phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at o:5598 DOI 10.3389/fgene.2026.1792347 Framework for assessing genetic variation in livestock using demographic, pedigree, and genomic measures Genetic variation within livestock populations underpins global food security, resilience, and the long-term sustainability of breeding programs. Despite its fundamental role, harmonized approaches for assessing and monitoring genetic variation across data sources remain limited. This review provides an integrated framework for assessing genetic variation in livestock using demographic, pedigree, and genomic data, developed by FAO experts and international collaborators. Demographic indicators offer essential insight into population size, sex ratio, and reproductive structure, while pedigree data allow detailed evaluation of genetic relatedness, inbreeding, and effective population size (Ne) over time. Genomic information now provides unprecedented accuracy in characterizing allelic variation, population structure with admixture, and the dynamics of inbreeding and drift. Each data source differs in availability, resolution, and interpretive limits; therefore, complementary use of demographic, pedigree, and genomic measures is recommended for effective monitoring and decision-making. This framework outlines the main properties, applications, and constraints of these approaches and provides guidance on selecting appropriate indicators for monitoring genetic variation within and among livestock populations. Its implementation supports the objectives of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, contributing to evidence-based management of livestock diversity worldwide. eng animal genetic resources (AnGR) effective population size genetic variation genomics of diversity management of genetic resources population structure 2026-10-14T08:28:15.342Z LOMv1.0 Author BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Mészáros;Gábor; FN:Gábor Mészáros END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Curik;Ino; FN:Ino Curik END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Ouedraogo;Dominique; FN:Dominique Ouedraogo END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Windig;Jack; FN:Jack Windig END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Leroy;Gregoire; FN:Gregoire Leroy END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Utsunomiya;Yuri Tani; FN:Yuri Tani Utsunomiya END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Burger;Pamela; FN:Pamela Burger X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6941-0257 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Colli;Licia; FN:Licia Colli END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Xu;Chang; FN:Chang Xu END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Boettcher;Paul; FN:Paul Boettcher END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Looft;Christian; FN:Christian Looft END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Soelkner;Johann; FN:Johann Soelkner END:VCARD https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/scheme https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/text Textdokument Text LOMv1.0 yes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 application/pdf 2335762 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5598 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:5598/thumbnail LOMv1.0 discipline