WHAT IS AN ENDANGBREED?

It is difficult to imagine thbe in danger of extinctionexperts at the United Natiall livestock breeds are inextinct. These endangere“heritage breeds.” Theseof genetic diversity for faworld.

The American Livestock (ALBC) monitors the statpoultry breeds throughoucategorize endangered heCritical, Rare, and Watch

“Critical” livestock breedthan 200 North Americanan estimated population oworld. "Critical” poultryfewer than 1,000 breedingStates.

“Rare” livestock breeds a1,000 annual registrationsan estimated world populanimals. “Rare” poultry bfewer than 2,000 breedingStates.

“Watch” livestock breedsfewer than 2,500 annual rAmerica and an estimatedthan 10,000 animals. “Waless than 10,000 breedingStates.

WHY BE CONCERNEDENDANGERED LIVES

Heritage breeds have manare important to preserve.

CNatural Resource

ENDANGERED LIVESTOCK ANDPOULTRY BREEDS

onservation Information Sheet Biology Series

NRCS, MichiganFeb.2000

ERED LIVESTOCK

at farm animals could. However, according toons, almost one-third of danger of becomingd animals are known as breeds provide a reservermers throughout the

Breeds Conservancyus of livestock andt North America. Theyritage breeds into.

s are defined as fewer annual registrations andf less than 2,000 in the breeds are defined as females in the United

re defined as fewer than in North America andation of less than 5,000reeds are defined as females in the United

are heritage breeds withegistrations in North world population of lesstch” poultry breeds have females in the United

ABOUTTOCK BREEDS?

y valuable qualities that Some breeds produce a

larger number of offspring or tolerate extremeweather conditions better than common breeds

Some heritage breeds have longer life spans orpossess better disease resistances than commonbreeds.

Modern agricultural practices favor a handful ofhighly specialized livestock breeds. For example90% of the dairy cattle in the U.S. today areHolsteins and the number one egg-laying chickenbreed, the Leghorn, dominates the poultryindustry. If a specialized disease attacked thesebreeds, our food supply would be drasticallyaffected. Just like in our natural landscapes, it isimportant to maintain genetic diversity. Theseover-looked heritage breeds could hold the genetickeys for the future of agriculture.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?Tables 1 and 2 identify the endangered livestockand poultry breeds in the United States asrecognized by the American Livestock BreedsConservancy. The ALBC provides informationregarding each one of these endangered breeds.By contacting them (See For Further Information),you can become more familiar about the uniquecharacteristics of each breed.

s Conservation Service (NRCS) Feb. 2000

Conservation Information Sheet - Bio

Page 2 of 4 NRCS, MichiganFEB 2000

You may decide to raise these unique breeds on asmall scale. That will help in ensuring that theseunusual and unique breeds will be maintained forthe future. These heritage breeds need landownerswho are interested in raising and propagatingthem.

Raising heritage breeds may provide an excellentproject for young adults, especially for 4-HScouting projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONFor further information contact:

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy , P.O.Box 477, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312www.albc-usa.org

New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy Inc.,P.O. Box 20, Richmond, MA 01254www.nehbc.org

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate meansfor communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaintof discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Conservation Information Sheet - Bio

Page 3 of 4 NRCS, MichiganFEB 2000

Table 1. Endangered Livestock Breeds.

CRITICAL RARE WATCH

CATTLE

Canadienne* Ankole-Watusi AyrshireDutch Belted Dexter Belted GallowayFlorida Cracker* Red Poll GallowayKerry GuernseyMilking Devon* HighlandPineywoods* Milking ShorthornRandall Lineback*White Park

HORSES

Akhal-Teke Dartmoor ClydesdaleAmerican Cream* Hackney horse FriesianCanadian* Lipizzan GotlandCaspian Rocky Mountain* ShireCleveland BayExmoorMountain Pleasure*Spanish Mustang*Spanish Barb*

PIGS

Choctaw* TamworthGloucestershire Old SpotsHerefordGuinea Hog*Large BlackSaddleback

SHEEP

California Variegated Mutant - Cotswold BarbadosRomeldale* Jacob American* Blackbelly*Gulf Coast Native* Karakul American* Dorset Horn

Leicester Longwool Katahdin*Wiltshire Horn OxfordNavajo-Churro* ShetlandSt. Croix*Tunis*

*Unique to North America

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Page 4 of 4 NRCS, MichiganFEB 2000

Table 2: Endangered Poultry Breeds

CRITICAL RARE WATCH

CHICKENS

Ancona Brown Leghorn Barred Plymouth Rock*Black Jersey Giant* Black AustralorpBlack Minorca New Hampshire*White Wyandotte* Rhode Island Red*Delaware*Dominique*White Jersey Giant*

TURKEYS

Black Bourbon Red* Broad-breasted Bronze*Standard Bronze*Narragansett*Royal Palm*

GEESE

American Buff* ToulousePilgrim*

DUCKS

Cayuga Rouen* Indian RunnerKhaki Campbell

* Originated in the U.S.