The Livestock Conservancy

The Livestock Conservancy’s mission is to protect endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction. We serve 190+ heritage cattle, chicken, donkey, duck, goose, goat, horse, pig, rabbit, sheep, and turkey breeds.

What is The Livestock Conservancy?

We are a successful, financially secure national organization with regional strength and international influence. Our 46 years of work support the development of healthy markets and farm profitability for rare breeds. The Livestock Conservancy works with rare breed stewards and others to achieve broad public recognition of the value of breed diversity. We are a leader in breed conservation and promote the genetic health of endangered breeds of livestock and poultry. Read more on our website.

Why is genetic diversity important?

Like all ecological systems, agriculture depends on genetic diversity. In domestic animals, genetic diversity is revealed in distinct breeds, each with different characteristics and uses. Biodiversity is necessary to adapt food systems to an ever-changing environment. Heritage breeds retain essential attributes for survival and self-sufficiency. These include fertility, foraging ability, longevity, hardiness, maternal instincts, and resistance to diseases and parasites. As agricultural needs change, genetic diversity will be necessary to ensure adequate food and fiber production. Once lost, genetic diversity is gone forever.

What Are Heritage Breeds?

Heritage breeds are traditional livestock and poultry breeds raised and stewarded for generations. Some of the breeds on the Conservation Priority List have been found in America for more than 500 years. These breeds were carefully selected over time to emphasize the traits that made them successful in their local environments. They thrived under farming practices and cultural conditions, often very different from those found in our modern agricultural systems.

Heritage breeds are in danger of extinction. As agriculture changed over the years, many of these breeds fell out of favor. Heritage breeds store a wealth of genetic resources that are important for our future and the future of our global agricultural food systems.

For more information, please visit www.livestockconservancy.org.