This paper reports on an analysis of international trade in animal genetic resources from the 1990′s to 2005. It offers an assessment of the major directions, trends, and implications of trade flows, using data from the United Nations COMTRADE database (United Nations Statistics Division, 2007). This information was augmented by discussions with a number of breed societies on their views concerning breeders’ access and utilization of non-U.S. genetic resources. Our analysis of the data leads us to doubt the usefulness of a treaty on animal genetic resources, access and benefit-sharing agreements or other broad policy initiatives as a vehicle for promoting conservation of
threatened breeds or species, and also as a vehicle for improving the welfare of poor livestock farmers in
developing countries. We believe that conservation measures should be pursued urgently, without any explicit link to a treaty or erection of trade barriers. We further believe that efforts to improve the well being of traditional livestock keepers and their farming systems are worthwhile and should be pursued without linkage to broad policy instruments that are ill-suited to meet the needs of the targeted populations. Furthermore, we fear that the financial burdens of negotiating an international agreement and supporting a secretariat and administrative superstructure might reduce the funds available for needed conservation efforts.