Why Rare Breed Conservation Matters More Than You Think
Rare breed conservation is the deliberate effort to protect and restore endangered livestock and poultry breeds that have been pushed to the brink of extinction by industrial agriculture. In Canada, more than 30 heritage breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens are classified as at risk, with some populations numbering fewer than 200 breeding animals worldwide. These breeds represent centuries of careful selection by farmers who shaped genetics to thrive in specific climates, resist local diseases, and produce exceptional meat, wool, or eggs without the intensive inputs modern hybrids demand. The work happens on farms, not in gene banks. Unlike wildlife conservation that relies on protected habitats, rare breed ...
