicated the ocations as we as fock size on the map of the Repubic of Sovenia. Fock size is represented by a point size [8]. Due to the proximity of certain focks we sketched a partiay transparent point. In the case of mutipe overapping of nearby points it is potted as a darker coour. Like Carson et a. [5] we cacuated the geographica centre of gravity for fock ocations and marked it on the map. The centre of gravity was cacuated as the weighted median of coordinate vaues: X T = median (x, w) and Y T = median (y, w), where x and y are vectors of coordinates of individua focks, whie w is the vector of reative weights cacuated in reation to the size of an individua fock (popuation number of a particuar breed per farm). Compared to Carson et

3 Geographica distribution of sheep and goat breeds in Sovenia 185 a. [5] we used the median instead of the mean. It is ceary seen that a singe strong isoated point can greaty affect the ocation of the centre of gravity, which is determined by the arithmetic mean. The median is insensitive to an individua remote fock and therefore more suitabe for the evauation of the centre of gravity, mosty for concentrated focks. For individua focks the distance from the centre of gravity was cacuated, and a distribution graph was made where cumuative proportion (distribution) of animas depending on their distance from the centre is shown. Apart from the points on the map which represent ocation and fock size, there are aso circes drown to show the distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity, where 50, 90 and 95 % of a animas incuded into the Nationa seection program for the individua breed are ocated. Resuts Geographica distribution of focks and fock size for individua breeds of sheep and goats kept in Sovenia is presented in Figures 1-4. Individua focks are presented by circe, whie the cacuated geographic centre of gravity is marked by an x. From the images it is cear that the geographica distribution differs among breeds. Bea Krajina Pramenka In 2011, there were 41 purebred maes, 652 purebred femaes and 115 purebred young femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. Bea Krajina Pramenka is characterized by the concentration of a arge part (95 %) of the popuation at a distance cacuated from the geographic centre of gravity of ess than 30 km whie 90 % of the popuation is ocated within the radius of ~ 18 km (Figures 1a and 2a). Jezersko-Sočava sheep Jezersko-Sočava sheep is the ony nonendangered Sovenian autochthonous sma ruminant breed. In 2011, there were 126 focks of 5202 purebred animas incuded in the Nationa seection program which means 203 purebred maes, 4247 purebred femaes and 752 purebred young femaes. The average fock size was reativey sma, amounting ony to 36.6 animas. Jezersko- Sočava sheep is otherwise scattered throughout the entire territory of Sovenia. However, most of the focks are in the area of two Sovenian statistica regions (Gorenjska and Savinjska). The breed is therefore in its native region, as we as outside and it is not geographicay confined to ony one statistica region or area (Figure 1b). A reativey uniform distribution of focks depending on the distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity is shown in Figure 2b. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the percentage of animas incuded into the Nationa seection program according to the number of animas in the entire Jezersko-Sočava popuation is different in comparison to other Sovenian autochthonous breeds of sheep and goats. In ess numerous breeds there are more than 80 % of the popuation incuded into the Nationa seection program, whie ess than 30 % beong to Jezersko-Sočava sheep. Bovec sheep In 2011, there were 148 purebred maes, 1886 purebred femaes and 640 purebred young femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. The average fock size was 64.6 animas. There are ony a few focks of bigger size. Most farmers keep a sma number of animas, therefore the median for the fock size is 36.0 animas. Istrian Pramenka In 2011 there were 43 purebred maes, 650 purebred femaes and 270 purebred young femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. The average fock size was 151 animas. Figure 1d shows the sma size of Istrian Pramenka popuation and a oca distribution in the Karst and Istria region. A itte ess than a haf of the tota popuation of Istrian Pramenka were bred in a singe fock. For this reason a median for fock size is ony 41.5 animas. Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep is the most numerous sheep breed in Sovenia. In 2011, there were 151 purebred maes, 4052 purebred femaes and 670 purebred young femaes incuded into the Nationa seection program. Improved Jezersko- Sočava sheep is the most geographicay dispersed breed in Sovenia (Figure 1e).

4 186 a) b) c) d) e) Figure 1: Location and fock size of a) Bea Krajina Pramenka, b) Jezersko-Sočava sheep, c) Bovec sheep, d) Istrian Pramenka and e) Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep with cacuated geographic centre of gravity (x) and radius where 50 % (inner circe), 90 % (midde circe) and 95 % (outer circe) of animas incuded into the Nationa seection program are ocated Tabe 1: Fock dispersion of sheep breeds from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity Breed Bea Krajina Pramenka from the Purebred cacuated geographic femaes (n) centre of gravity in NSP* Percentage of animas (%) in Cacuated geographic centre of gravity by Gauss-Krueger coordinate system 767 ~6 ~18 ~ 28 Jezersko-Sočava sheep 4999 ~ 35 ~ 95 ~ 103 Bovec sheep 2526 ~1 ~ 12 ~ ~ 25 ~ 100 x=62814, y= ~ 49 ~90 ~105 x=121970, y= Gomisko Istrian Pramenka Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep *Nationa seection program x=523488, y=41375 Maa sea cose to Adešiči x=135715, y= Zg. savinjska doina and Luče x=133610, y= Bovec Gabrče cose to Divača

