Preserving our living heritage

If we don't eat them they will not survive

Promoting the eating of rare breeds may, at first, seem an odd way of conserving them. But unlike wild animals, farm stock has to pay its way.

Please don't fall into the trap of thinking that because these are "rare" we should not be eating them. In fact the only way these breeds will survive is if we eat their non-breeding produce. These are farm animals as opposed to tigers or pandas and need a market to encourage people to keep them. The more demand there is for their produce, the less rare they become. In other words, by eating them you are helping to save them.

Why are these breeds at risk?

Mostly these breeds became rare because they did not fit with modern, intensive systems of production. They are more suited to a natural diet without artificial growth promoters. This means that they mature more slowly and are not so profitable for agribusiness.

Mainly for this reason, more than 20 unique breeds of British farm animals became extinct Between 1900 and 1973 - their genetic diversity lost forever. Lost also is the unique character and taste of their meat.

Is preserving rare & traditional breeds really so important?

It's not just taste we would lose! Nor their individual looks and charm. Rare and traditional breeds are becoming increasingly important in restoring and preserving our countryside - especially grassland habitats and wild flowers.

So, preserving rare and traditional breeds is an essential part of greener farming systems and helping the environment - as well as improving the quality of the food we eat!

Increasing the demand for rare & traditional breed meat products increases their chance of survival...

You can help us make extinction a thing of the past and preserve our native farm livestock heritage by eating their produce - and getting your friends and family to do the same!

More than 70% of meat sales in the UK is through the major supermarkets. Rare breeds do not fit with their need for a standard (we would say bland and poor quality) product in large quantities. That's why these breeds became rare in the first place, because they don't fare well in industrial farming systems.

The bigger the market there is for traditional and rare breed meat the more people there will be who can afford to keep them. So by eating our products you will be helping us to save these breeds.

...as well as a happier life

Rare and traditional breeds do not flourish in intensive, industrial farming systems. They like the outdoor life and natural foods. So buying from small producers like us means your meat comes from animals who have had a happy life.

Visit and find out more

If you would like to know more about traditional & rare breeds, or just see how we keep our livestock, why not visit our Farmcraft rare breed centre.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a national body working to preserve all our rare and endangered farm animals, including horses, poultry and goats, as well as sheep, cattle and pigs. Their website has detailed information on the status of all breeds at risk; why preservation is so important; and what can be done to help.