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February 2015
Last year, RBST was able to collect more data than ever before in order to compile the 2015 Watchlist. This means the data is becoming an increasingly accurate reflection of the situation facing our native breeds and has meant we were able to add a new feature. For the first time, it is possible to see whether population trends are on the rise or are falling within Watchlist categories, or whether breeds are remaining numerically stable.
See the 2015 Watchlist now.
The key message is that the work must go on, if we are to ensure that native breed livestock populations are to survive in sufficient numbers to fulfil the role they can play in a sustainable future for UK farming.
While there is some positive news, no breeds have succeeded in moving off the main watchlist into category 6 and two breeds have unfortunately come on:
- British Landrace pig- moved onto the watchlist in category 3 ‘Vulnerable’
- Llanwenog sheep- return to category 5 ‘Minority’ after successfully moving into category 6 in 2008
 
To compile the watchlist, numbers of UK females fully registered in that year are provided annually by breed societies. An average of these data over a rolling three-year period is then calculated and a species specific multiplier is applied to convert these figures to the number of breeding females. The methodology is applied to sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and equines. Other factors such as genetic or geographic vulnerability need to be taken into account.
We have worked continuously for over 40 years to preserve native breeds of livestock and are proud that no breed has been lost since 1973, but the figures behind the 2015 watchlist do not make for comfortable reading. RBST CEO Tom Beeston sums up the situation by saying: “Last year’s Watchlist was described as a wake-up call – this year’s delivers the message that we have more work to do, not less. While we do have some good news in terms of movement between categories, the added trend information that we have been able to introduce shows us that we need to be even more focussed. Those trends tell us that we are currently facing a worsening situation in terms of registrations across many of our breeds.
“We also have to factor in threats such as avian flu and bTB which have the potential to deliver catastrophic impacts on our rare breed populations. These threats, allied with economic factors which work against substantial increases in the numbers of livestock on the ground, highlight the importance of the RBST Gene Bank as an essential insurance policy for the future. That, in turn, means that we have to look at ways to substantially ramp up our fundraising efforts in order to raise the essential revenue that will enable us to continue our work.”
Pigs
 
The situation for our native pigs is causing major concern on this year’s Watchlist. Each breed is showing trends for reducing populations and registrations, highlighting that our native pig breeds face significant threats.
Due to significant fall in actual registrations and estimated population trends, RBST Conservation Committee agreed that the British Saddleback and Oxford Sandy and Black be moved from category 5 to 4 and the Berkshire and Tamworth from category 4 to 3.
It was also agreed that the application by the British Pig Association (BPA) for the British Landrace be recognised by RBST as a native rare breed be accepted and the breed has joined the Watchlist in Category 3.
Sheep
 
Sheep breeds represented some of the more positive aspects of this year’s Watchlist movements. With a trend for increasing numbers having been sustained for a third consecutive year, Boreray sheep have moved from Category 1 to Category 2 and with an increase sustained for a fourth year, the Oxford Down moves from Category 4 to 5.
Concerns over geographical concentration have meant that the Devon & Cornwall Longwool stays in Category 3 and, although the breed has seen an increase in numbers, the Conservation Committee felt that the Leicester Longwool should remain in Category 3 because of high levels of inbreeding. Numbers however continue to fall for the Border Leicester and Devon Closewool and with numbers having fallen below the 3,000 threshold the Llanwenog moves back into Category 5 from 6.
Cattle
 
Good news for cattle is the move of the Whitebred Shorthorn back to Category 2 after having dipped into Category 1 in 2011. Also improving is the Lincoln Red (100% original population) which has moved from Category 3 to 4 following four years of rising numbers.
Breeds which have seen significant declines in their populations from 2014 are the Northern Dairy Shorthorn, Original Population Dairy Shorthorn and the Vaynol. Smaller decreases in the past year were also noted for less rare breeds such as the Shetland, White Park and British White.
Equines
 