5 Geographica distribution of sheep and goat breeds in Sovenia 187 a) b) c) d) Figure 2: Percentage of a) Bea Krajina Pramenka, b) Jezersko-Sočava sheep, c) Bovec sheep, d) Istrian Pramenka and e) Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep incuded into the Nationa seection program according to the distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity e) Based on the resuts for individua sheep breeds the distance (km) from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity and the cacuated geographic centre foowing Gauss-Krueger coordinate system is presented in Tabe 1. Differences in fock dispersion among various sheep breeds occur mainy due to the group of breeds (autochthonous, traditiona) (Tabe 1). Thus, the Sovenian autochthonous sheep breeds are mosty concentrated in their own cacuated geographic centre of gravity. At the same time these centres are aso their area of origin according to the historica sources on deveopment of the individua breed. For exampe, in Istrian Pramenka a haf of the popuation is ocated in its own geographic centre of gravity, whie a arger share of animas is ocated within a distance of about 25 km. The most numerous Sovenian autochthonous sheep breed (Jezersko- Sočava sheep) has a haf of its popuation in a distance of about 35 km from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity, whereas practicay a animas are ocated within a distance of about 103 km from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity. Traditiona sheep breed (Improved Jezersko-Sočava sheep) is fairy eveny dispersed throughout the territory of Sovenia.

6 188 a) b) c) d) Figure 3: Location and fock size of a) Drežnica goat, b) Sovenian Apine goat, c) Sovenian Saanen goat and d) Boer goat with cacuated geographic centre of gravity (x) and radius where 50 % (inner circe), 90 % (midde circe) and 95 % (outer circe) of animas incuded in the Nationa seection program are ocated Drežnica goat In 2011, there were 39 purebred maes, 355 purebred femaes and 105 purebred young femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. Amost a focks of Drežnica goat breed are ocated in the area of breed origin (Figure 3a). Within a distance ess than 30 km there are 90 % of a popuation of Drežnica breed incuded in the Nationa seection program (Figure 4a). Sovenian Apine goat In 2011, there were 1241 animas; 37 purebred maes, 976 purebred femaes and 228 purebred young femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. Based on the distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity, focks of Sovenian Apine goat breed have a reativey even distribution throughout the country (Figures 3b and 4b). Sovenian Saanen goat In 2011, there were 526 animas; 26 purebred maes, 324 purebred femaes and 176 young purebred femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program. Sovenian Saanen goat breed is sma in number, therefore it is difficut to speak of greater or esser dispersion. Depending on the distance from the focus the focks of Sovenian Saanen goat breed are reativey eveny distributed (Figures 3c and 4c). Boer goat Boer goat is the most numerous goat breed in Sovenia and it is spread throughout the country (Figures 3d and 4d). In 2011, there were 297 purebred maes, 1465 purebred femaes and 640 young purebred femaes incuded in the Nationa seection program.

7 Geographica distribution of sheep and goat breeds in Sovenia 189 a) b) c) d) Figure 4: Percentage of a) Drežnica goat, b) Sovenian Apine goat, c) Sovenian Saanen goat and d) Boer goat according to the distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity Tabe 2: Fock dispersion of goat breeds from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity Breed Purebred femaes (n) in NSP* in 2011 from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity Percentage of animas (%) Cacuated geographic centre of gravity by Gauss- Krueger coordinate system Drežnica goat 460 ~ 5 ~ 29 ~ 48 x = , y = Drežniške Ravne Sovenian Apine goat 1204 ~ 38 ~ 96 ~ 110 x = 87495, y = Žibrše cose to Logatec Sovenian Saanen goat 500 ~ 10 ~ 60 ~ 90 x = , y = Žirovski vrh Boer goat 2105 ~38 ~ 95 ~ 102 x = , y = Marija Reka cose to Trbovje *Nationa seection program The smaest distance from the cacuated geographic centre of gravity has Sovenian autochthonous Drežnica goat breed (Tabe 2). A haf of the entire popuation of this breed incuded in the Nationa seection program is ocated within a distance of about 5 km. The cacuated geographic centre of gravity of Drežnica goat is the area of its origin. Other goat breeds incuded in the anaysis have a simiar distance from the geographic centre of gravity cacuated for 50, 90 and 95 % of the animas. Their cacuated geographica focus gravitates away from the centra part of Sovenia.

