Recent land use and management changes decouple the adaptation of livestock diversity to the environment

Native livestock breeds are locally adapted domesticated animals crucial for genetic resource conservation, food security, and agroecosystem services. This study analyzes the relationship between livestock diversity (native breed richness) and environmental factors in mainland Spain, comparing distributions before and after agricultural intensification. Results show strong associations between breed distribution and environmental factors before intensification, which weaken in contemporary distributions, indicating a shift towards more productive environments. Areas with higher breed richness are undergoing land abandonment. Successful conservation requires considering ecological and sociocultural perspectives alongside genetic and production-oriented views.

Elena Velado-Alonso, Ignacio Morales-Castilla, Antonio Gómez-Sal