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Plow sha cng Thursdays, 7:00 -9:00 PM, 9/13/01 to 12/5/01; Leah Cook, instructor. Basic House Construction: This class will review the North Carolina building codes, the permit process, and the building inspec- tion schedules. Students will study tech- niques of foundation work, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and heating and air - conditioning. The final segment will look at building design with an emphasis on low impact, passive solar and ecological construction methods. Offered Thursdays, 7:00 -9:00 PM, 9/20/01 to 12/13/01; Kevin Meehan, instructor. To register call 919 -542 -6495 ext. 223; for more information call Robin at 919 -542 -6495 ext. 229 Who Will Be The Breed Savers? Preserving Farm Diversity to Secure Our Future by Donald E. Bixby, DVM Executive Director, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is the leading force for breed conservation in the United States. The organization was established in 1977 by a group of agricultural historians who recog- nized that farm animals that were part of the traditional regional cultures were disappear- ing. These historians banded together with farmers and animal scientists to form what was originally called the American Minor Breeds Conservancy. In 1986, Rare Breeds Canada was formed to focus on Canadian breeds, but since the border is relatively Page 7 open to livestock, the organizations col- laborate on the breeds held in common be- tween the two countries. While the organization was initiated as an effort to save rare breeds, breed conserva- tion is no longer an issue of historical nos- talgia, but an issue of food security. Con- servation of a full spectrum of breeds is how biodiversity is preserved in farm ani- mals. A breed expresses the characteristics of an identifiable genetic package. It is therefore important to conserve the genetic integrity of a wide range of breeds to safe- guard the full spectrum of biodiversity in the livestock species. Breeds are the ge- netic resource most easily studied, used and conserved. Domestic Plant and Animal Conserva- tion Similarities Conserves world biodiversity for present and future uses: • changes in agriculture • consumer preferences * new uses • genetically based diseases Genetically complex traits conserved: * local climatic adaptation * self - sufficiency * hardiness * disease resistance * reproductive efficiency * serve human cultural needs • Breeding and selection requires skill. • Domestic plants and animals must remain useful to survive. • Diversity is threatened by agricultural industrialization, the quest for uniformity, and the loss of control of genetic resources by farmers. 39