Abstract :
The Ibicenca or Pitiüsa goat is the most endangered goat breed of Spain. This breed occurs
only on the Pitiüse islands (Ibiza and Formentera), with fewer than 147 animals on 17 different
farms, indicating a clear risk of extinction. In response to this condition, a program
to rescue the breed was initiated, involving: (1) the characterization of morphological variables
of the breed, (2) the genetic characterization of the breed and (3) the initiation of an
ex situ preservation program securing the participation of farmers, linked to the germplasm
bank network of Spain. This paper describes the genetic characterization and ex situ plans
that have been thus far developed. Genetic characterization, based on neutral allelic variation
(using 27 microsatellite markers), was conducted along with 12 other goat breeds from
Spain, all with known characterization, to serve as referential breeds for assessing the status
of the Ibicenca or Pitiüsa goat in the current context of goat genetic resources of Spain.
The ex situ program was initiated by selecting unrelated bucks and training them to produce
semen for conservation purposes. Results from the genetic characterization showed
that the Ibicenca or Pitiüsa goat is a single genetic entity, and is more related to Continental
breeds of Spain than to breeds from the other Balearic islands. This finding justifies its
conservation by means of cryopreservation of semen. The ex situ plan obtained 384 semen
doses from 3 sires collected in the Pitiüse islands, which are to be used in AI programs in
the future. These samples were stored in two replicates: one at the Regional Germplasm
Bank of Mallorca Island for Mallorca breeds and the second, as a backup, at the Spanish
National Germplasm Bank located in Madrid. The implementation of this plan, in particular
the establishment of an ex situ conservation condition, prevents the potential risk of extinction
faced by this breed. The plan well accepted by farmers will be linked to research on
the production and adaptive traits of the breed to identify attributes that could potentially
enhance its economic value and allow its population expansion in situ.
