Rare breed
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (August 2016) |
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]
Definitions
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.
Causes
Major factors causing breeds to become rare are reported to include increased use of exotic breeds, weak policies and institutions in
Conservation
Several organizations – the
Conservation activities may include
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
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
See also
References
Citations
- ^ 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 & Bixby 2007, p. 8.
- ^ Sponenberg & Bixby 2007, p. 7.
- ^ Sponenberg & 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 & 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 & Evans 1999, p. 81–83.
- ^ Yarwood & Evans 1999, p. 81.
- ^ Yarwood & Evans 1999, p. 83.
Bibliography
- 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". JSTOR 40573249.
External links
- Media related to Rare breed at Wikimedia Commons
- Implementing the Global Plan of Action on Animal Genetic Resources
- Domestic Animal Diversity Information System