In 1973 The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was founded to save the UK’s native breeds and since then no breed has become extinct.
RBST is the UK’s only charity dedicated to conserving Britain’s native farm livestock.
Throughout the world, it is claimed that one breed of farm animal becomes extinct every month. RBST is working to make sure that this does not happen in the UK.
Between 1900 and 1973 the UK lost 26 native breeds of livestock, in addition to many varieties of poultry. Breeds with evocative names such as the Goonhilly ponies, Somerset Sheeted cattle, Lincolnshire Curly Coated pigs, and Limestone sheep, have all gone.
Rare Breeds Watch List
The Rare Breeds Trust Watchlist contains all native UK breeds of cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep. Conservation criteria determine into which category breeds are listed.
Rare Breeds at Risk Register
The EU places a responsibility on member countries to establish a list of holdings where animals are kept for the purposes related to the conservation of rare breeds, so that they may benefit from any special measures that may apply at the time of an FMD.
This applies to cattle, sheep, pigs and goats
Find out more about the Rare Breeds at Risk Register.
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