Policy paper

Native livestock breeds: reducing extinction risk

Published 18 June 2021

The UK has over 160 different native breeds of livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, equines and poultry). As well as being a significant aspect of our cultural heritage, our native breeds provide resilience to both the UK’s food supply chain and the rural economy.

They also play an integral role in providing ecosystem services including environmental land management and promoting biodiversity. The UK government has made several domestic and international legal commitments to protect our native livestock breeds.

This policy paper covers the reasons for population declines and what government is doing to support our native breeds. However, the focus will be on the actions that individual breeders and breed societies can take, supported by government, to bring our native breeds back from the brink of extinction.

Background

Our traditional, native breeds are adapted to thrive in the UK’s landscapes and climate. Many breeds flourish on marginal, unimproved ground, show increased longevity compared to larger continental breeds, tend to give birth with minimal intervention and often display greater resilience to endemic pests and diseases (Pasture-Fed Livestock Association, 2018). As such, native breeds are a valuable genetic resource which need to be conserved.

Based on the UK National Breed Inventory for 2020, almost 80% of the UK’s native livestock breeds are currently at risk of extinction. The many valuable adaptive traits that our farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) contain could be lost forever if any breed becomes extinct before the genetic basis of these traits are well understood.

Causes of native breed population decline

Agricultural systems have become increasingly intensified with UK farmers stocking faster-growing, larger and more productive single-use non-native breeds than in the past (Canali, 2006). This has led to a reduction in the population sizes of most of our native livestock breeds, with many now at risk of extinction due to:

• small breeding populations of native breeds increasing the risk of inbreeding which severely reduces genetic diversity (McGivney et al., 2020)
• geographically concentrated populations, including many hill sheep breeds, for which disease outbreaks pose a major threat (Carson et al., 2009).
• lower perceived economic value of native breeds, as well as restricted access to markets and related services, such as local abattoirs
• lack of human interest in maintaining native breeds, particularly of equine breeds which are often kept but not bred
• small breed societies lacking the resources to run unified breeding programmes with associated performance recording schemes
• limited cryogenic reserves (i.e. frozen semen and embryos held in gene banks)
• a combination of some or all of the above

Actions

The government and industry supports native livestock breeds in the following ways:

FAnGR Committee

The Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee (FAnGR) provides advice to Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on all issues relating to farm animal genetic resources, particularly its conservation and sustainable use. The FAnGR Committee also determines which breeds meet the criteria for native breed at risk (NBAR) status. See our list of UK native animal breeds at risk.

UK National Breed Inventory

Defra monitors the number of pedigree farm animals, including native breeds through the UK National Breed Inventory. Data for the inventory is collected on an annual basis.

In addition to identifying breeds at risk of extinction, the inventory also provides an insight into emerging population trends over time. For instance, population numbers of a breed may be declining either gradually or precipitously before the absolute (or estimated) number of breeding females reaches the threshold to be formally classified as a ‘breed at risk’.

In 2020, the national breed inventory was expanded to include data on poultry populations and cryogenic reserves (frozen semen and embryos) of all species. It is important that we continue to monitor native breed populations, but also improve and expand the inventory as well as implement other measures to mitigate the risk of extinction.

Contingency planning for notifiable animal disease outbreaks

In the case of a notifiable exotic animal disease outbreak (for example, foot and mouth disease) the government will work to control and eradicate the disease. During such an outbreak, legislation provides for the culling of animals for disease control reasons. Animals on the UK breeds at risk register may be spared from culling in very limited circumstances to conserve a species, breed or genetic resource.

Derogation from culling will only be granted if it does not endanger disease control and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis following the review of each flock or herd’s detailed contingency plan. This active, regularly updated health plan that includes good biosecurity which limits the introduction and spread of infectious disease is fundamental for the health and welfare of all herds and flocks.

The FAnGR committee have produced guidelines to assist breeders and breed societies with preparing an contingency plan for breeds at risk. These should be enacted as soon as a notifiable disease outbreak is declared.

Keepers of native breeds at risk are particularly encouraged to have such plans in place.

Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST)

The conservation of native breeds as a genetic resource is supported by charities such as the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). The RBST monitors the number of rare and native breeds in the UK by collecting data annually from breed societies which is shared with Defra to produce the RBST’s annual watchlist, similar to Defra’s UK National Breed Inventory.

