The French Livestock Institute (IDELE) is the French national technical reference in livestock farming systems. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization featuring management by livestock farmer’s federations and trade unions. Its activities encompass applied research, technical assistance and technology transfer in cattle, sheep, goats and horse husbandry sciences. Its genetic department includes phenotyping, genetic evaluation and management of genetic resources.

IDELE has been in charge since 1984 of the preservation of animal genetic resources (AnGR) of ruminants both at in situ and ex situ level, thanks to specific funding from the French Minister of Agriculture. IDELE’s involvement in the field of AnGR was strengthened in 1999 when the French National Cryobank was created since IDELE hosts the genebank secretariat. IDELE is part of the European Regional Focal Point on Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) Working Groups since 2011. In August 2018, IDELE took over the responsibility of the ERFP secretariat and its mandate was renewed in September 2022.

IDELE has an extensive partnership with the leading French Research Institute, INRAE, in topics related to animal genetic resources. IDELE works in close collaboration with the French Breeding Organisations’ Federation, Races de France, as well as the French Technical Institutes for equid species (IFCE) and pig species (IFIP) and the Artificial Insemination Federation (ELIANCE) on matters linked with genetic resources.