About Rare Breeds Canada
Rare Breeds Canada is a federally registered charitable organization formed in 1987. We are working to conserve, monitor and promote heritage and rare breeds of Canadian farm animals.
Conservation takes many forms: we work to increase populations, encourage registration of pure stock, assist farmers to find breeding stock, educate the public, maintain a bank of rare semen and create networks so farmers can find and exchange stock and find markets for their produce.
Markets are developing for heritage meats–in many cases demand outstrips supply. Thanks to years of dedicated work by Livestock Conservation organization around the world, there is a glimmer of hope for heritage breeds. As long as we will eat them, farmers will keep them.
Many breeds that played a vital part in feeding Canadians in the past are still in danger of extinction. Our annual Conservation List takes the pulse of these fragile populations. Rare Breeds Canada also collects data in targeted census counts to understand population distribution.
Food security is an important issue in our conservation effort. The genetics of the older rustic breeds have qualities that are in demand now and may be invaluable in the future. Today’s industrial farming methods of intensification and specialization have put our food supply at risk by creating a dangerous dependency on a narrow genetic base and highly mechanized management.
Heritage breeds are thrifty, easy keepers– are disease resistant, birth easily, and have superior mothering abilities. Chefs and cheese makers all over the world are excited about the superior taste of heritage meat.
Heritage breeds are ideally suited to organic and sustainable agriculture systems such as rotational grazing and natural, outdoor livestock housing. They complement smallholdings and can be equally successful commercially in the developing niche markets for conscientious consumers.
Membership
Our membership extends across Canada, with local chapters in Eastern Ontario,and Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands. If you would like an information package please contact the office, (email is preferred). We also invite corporate memberships. Do you know a like-minded organization? Send their contact information and we will invitee them to join –or send a link to our site.
As we receive no outside support, memberships and donations sustain us.
Your membership and donations will help RBC preserve the genetic diversity of farm animals that have important historical and agricultural significance. Become a supporter of Rare Breeds Canada–your support will make a difference.
Mission Statement
Rare Breeds Canada’ss mission is to make Canadians more aware of their agricultural heritage and, through education and niche marketing, involve them in conserving endangered breeds of farm livestock and poultry.
Vision
Rare Breeds Canada envisions a future where Canadians are aware of their agricultural heritage and are involved in the preservation of endangered breeds of farm livestock and poultry, both nationally and internationally. This involvement will be through a broad spectrum of sustainable Canadian farms, which are economically and ecologically responsible, viable over the long term and will not deplete their resource base. In this vision, the gene pool will be preserved in the form of living animals as well as in gene banks.
Mandate
To actively encourage the preservation of and to increase the number of, domestic livestock including poultry that have had commercial value in Canada and are now in danger of extinction, i.e. heritage livestock.
To rescue and increase the population of breeds that are of historical significance in Canada.
To educate the public as to the importance of our rescue mission and to the necessity of maintaining these breeds as a gene pool for future use in a rapidly changing world.
To maintain and increase these endangered breeds of livestock in ways that will enhance their commercial value.
To re-establish breeds no longer existing in Canada but formerly of commercial value. This must be governed by world population and breed trends.
To liaise with other organizations of similar mandates.