Livestock Breeds
Parameters of Livestock Breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority
List (2006)
Livestock breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List generally
conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.
- The breed is from one of the seven traditional U.S. livestock
species: asses, cattle, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, and sheep.
Rabbit parameters are defined separately.
- The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:
- Critical: Fewer than 200 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 2,000.
- Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 5,000.
- Watch: Fewer than 2,500 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 10,000. Also included are breeds that present genetic
or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.
- Recovering: Breeds that were once listed
in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers
but are still in need of monitoring.
- Study: Breeds that are of genetic interest
but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical
documentation.
- The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it
reproduces the breed type).
- The breed has an established and continuously breeding population
in the United States since 1925. Or, if imported or developed
since 1925,
- The foundation stock is no longer available.
- Must be below global guidelines for inclusion (see #2).
- Must have at least three breeding lines in the United States.
- Must have at least twenty breeding females in the United
States.
- Must have at least five breeders in different locations in
the United States.
- Must have an association of breeders in the United States.
- Must be contributing to the breed’s survival internationally.
In general this means that:
- the United States population is reciprocal to other international
populations. Registry must be sanctioned by the mother organization
so as not to be a dead-end for the breed, and breeding stock
must be licensed according to the rules of mother organization;
- or is an important and numerous population when compared
to that in other countries;
- or the non-United States populations of the breed are at
risk geographically or politically.
Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the “Study”
category and monitored.
Parameters of Rabbit Breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority
List (2006)
Rabbit breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List generally
conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.
- The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:
- Critical: Fewer than 50 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 500.
- Threatened: Fewer than 100 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 1,000.
- Watch: Fewer than 200 annual registrations
in the United States and estimated global population less
than 2,000. Also included are breeds that present genetic
or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.
- Recovering: Breeds that were once listed
in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers
but are still in need of monitoring.
- Study: Breeds that are of genetic interest
but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical
documentation.
- The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it
reproduces the breed type).
- The breed has an established and continuously breeding population
in the United States since 1925. Or, if imported or developed
since 1925,
- The foundation stock is no longer available.
- Must be below global guidelines for inclusion (see #1).
- Must have at least five breeders in different locations in
the United States.
- The global population is threatened and the United States
population is making a contribution to conservation of the breed.
Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the “Study”
category and monitored. |
Note: Clicking on a breed name will open a page about the breed
(when available).
American breeds are in bold. |
Breeds unique to North America are printed in bold.
(F) Feral populations or breed of feral origin.
1 Includes Spanish Mustang, Spanish Barb, Sulphur, Choctaw,
Pryor Mountain, Wilbur-Cruce, Cerbat Mountain, among others.
Listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste |
Conservation categories are based on the estimated number of
breeding birds, males and females, and the number of breeding flocks.
Given the vulnerability of poultry to predators, the number of flocks
is important. "Conservation breeding flocks" are those
of 50 birds and above. |
Parameters of Poultry Breeds on ALBC Conservation
Priority List (2006)
Poultry breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List generally
conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.
- The breed is from one of the four traditional U.S. poultry species
(chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys).
- A bantam breed may be listed if there is no large fowl counterpart.
- The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:
- Critical: Fewer than 500 breeding birds in the United
States, with five or fewer primary breeding flocks (50 birds
or more), and globally endangered.
- Threatened: Fewer than 1,000 breeding birds in the
United States, with seven or fewer primary breeding flocks,
and globally endangered.
- Watch: Fewer than 5,000 breeding birds in the United
States, with ten or fewer primary breeding flocks, and globally
endangered. Also included are breeds with genetic or numerical
concerns or limited geographic distribution.
- Recovering: Breeds that were once listed in another
category and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are
still in need of monitoring.
- Study: Breeds that are of interest but either lack
definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.
- The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it reproduces
the breed type.)
- The breed has had an established and continuously breeding population
in North America since 1925. Or, if imported or developed since
1925,
- The foundation stock is no longer available.
- Must meet numeric guidelines for inclusion.
- Must have at least five breeders in different locations in
the United States.
- The global population is threatened and the United States population
is making a contribution to conservation of the breed.
Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the "Study"
category and monitored. |
Note: Clicking on a breed name will open a page about the breed
(when available). American breeds are in bold. |
NOTES
Breeds unique to North America are printed in bold.
1 Araucanas and Ameraucanas are often confused with
each other, and may be sold interchangeably.
2 May be extinct.
3 “Heritage turkeys" is a phrase now popularly
used to describe naturally-mating varieties of turkeys, most of
which have standards defined by the American Poultry Association.
All of the turkeys listed here, EXCEPT the Broad Breasted Bronze,
may be called “heritage.”
Listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste |
Revised April 2006
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