Sustainable use, development and conservation of the world’s livestock genetic resources are of vital importance to agriculture, food production, rural development and the environment. In recognition of the need to develop an effective framework for the management of these resources and to address the threat of genetic erosion, 109 countries, including Ethiopia, came together in September 2007 at the first international technical conference on animal genetic resources for food and agriculture held in Interlaken, Switzerland. The conference adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources. .