RBST also runs the UK National Livestock Gene Bank which collects and stores genetics from animals in the form of semen and embryos. Finally, RBST provides support and encouragement to breeders and widely promotes the use of rare and native breeds for food, fibre and conservation grazing.

Actions to mitigate extinction

Expanding the UK National Breed Inventory

There are limitations to the information that the inventory statistics capture meaning the ‘at risk’ status of many breeds may be underestimated. For example, the numbers collected currently do not indicate the:

• location of a breed (for example, whether the population is widespread or geographically concentrated)
• age distribution within the population (for example, what percentage of the population is still capable of producing the next generation)
• number of herds or flocks per population

Many of our native breeds, including many hill sheep breeds, are geographically concentrated. This means that all or most of the animals of a certain breed are clustered within a relatively small area (Carson et al., 2009). Disease outbreaks present a major threat to such populations. Also, populations of breeds that consist of only a small number of herds or flocks can be significantly impacted if any one herd or flock is lost or ceases breeding.

Defra will continue to work with breed societies to expand data collection for the annual inventory to ensure all our native breeds are included. We will also aim to obtain a better overview of the geographical concentration, age distribution and number of separate herds or flocks within populations.

Due to the delay in collecting and recording population data compared to events happening on the ground, we will be encouraging RBST and other relevant parties to alert the FAnGR committee/Defra/the devolved administrations of any immediate changes to breed trends or developments. Defra will work with breed societies of populations identified as declining and heading towards at risk status before they reach the threshold number.

Breeding programmes

Maintaining genetic diversity within breeds is key. NBAR often have specific challenges to overcome when trying to maintain this genetic diversity or implement genetic improvement programmes. These include small numbers of animals in the breed, limited numbers of sires, a small genetic pool and potentially high levels of inbreeding.

Inbreeding and lack of genetic diversity within a NBAR population increases the likelihood of hereditary defects or other genetic diseases detrimental to the breed appearing within the population. Breed societies should encourage individual keepers to report any suspected new genetic anomaly that may have arisen in their flock/herd. Early detection and removal of affected individuals plus identification of any carriers of the defect will help ensure the long-term health of the breed.

Some breed societies run breed advisory schemes to promote the genetic health of the breed and assist their members to select appropriate animals for mating (for example, Cleveland Horse Bay Society: Sparks Data Sheets). These schemes use software packages to identify sires based on how related individual animals are to others and therefore what the potential inbreeding coefficient of any progeny might be. The assessment does not consider the physical attributes of any animal or potential progeny which remains up to the keeper’s judgement.

Several breed societies are also attempting to improve the economic viability of their breed by selecting for key traits. This is done by monitoring performance and combining it with pedigree data to produce estimated breeding values (EBVs) and breeding indices for a range of parameters including litter size, maternal ability, growth rates, meat leanness, resilience to intestinal worm burden etc. (for example, see Signet Breeding Services or ABRI Breedplan).

Smaller breed societies may not have the finances, expertise or time to provide formal organisational frameworks and programmes necessary to plan and operate such a unified breeding programme or performance recording scheme. Defra’s genetic resources team together with expert advisors on the FAnGR committee can offer support and advice to breed societies to create a breeding programme. Contact FAnGR at fangr@defra.gov.uk for more information.

Defra will work closely with breed societies to ensure the continued existence of our UK native breeds of livestock.

Mitigating extinction through productivity

Breeders of NBAR populations are often small-scale livestock producers. They face numerous challenges including restricted access to markets and related services, environmental constraints and limited capacity. All these impede their productivity and competitiveness which then restricts the numbers of animals they are willing to breed.

Breed societies, RBST and the wider sector have a range of initiatives that encourage the use of native breeds for environmental management projects and/or promote high-value native breed products (including speciality meat, wool and eggs). An increasing number of native breed keepers, independent butchers and other food suppliers promote and sell local, traceable produce direct to customers using both local and on-line marketing.

These strategies can be profitable for keepers and can provide a regular demand for our native breeds, thus helping maintain their populations. However, local infrastructure is important for this to be effective. Local small/medium abattoirs that are willing to process slower growing, horned animals are required as it is not uncommon for large abattoirs to refuse to work with small producers.

