Ardi es Research, Development, Innovation (Research, Development, Innovation in Dairy Ewes)

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The autochthonous dairy sheep breeds of the Pyrenees (DSBP), Latxa, Manech and Basco-Bearnesa, have a high economic and social value. Their survival is threatened by the presence of other breeds which are more productive, but with considerably more intensive production systems. ARDI will establish a synergy, under the new EU Zootechnical Regulation, among the different breed selection programs that have coexisted for more than 40 years. This will be done by creating a "Breeding Society" (association of purebred breeders), in order to organize the genetic improvement of these autochthonous races on a cross-border basis. Progress will be made, through the common management of breeding programs, in order to increase the competitiveness of the DSBP and to strengthen their settlement and explotation. ARDI will also seek to introduce genomic selection in the schemes of both border sides. This technology is considered the most modern for the animal breeding programs. ARDI will implement research actions, cross-bordering development and innovation, a common genetic assessment, a joint study on aspects that have not been covered yet by any of the schemes, and the creation of the common management body: EGTC. The project also includes sociological and participatory research. The main outcome will be solving the problems of research and establishment of the common management body, the implementation of the genomic scheme for the DSBP and the cross-border evaluations.

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