In modern agriculture, a rare breed is a breed of poultry or livestock that has a very small breeding population, usually from a few hundred to a few thousand. Because of their small numbers, rare breeds may have a threatened conservation status, and they may be protected under regional laws. Many countries have organizations devoted to the protection and promotion of rare breeds, for which they each have their own definition. In botany and horticulture, the parallel to rare animal breeds are heirloom plants, which are rare cultivars.[1]
The American Cream Draft is listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Conservancy
There are several definitions of "breed" and "rare breed". Breeds may be defined as a group of animals that share visible characteristics, such as Pinto horses, which are all spotted.[3] A stricter definition insists that breeds are "consistent and predictable genetic entities", which means that individuals from that breed will produce offspring that is predictably similar to their genitors, and that this similarity is genetically based.[4] This biological definition is useful for conservation, which treats breeds as reliable sources of genetic diversity.[5]
Conservation organisations each have their own definition of what constitutes a rare breed. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and The Livestock Conservancy (TLC) both divide rare breeds into five categories, "critical" being the rarest. TLC places a livestock breed under "critical" status when it has "fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000".[6] The RBST determines the status of a breed by the number of its breeding females in the United Kingdom. For horses and sheep, fewer than 300 is considered "critical", whereas goats and pigs must have fewer than 100 to join that category.[7]
The British Rabbit Council (BRC) notes in its breed standards[10] those rabbit breeds that have been recognized by the affiliated Rare Varieties Rabbit Club,[11] of which there are currently 26 breeds.
Causesedit
Major factors causing breeds to become rare are reported to include increased use of exotic breeds, weak policies and institutions in animal genetic resources management, neglect of certain breeds because of a lack of profitability or competitiveness, the intensification of production systems, the effects of diseases and disease management and loss of pastures or other elements of the production environment. In postwar Britain, for example, the introduction of the Poland China pig and the Texel sheep affected populations of historic breeds, which were seen as less profitable for farmers.[12]
Conservationedit
The Tamworth is a pig breed that is rare in both its native country and abroad.[7][13]
Conservation activities may include in situ conservation programmes supporting the maintenance of breeds in their normal production environments (i.e. on farms, ranches or in pastoralist herds or flocks) [15] and ex situ conservation programmes in which animals are kept at sites such as zoos or special conservation farms or genetic material (e.g. semen or embryos) is maintained in a cryoconserved form.[16]
In 2009, The Livestock Conservancy launched an online classified advertising service for promoting rare breeds. It allows the general public to "browse listings of rare breed livestock and poultry for sale, rare breed products such as meats and wools and other items that help secure the future of rare breeds".[17]
Other interests of rare breedsedit
Beyond the concerns of conservation organisations, there are other reasons for individuals or groups to keep rare breed animals. Rare breeds can be popular with hobby farmers, as they often require less intensive management.[18] Some rare breeds are kept by tourist attractions for their value in attracting visitors.[19] Some farmers also prefer to sell meat from rare breeds, as they believe such breeds offer higher quality produce.[20]
Dohner, Janet Vorwald (2002). The encyclopedia of historic and endangered livestock and poultry breeds. Yale University Press. ISBN978-0-300-08880-9.
Hams, Fred (1999). Old Poultry Breeds. Third edition. Buckinghamshire: Shire Books. ISBN0-7478-0396-X.
Sponenberg, D. Philip; Bixby, Donald E. (2007). Managing Breeds for a Secure Future: Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations. Pittsboro, NC: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. ISBN978-1-887316-07-1.
Yarwood, Richard; Evans, Nick (1999). "The Changing Geography of Rare Livestock Breeds in Britain". Geography. 84 (1): 80–87. JSTOR 40573249.