Described as a species in crisis in the 2015 Watchlist report, equines on the whole continue to struggle. The exceptions are the Cleveland Bay and Suffolk, all breeds which have seen increased registrations and breeding populations compared to the previous year.
Although still 7 animals over the upper threshold for Category 1, the Dales Pony has been moved from Category 2 to 1. This reflects risks represented by a significant fall in registration numbers and the estimated population trend, together with a possible geographical risk that has been highlighted by the breed society. Based on a fall in registrations and estimated population trend, the Dartmoor also moves, this time from Category 3 to 2, while the Exmoor stays in Category 2 due to high levels of inbreeding and decreasing numbers.
Protecting Poultry
 
The RBST Poultry Working Group (PWG) was formed in 2010 and the first UK Poultry Breeds at Risk list was published two years later. Like the Watchlist, the poultry list covers British-origin breeds although some by name would appear to be anything but British. The criterion used to decide ‘Britishness’ is how much of the breed’s history and development has taken place in the UK. In some cases, only certain types within a breed are covered by the Poultry Breeds at Risk list.
The PWG is the only group representing chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys that meets on a regular basis and it brings together senior representatives of the Poultry Club of Great Britain, the Rare Poultry Society, the Turkey Club, the Goose Club, the British Waterfowl Association and the Domestic Waterfowl Club. It is because of the authority this membership gives the group, that DEFRA worked with it to agree the Breeds at Risk List, in order to try to avoid the sort of situation that occurred with the FMD outbreak, when animals of other species were slaughtered unnecessarily.
Now, in the event of an outbreak, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and DEFRA representatives or vets arriving on premises should routinely ask whether any breeds at risk are present and wherever possible, these birds will be saved. The PWG stresses that it would greatly help its efforts in this area if owners were members of the relevant breed club. Breed clubs also have a key role in flagging up to the PWG any serious risk of a breed becoming extinct and a vital aspect of the group’s work is the development of action plans should such a situation arise.
Geese
The Poultry Breeds at Risk list is not categorised, but all eight Goose breeds on the list are regarded as priority. Registrars have been chosen to be the national link for each breed and RBST is funding the breeder questionnaire, which is available on the RBST website. Consideration is currently being given to adding the Roman goose to the list.
The reduction in the number of geese is of great concern to the PWG. One key factor is that goose is no longer the favoured table bird at Christmas and there are fewer small farms or substantial gardens where it is feasible to keep a pair of geese.
Ducks
There are 14 duck breeds in total on the list and five of these are currently considered as priority breeds. Registrars who will be the national contacts for each breed are in the process of being appointed.
Turkeys
Despite turkey deposing the goose on the Christmas table, all 10 turkey breeds on the list are regarded as priority.
Chickens
Of the 40 chicken breeds listed, just over half are regarded as priority.
See the full list of poultry breeds here.
Photos by: Peter Mawson, John Green, Croad Langshan Breeders Society, Colin Murton, Janet Todhunter, Ruth Dalton, Richard Lutwyche, Oxford Sandy and Black Pig Society and British Pig Association
Grazing Advice for Meadows
Did you know that hay meadow species diversity is increased when grazing and cutting are combined, rather than cutting alone? Grazing animals can also take the place of a hay cut on sites where access is difficult or equipment is hard to obtain and native breeds of cattle, sheep or ponies can have a hugely beneficial effect on species richness.
The Coronation Meadows project is able to offer advice and support on grazing through the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's Field Officers, Ruth Dalton (North) and Richard Broad (South) - this could take the form of a phone chat, site visit or even a training session. If you're already carrying out grazing with native breeds and would be willing to host a farm walk with a discussion on the benefits of conservation grazing, please do contact Ruth or Richard.
If you are interested in learning more about conservation grazing, follow this linkand see our available courses.
Ruth Dalton
E: ruth@rbst.org.uk T: 01539 816223
Richard Broad
E: r.broad@rbst.org.uk T: 07772 007399
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