Importance of Croatian native breeds and their crosses with commercial breeds for organic production

Ekološka poljoprivreda temelj je zaštite i očuvanja prirode, koja je značajno narušena prekomjernim i neracionalnim trošenjem prirodnih resursa konvencionalnim načinom gospodarenja. Hrvatska ima potencijala za ekološku poljoprivredu. Međusobno povezivanje biljne i stočarske proizvodnje s ciljem uspostavljanja ekološke stabilnosti treba usmjeriti na korištenje potencijala svih 27 zakonom zaštićenih izvornih pasmina domaćih životinja u Republici Hrvatskoj. Svim izvornim pasminama zajednička su svojstva visoka prilagođenost podneblju u kojima su nastale uz život na otvorenom, visoka otpornost na bolesti, izdržljivost, dugovječnost, izrazita pokretljivost dobro razvijenih trupova, skromnost u zahtjevima prema vodi i hrani, odlična iskoristivost hrane slabije kvalitete i oskudnih količina. Skromnijih su proizvodnih svojstava u usporedbi s visokoproduktivnim komercijalnim pasminama kojima se križanjem mogu poboljšati samo neka proizvodna svojstva (mliječnost, mesnatost) prvenstveno iz ekonomske profitabilnosti. Potencijalne gospodarske prednosti izvornih pasmina još uvijek nisu dovoljno prepoznate i iskorištene, jer su populacije male, neodržive, njihova proizvodna svojstva nisu profitabilna. Povećana isplativost kroz ekonomsku dobit i trajno organiziranje proizvodnje potaknulo bi mlađe uzgajivače na povećan uzgoj izvornih pasmina u ekološkoj poljoprivredi. Uzgoj većeg broja jedinki izvornih pasmina osigurao bi veću proizvodnju finalnih proizvoda koji bi izašli iz okvira tradicijske proizvodnje u dobro prepoznatljive standardizirane proizvode, a marketinške aktivnosti oko isticanja zdrave hrane osigurale bi konstantnu prodaju i prepoznatljivost na tržištu. Važnost očuvanja izvornih pasmina nije samo ekonomska dobit. Višestruka je korist od uzgoja na ekološki način u područjima gdje ne mogu opstati druge pasmine. Obitavajući na takvim područjima one održavaju okoliš, ne narušavaju bioraznolikost, prirodna staništa i prirodne procese i ne remete uspostavljenu ravnotežu u prirodi. Očuvanje genetskih resursa odgovornost je svake države, jer su oni dio kulturnog i gospodarskog blaga. Strategija, politika i zakonski propisi temelj su djelovanja znanstvenih i stručnih institucija koji kontroliraju i unaprjeđuju animalnu proizvodnju izvornih pasmina s ciljem očuvanja i zaštite genetskih resursa.Ecological agriculture is the foundation of protection and conservation of nature, which is significantly disturbed by excessive and irrational spending of natural resources through conventional management. Croatia has potential for ecological agriculture. The interconnection of plant and livestock production with the aim of establishing ecological stability should be focused on the potential use of all 27 legally protected native breeds of domestic animals in the Republic of Croatia. All original breeds have common properties of high altitude adaptation to outdoor life, high resistance to disease, endurance, longevity, marked mobility of well-developed carcasses, modesty in water and food requirements, excellent utilization of lower quality food and scarce quantities. Compared to high-yielding commercial breeds, they are more modest in terms of production, but those crossbreeds can only improve some production characteristics (milk, meatiness), primarily because of economic profitability. Potential economic benefits of native breeds are still not sufficiently recognized and exploited, because populations are small, unsustainable, their production properties are not profitable. Increased profitability through economic gain and permanent organization of production would encourage younger farmers to increase the farming of native breeds in ecological husbandry. Growing a number of original breeders would provide greater production of end products that would leave the frame of traditional production and become well-recognized standardized products with marketing activities pointing this type of healthy foods which would ensure constant sales and market recognition. The importance of preserving native breeds is not just economic gain. There is a multifarious benefit from ecologically growing in areas where other breeds can not survive. Living on such areas, they maintain the environment, do not disturb biodiversity, natural habitats and natural processes, and do not violate the established balance in nature. Preservation of genetic resources is the responsibility of each state, as they are part of the cultural and economic treasures. Strategy, policy and legislation are the basis of the work of scientific and professional institutions that control and improve the animal production of native breeds with the aim of preserving and protecting genetic resources