8 190 Discussion Acknowedgment Sovenian autochthonous breeds of sheep and goats are mosty concentrated in the area of their origin. The sma numerous breeds of sheep such as Istrian Pramenka, Bea Krajina Pramenka and aso Bovec sheep have 90 % of their popuation within a distance ess than 25 km. Drežnica goat, the ony Sovenian autochthonous goat breed has 90 % of their popuation within a distance ess than 30 km. The cacuated geographic centre refects a singe rearing centre of a Sovenian autochthonous sheep and goat breeds. In more dispersed traditiona breeds ike Improved Jezersko Sočava sheep, Sovenian Saanen goat, Sovenian Apine goat and the foreign Boer goat the cacuated geographic centre is not a singe rearing centre. Istrian Pramenka sheep is characterized by a sma geographica dispersion (Figure 1d) and it is sma in fock number (Figure 2d). In the event of any natura disaster or outbreak of infectious and communicabe diseases this breed coud suffer serious consequences, so we must emphasise the risk in this respect. It may be noted that due to the high concentration of focks in smaer geographica areas in Sovenia a sma popuation number is particuary vunerabe and dangerous for autochthonous breeds with the exception of Jezersko-Sočava sheep. It has its cacuated geographic centre range in the area of its origin, but as a reativey productive meat type it is extended to other parts of Sovenia. In case of transfer of infectious diseases within a narrow range, the concentration of animas of certain species within the area is aso important because in high concentrations anima diseases spread quicky. Geographica concentration of breeds indicates that the animas are very we adapted to their specific environment and to the traditiona uses and farming management, as we as the attachment of breeders to them. Increased geographica dispersion of breeds to arger area of Sovenia means esser possibiity for spread of infection, whie increased geographica concentration of breeds means higher possibiity for spread of infectious diseases. The traditiona Improved Jezersko Sočava sheep breed dispersed in a arge area of Sovenia and not confined to ony one region or area, is therefore not highy at risk. Density of the same and different species ocated in the specific area is a risk factor for disease transmission, therefore further investigations on density woud be necessary. We are gratefu to prof. dr. Martina Kinkon for her critica review of the manuscript and her constructive comments. References 1. Piing D, Rischkowsky B, eds. The state of the word s anima genetic resources for food and agricuture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agricuture, Food and Agricuture Organization of the United Nations, 2007: 511 str. 2. Aderson L. Breeds at risk: definition and measurement of the factors which determine endangerment. Livest Sci 2009; 123: Šaehar A, Čepon M, Žan Lotrič M, et a. Geografija živinoreje v Soveniji v etu Razširjenost in gostota reje kmetijskih živai ter raba kmetijskih zemjišč po statističnih regijah in v Soveniji. In: Ohranjanje biotske raznovrstnosti živinoreji. Poročio za eto Domžae: Univerza v Ljubjani, Biotehniška fakuteta, Oddeek za zootehniko, 2005: Gandini GC, Oivier L, Dane B, et a. Criteria to assess the degree of endangerment of ivestock breeds in Europe. Livest Prod Sci 2004; 91: Carson A, Eiott M, Groom J, Winter A, et a. Geographica isoation of native sheep breeds in the UK: evidence of endemism as a risk factor to genetic resources. Livest Sci 2009; 123: Kryštufek B. Osnove varstvene bioogije. Ljubjana: Tehniška zaožba So venije, 1999: 155 str. 7. The R deveopment core team. R: a anguage and environment for statistica computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistica Computing, 2011: 1651 str. 8. Tanimura S, Kuroiwa C, Mizota T. Proporiona symbo mapping in R. J Stat Software 2006; 15: 5.

9 Geographica distribution of sheep and goat breeds in Sovenia 191 GEOGRAFIJA RAZŠIRJENOSTI PASEM OVC IN KOZ V SLOVENIJI Povzetek: Proučevai smo geografijo razširjenosti pasem drobnice v Soveniji, ki so vkjučene v Rejski program. Anaizirai smo veikost popuacije, njeno strukturo in geografijo razširjenosti (geografske koordinate rej po Gauss-Kruegerjevem sistemu; vrednosti x in y). Za vsako rejo smo izračunai zračno razdajo oddajenosti od geografskega težišča ter prikazai porazdeitveno siko, ki prikazuje deež živai gede na oddajenost od geografskega težišča pasme. Izračunano geografsko težišče za avtohtone pasme je njihovo izvorno območje, za tradicionane in tujerodne pasme pa je usmerjeno proti osrednjemu deu Sovenije. Za avtohtone pasme je značino, da večji de popuacije obstaja znotraj manjšega radija, kot je e-ta v primerjavi s tujerodnimi in tradicionanimi pasmami in da so reje večinoma skoncentrirane v manjšem geografskem območju. Tri sovenske avtohtone pasme ovc (beokranjska pramenka, istrska pramenka in bovška ovca) imajo 90 % popuacije znotraj razdaje, ki je manjša od 25 km, sovenska avtohtona pasma koz drežniška koza pa znotraj radija, ki je okoi 30 km. Tradicionane in tujerodne pasme niso omejene e na eno regijo ai območje. Zaradi ogroženosti in tveganj ob naravnih nesrečah ai nenadnih izbruhih boezni so najboj izpostavjene maoštevine sovenske avtohtone pasme ovc in koz. Kjuène besede: ovce; koze; pasme; geografija razširjenosti; ogroženost; endemično področje