The sheep population of native breeds, despite their unique features and the ability to adapt to harsh environmental conditions, has significantly decreased in recent years. Due to the low profitability of breeding, many local breeds of sheep in Poland were exposed to the risk of extinction. Many years of crisis in sheep farming have exacerbated this situation. The aim of this paper was to present the current situation of native sheep breeding in Poland, in terms of significance and effects of genetic resources protection programmes. The conservation of genetic resources of sheep aims to maintain and increase the population size while striving to maintain the greatest possible genetic variability. There are 17 native breeds included in the Polish sheep genetic resources conservation programme. A positive element of the implementation of the conservation of genetic resources programme for sheep is the accompanying measures which are based on the use of the non-productive role of the species. Extensive sheep grazing, as a form of nature conservation, serves to preserve valuable natural landscapes and the culture of local communities associated with sheep farming. Production and promotion of quality products, especially using niche markets and short production chains, are essential to ensure the economic viability of farms. These activities must be accompanied by raising public awareness of indigenous breeds and their alternative use in environmental activities, as well as their role in preserving the cultural heritage of local communities, for example through mountain grazing and the production of traditional products.

Sheep and goats of native breeds provide milk rich in nutrients as a raw material for traditional products, especially cheeses available only in specific regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the raw material for production of traditional fresh cheese (bundz) and the product itself made of milk from the Podhale Zackel sheep and Carpathian goat – both Polish breeds. The milk from the Podhale Zackels contained more than twice as much fat (7.30%, P ≤ 0.01) as milk from the Carpathian goats (2.82%) and it was richer in protein and lactose. The goat milk had twice as high a content (1.10%, P ≤ 0.01) of immunoglobulins compared to the sheep milk (0.58%). Higher levels of serum albumin (3.69%, P ≤ 0.05) and β-casein (58.89%, P ≤ 0.01) were determined in the Zackel milk. Podhale Zackel bundz was characterized by higher fat (24.92%, P ≤ 0.01) and protein (18.06%, P ≤ 0.01) content than the goat bundz (21.33%-fat; 16.74%-protein). In the sheep bundz, the content of CLA acid was significantly higher (2.23%, P ≤ 0.01), than in the goat bundz (0.28%). In sensory evaluation both cheeses received high marks (≥4.50) but the panellists preferred the aroma of the sheep bundz.

The native breed of Carpathian goats, once abundant in the foothills of Poland, practically died out and was replaced by other, more efficient breeds. As a result of reintroduction activities and its inclusion in the genetic resources program, breeding was restored. The dynamically developing population of Carpathian goats is an extremely valuable element of biodiversity and a potential for the development of the market for its products, including goat meat. The study aimed to compare the carcass measurements and the quality and composition of meat from male kids of the Polish Carpathian native goat breed slaughtered at the ages of 9 and 12 months. Muscle samples were taken from the leg (m. biceps femoris) to determine the meat chemical composition and physicochemical and sensory parameters, as well as the fatty acid profile. The dressing percentage was higher in older kids (41.27%) than in younger ones (37.89%), as well as final weight and cold carcass weight. The weight of valuable cuts such as the loin and leg differed between groups, and it was significantly higher in 1-year-old kids. No differences were found in basic ingredients, such as moisture, protein, ash and vitamins A and E, depending on the kids’ slaughter age. The fat concentration was significantly higher in the group of younger kids. Significant differences occurred in relation to the physicochemical parameters, fatty acid profile and organoleptic properties. The findings demonstrated that the meat of older kids was characterised by darker colour and a slightly higher pH, and it contained a higher concentration of hypocholesterolemic fatty acids (DFA) and a more favourable DFA/OFA ratio. Roasted meat from the Carpathian kids scored high marks in the organoleptic assessment and the meat obtained from older animals was rated higher.

In recent years, different patterns of piebald/skewbald coat colour have become popular in horses. The tobiano pattern may appear in one of three forms: minimal, classic or maximal. The minimal variant can occur only as white spots on legs (crypto-tobiano), which may result in misclassification of the horse as solid-coloured with white markings. In Hucul horses it is particularly important to accurately determine the real coat colour because the breed standard specifies that white markings disqualify the animal from breeding. In Hucul horses, the tobiano pattern often shows as crypto-tobiano and is wrongly classified as white markings in official documentation of horses. The most reliable way for correct classification of coat colour is to analyse DNA for the presence of inversion in chromosome 3 (ECA3), which conclusively confirms or rules out the presence of the tobiano gene in the problematic horses.

The aim of the study was to analyse the genetic basis of piebald coat colour in Hucul horses and to verify their coat colour in breeding records. Tests were performed with DNA purified from the whole blood samples of 242 Hucul horses with different coat colour patterns. DNA was analysed to identify an inversion in ECA3 (PCR). The results confirmed that the inversion on ECA3 is a direct factor determining piebald (tobiano) colour in the analysed Hucul horses. No inversion was observed in any of the solid coloured horses, but it was present in all the piebald ones. It was also identified in 18% (11 of 61) of the horses from the group of horses qualified in the passport as solid coloured with white markings. In fact, these horses had the tobiano gene that is phenotypically identifiable as crypto-tobiano, which may give the false impression of having white markings and lead to error when describing a horse. This is an important issue, in particular with regard to the breed standard, which eliminates Hucul horses with white markings from breeding.