There are also successful supermarket schemes that pay a premium for native breed ‘sire-verified’ beef and pork. These usually focus on breeds from large populations such as Aberdeen Angus or Beef Shorthorn Cattle, although some supermarket programmes also include products from breeds at risk. Examples include Morrisons’ Beef Shorthorn scheme which includes beef from offspring of Whitebred Shorthorn Bulls and Waitrose’s free-range British Pork scheme which includes meat from Hampshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire Old Spot sired animals.

Such supermarket-driven programmes may not be appropriate for native livestock breeds whose supply cannot meet demand, due to at-risk populations tending to be small and dispersed across several small herds/flocks. In addition, these schemes can be linked to a single supermarket chain which may risk a sudden cease in demand if the product is no longer sold.

Ecosystem services

In addition to being farmed for their produce, our native breeds have been shown to play an important role in delivering a wide range of additional ecosystem services. For further information, see the FAO’s report on the contributions of livestock species and breeds to ecosystem services.

When managed appropriately (Hall, 2018), livestock grazing, browsing, trampling, urinating and dunging can:

• increase plant productivity, biodiversity and land cover
• help control weeds and invasive species
• improve soil health, which in turn can:
  • increase grassland’s ability to sequester greenhouse gases
  • have positive effects on water infiltration and filtering, leading to improved water quality in our water courses, reduced soil erosion and reduced risk of flooding

Further research is required to ascertain the full range of ecosystem services that our native breeds provide to society. For instance, current mathematical models for determining greenhouse gas emissions from livestock are based on limited experimental data obtained from commercial breeds that consume a different diet than that of our native breeds (Lynch, 2019). The positive environmental impacts of native breeds may be underestimated.

Ex-situ conservation and gene banks

Genetic resources can be conserved through ex-situ ‘gene bank’ collections, frozen semen and embryos, also known as cryogenic resources. There are several reasons why cryogenic resources are kept, including to:

• ensure future genetic diversity
• improve current breeding programmes by re-introducing important genetic traits that may have been lost or become diminished in the in-situ population for example semen from a desired sire can be used many years after the death of the animal
• safeguard breeds for the future for exampleby reconstructing an entire breed especially after an infectious disease epidemic (although there are limitations to this method)
• carry out semen quality checks, including analysis of sperm viability and mobility, plus screening for infectious agents
• assist breeders with small herds/flocks, who through an artificial insemination scheme can keep a small herd of females without requiring a male (for example, Longhorn Cattle Society)
• provide material for scientific research

Recognizing the importance of cryogenic resources for the conservation of genetic diversity, the most recent release of the UK National Breed Inventory includes a list of ex situ collections in the UK. While gene bank collections are an important reserve, they cannot completely substitute for the physical in-situ population.

The limitations include:

• not all stored embryos will be viable
• pregnancy rates from frozen semen are lower than rates obtained from fresh or chilled semen in some species (for example, sheep)
• small number of embryos/embryo donors can increase the risk of inbreeding.
• older stored samples may not meet current and future health requirements as infectious disease testing becomes more stringent over time.
• sample collection plus on-going maintenance of a gene bank are expensive.
• it is difficult to gene bank poultry breeds successfully.

Despite some limitations, gene banking is an important tool for the conservation of genetic diversity in our rare and native breeds and we would recommend that breed societies take this action where possible. Defra will continue to collect and monitor data on cryogenic reserves as part of the annually published UK National Breed Inventory.

Defra’s genetic resources team together with expert advisors on the FAnGR committee can offer support and advice to breed societies wanting to improve ‘back-up’ plans in the form of ex-situ collections to ensure the resilience of their breed’s population.

Support for native breeds in the future

The genetic resources chapter in the Nature Strategy 2030, expected to be published in spring 2022, will provide more detailed commitments that Defra and our partners will make to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of our native livestock breeds.

Defra will also investigate potential support for native breeds under the funding powers included within the Agriculture Act 2020 at 1(1)(g) regarding the conservation of native livestock, native equines or genetic resources relating to any such animal, as well as under the new environmental land management (ELM) schemes.

Contact us

fangr@defra.gov.uk