Rare breed protection ‘essential to farming sustainability’

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is calling for greater government involvement to help protect some of the UK’s oldest livestock breeds, including the re-establishment of the Ministerial Native Breeds Roundtable.

This was designed by the previous Conservative administration to co-ordinate action for native breeds across government departments and alongside rare-breed organisations.

See also: Ancient Cattle of Wales added to rare breed watchlist

“The survival of the UK’s rare native breeds is important for sustainable farming, regenerative land management, biodiversity, food chain resilience and genetic diversity,” said RBST chief executive Christopher Price.

“Farmers and smallholders are demonstrating every day that our native livestock and equines are great breeds for modern times.”

The call coincides with the publication of the RBST’s latest Watchlist, with two of the UK’s oldest native sheep breeds – the Manx Loaghtan and the Leicester Longwool breeds – moved to the most urgent “priority” category, following significant declines in the number of breeding dams.

The trust added that, while it was positive to see signs of stabilisation in several very rare breeds, such as Gloucester cattle and the Large White pig, following concerted conservation activity and breed promotion by breed societies together with RBST, concerns remain.

“Our concern is deepening for others among the UK’s irreplaceable native breeds which are seeing their numbers continue to fall, including the Manx Loaghtan and Leicester Longwool sheep,” added Mr Price.

Leicester Longwool sheep © Thomas Cole

The two breeds have distinct characteristics that enable the animals to thrive in their typical landscapes and environments.

Both continue to provide nutritious and sustainable food, and highest quality fibre and are recognised for playing an important role in sustainable habitat management projects.

Alongside the Manx Loaghtan and Leicester Longwool sheep, RBST’s concerns are increasing for White Park cattle, Large Black pig and British Lop pig, the UK’s native goat and poultry breeds, as well as the Hackney horse and pony.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) says it shares concerns over the declining breeds.

“We are living in rapidly changing times and are likely to need genetic traits that may not be fully appreciated today.

“In my lifetime I’ve seen plant and animal breeders go back into archives to seek out traits that better suit a more regenerative approach to farming.

“Maintaining this gene pool is best achieved ‘live and in the field’ where the breeds can continue to improve and adapt, and with the potential for creating specialist market opportunities to support their existence,” said NSA chief executive Phil Stocker.

This objective, he added, was a key part of the previous Ministerial Native Breeds Round table, as was infrastructure such as local abattoirs to support local and specialist meat sales, and the topic should continue to be included in current government initiatives such as the Farming Roadmap.