Oral Presentations and Posters I-II. [antikvár]

Abstract In the paper, several reasons for the importance of conservation programmes of anima] genetic resources are discussed in generál and the activity of Hungárián Institutions in the conservation work of indigenous domestic animal breeds including poultiy are described. The use of gene banks both ex situ and in situ are dealt with, paying special attention to the possibilities and need of ciyopreservation of poultry sperm, theoretical possibilities of preserving early embiyonic cells (ex situ conservation) as well as the need of in situ gene banks (breeding stocks) of the protected breeds (in situ conservation). The use of the two types of gene banks and the close relation of one to the other are alsó discussed. The paper shows the indigenous and other protected chicken breeds existed in and maintained by the Institute for Small Animal Research (Gödöllő, Hungary), their most important characteristics, the breeding programme applied for the breeds as well as the possible long term use of them for different purposes, mainly quality poultry meat and egg production in the future. Keywords: animal genetic resources, gene bank, conservation, poultry, chicken t MAJOR ASPECTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES There are many reasons why genetic resources of domestic animal species have to be maintained and conserved. Among them the major ones mentioned by Hodges (1992) briefly are: -Economic - conserved genetic variation of domestic animal species can offer the resources of quick and economical responses to the special markét needs (e.g. high quality production). -Scientific - genetic variation is of increasing interest and importance to science both at the animal and molecular levels (e.g. transgenic animals). -Humán culture - for thousands of years domestic animal species have been closely associated with the humán life and therefore they are one of the special characteristics of humán culture. -Global biodiversity - the overall approach to the conservation of genetic resources should embrace all animal, plánt forest, fish and wildlife species as equal major components of biological diversity as well as the linkage between them.