External linksedit
Media related to Rare breed at Wikimedia Commons
Implementing the Global Plan of Action on Animal Genetic Resources
Domestic Animal Diversity Information System
February 16, 2024
rare, breed, this, article, about, rare, breeds, animals, other, uses, rare, breed, disambiguation, examples, perspective, this, article, represent, worldwide, view, subject, improve, this, article, discuss, issue, talk, page, create, article, appropriate, aug. This article is about rare breeds of animals For other uses see Rare Breed disambiguation The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate August 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message In modern agriculture a rare breed is a breed of poultry or livestock that has a very small breeding population usually from a few hundred to a few thousand Because of their small numbers rare breeds may have a threatened conservation status and they may be protected under regional laws Many countries have organizations devoted to the protection and promotion of rare breeds for which they each have their own definition In botany and horticulture the parallel to rare animal breeds are heirloom plants which are rare cultivars 1 The American Cream Draft is listed as critically endangered by the American Livestock Conservancy Contents 1 Definitions 2 Causes 3 Conservation 4 Other interests of rare breeds 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksDefinitions edit nbsp A rare breed Manx Loaghtan sheep at Cregneash Isle of Man There are fewer than 1 500 registered breeding Manx Loaghtan females in the United Kingdom 2 There are several definitions of breed and rare breed Breeds may be defined as a group of animals that share visible characteristics such as Pinto horses which are all spotted 3 A stricter definition insists that breeds are consistent and predictable genetic entities which means that individuals from that breed will produce offspring that is predictably similar to their genitors and that this similarity is genetically based 4 This biological definition is useful for conservation which treats breeds as reliable sources of genetic diversity 5 Conservation organisations each have their own definition of what constitutes a rare breed The Rare Breeds Survival Trust RBST and The Livestock Conservancy TLC both divide rare breeds into five categories critical being the rarest TLC places a livestock breed under critical status when it has fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2 000 6 The RBST determines the status of a breed by the number of its breeding females in the United Kingdom For horses and sheep fewer than 300 is considered critical whereas goats and pigs must have fewer than 100 to join that category 7 The Poultry Club of Great Britain considers a poultry breed Rare when it does not have its own breed club These Rare Breeds are catered by the Rare Poultry Society RPS 8 The RPS does not look after breeds that count few individuals but have their own breed club 9 The British Rabbit Council BRC notes in its breed standards 10 those rabbit breeds that have been recognized by the affiliated Rare Varieties Rabbit Club 11 of which there are currently 26 breeds Causes editMajor factors causing breeds to become rare are reported to include increased use of exotic breeds weak policies and institutions in animal genetic resources management neglect of certain breeds because of a lack of profitability or competitiveness the intensification of production systems the effects of diseases and disease management and loss of pastures or other elements of the production environment In postwar Britain for example the introduction of the Poland China pig and the Texel sheep affected populations of historic breeds which were seen as less profitable for farmers 12 Conservation edit nbsp The Tamworth is a pig breed that is rare in both its native country and abroad 7 13 Several organizations the Food and Agriculture Organization United Nations The Livestock Conservancy the Rare Breeds Survival Trust UK Rare Breeds Canada the SVF Foundation US promote conservation of rare livestock and poultry breeds for their unique traits which can contribute to general biodiversity and cultural heritage Animal Husbandry can be important to livestock production in harsh environments and may contribute to the adaptation of livestock populations to challenges such as shifts in disease epidemiology climate or market demands 14 Conservation activities may include in situ conservation programmes supporting the maintenance of breeds in their normal production environments i e on farms ranches or in pastoralist herds or flocks 15 and ex situ conservation programmes in which animals are kept at sites such as zoos or special conservation farms or genetic material e g semen or embryos is maintained in a cryoconserved form 16 In 2009 The Livestock Conservancy launched an online classified advertising service for promoting rare breeds It allows the general public to browse listings of rare breed livestock and poultry for sale rare breed products such as meats and wools and other items that help secure the future of rare breeds 17 Other interests of rare breeds editBeyond the concerns of conservation organisations there are other reasons for individuals or groups to keep rare breed animals Rare breeds can be popular with hobby farmers as they often require less intensive management 18 Some rare breeds are kept by tourist attractions for their value in attracting visitors 19 Some farmers also prefer to sell meat from rare breeds as they believe such breeds offer higher quality produce 20 See also edit nbsp Agriculture and Agronomy portal nbsp Animals portalArk of Taste Cobthorn Trust Conservation Priority Breeds of the Livestock Conservancy Heritage turkey Landrace Rare breed dog References editCitations edit Dohner 2002 page needed Manx Loaghtan Rare Breeds Survival Trust watch list Archived from the original on 29 August 2009 Retrieved 8 June 2008 Sponenberg amp Bixby 2007 p 8 Sponenberg amp Bixby 2007 p 7 Sponenberg amp Bixby 2007 p 8 9 Parameters of Breeds on the Conservation Priority List The Livestock Conservancy Retrieved 11 March 2014 a b Watchlist Rare Breeds Survival Trust Archived from the original on 17 January 2014 Retrieved 11 March 2014 Breed Classification PDF Poultryclub org Retrieved 11 March 2014 Hams 1999 p 38 Breed Standards 2016 2020 PDF The British Rabbit Council BRC Retrieved 26 February 2018 About Rare Varieties Rabbit Club RVRC Retrieved 26 February 2018 Yarwood amp Evans 1999 p 80 Dohner 2002 p 182 183 FAO 2015 The State of the World s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Rome FAO 2013 In vivo conservation of animal genetic resources FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines FAO 2012 Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No 12 Rome New Classified Service for Rare Breeds and Rare Breed Products Grit com 2009 08 28 Retrieved 11 March 2014 Yarwood amp Evans 1999 p 81 83 Yarwood amp Evans 1999 p 81 Yarwood amp Evans 1999 p 83 Bibliography edit Dohner Janet Vorwald 2002 The encyclopedia of historic and endangered livestock and poultry breeds Yale University Press ISBN 978 0 300 08880 9 Hams Fred 1999 Old Poultry Breeds Third edition Buckinghamshire Shire Books ISBN 0 7478 0396 X Sponenberg D Philip Bixby Donald E 2007 Managing Breeds for a Secure Future Strategies for Breeders and Breed Associations Pittsboro NC The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy ISBN 978 1 887316 07 1 Yarwood Richard Evans Nick 1999 The Changing Geography of Rare Livestock Breeds in Britain Geography 84 1 80 87 JSTOR 40573249 External links edit nbsp Media related to Rare breed at Wikimedia Commons Implementing the Global Plan of Action on Animal Genetic Resources Domestic Animal Diversity Information System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rare breed amp oldid 1149871359, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
