WSP05005

• File Number: 8021
• Description: Section D General Studies - Western States Water Council
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 9/1/1990
• Author: Land Institute
• Title: The Land Report - The Land Report - Fall 1990
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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for many other minor breeds.
Most breeds arrived in the U.S. during the
colonial period, and importations have continued
since then. The Milking Devon again is an interest,
ing case to consider. This breed was quite common in
New England during the colonial period due to its
versatility as a draft, milk, and beef animal. How-
ever, in its country of origin it was decided that the
Devon should be bred for greater beef production, and
the milking and draft qualities were ignored. This
resulted in the forlnation of the Beef Devon breed.
The original triple- purpose Devon became known as
the Milking Devon, and its numbers declined rapidly
in Great Britain. By this century, the U.S. contained
the larger number of Milking Devon stock closest to
the original animal, and thus has became an impor-
tant source for future breeding."

Many other breeds face similar futures unless
more people become aware of the importance of main-
taining genetic diversity. These breeds, once common
but now rare, represent irreplaceable genetic adapta,
tion to farming systems closer to our sustainable ideal
than anything agribusiness can provide for us today.
As we aim for sustainable agriculture, it is important
that we incorporate sustainable breeds and maintain
genetic diversity. How do we go about saving these
minor breeds?
The American Minor Breeds Conservancy is a
..' non,profit organization dedicated to the preservation
of these breeds. Founded in 1977, membership now
stands near 2700 and includes more than 700 breed-
ers who raise rare breeds. Public education about the
importance of minor breeds and the genetic diversity
they represent is one of the functions of the AMBC.
The AMBC provides information about minor breeds
and their breeders and gives technical support to
breed associations. A semen bank for rare breeds is
also part of AMBC's operation.
The AMBC categorizes breeds according to
population size and numbers of individual registra,
tions per year. They label cattle and horse breeds
"rare" if there are fewer than 200 registrations per
year, and sheep, goats, and pigs if there are fewer
than 500 registrations per year. A "minor" category
is given to those breeds with fewer than 1000 regis,
trations per year, 2000 in the case of pigs. A "watch"
category is given to breeds whose registration over a
25 year period have shown a steady decline or where
registrations are fewer than 5000 per year. The
AMBC also monitors feral populations, which are
escaped domestics known to have been running wild
for at least 100 years with no known introductions of
outside blood. Breeds may also be included or placed
in a more critical category if they have large numbers
but a limited number of blood lines or geographical
distribution.'o

With more emphasis on sustainable agricul-
ture, the outlook for minor breeds should be positive.
An increased understanding of the importance of
genetic diversity is a positive step for the preserva'
tion of these breeds. Although many are maintained
by peoples' interest in the breed rather than their
economic importance, their suitability to certain types
of agricultural systems should boost their numbers.
As people become more concerned about the inhu-
mane treatment of confinement operation pigs, the
shift to outdoor pork production will demand breeds
suited to that purpose. Many pig breeds such as the
Tamworth or Gloucester Old Spot were developed
under an outdoor foraging system and should become
increasingly important in the development offorage-
raised pork. The Tamworth, a distinctive ginger,red
breed from England, is particularly suited to outdoor
operations since it is not susceptible to sunburn like
many all white breeds and produces high quality
meat as well."
Dual purpose cattle, such as the Irish Dexter,
providing both meat and milk have proven to be the
ideal family cow in situations where small size and
efficient forage utilization are important. The Dexter
is the smallest breed of cattle; cows commonly weigh
650 pounds, and bulls weigh around 800 pounds.
Their numbers have been increasing in recent
years." As with the Tamworth pigs, those cattle
breeds more suited to foraging should increase in
numbers as emphasis shifts to low-input systems.
Rising fossil fuel costs and pressure by animal rights
groups could make it increasingly difficult to main-
tain highly developed breeds dependent on high
nutrient feeds and expensive conflnement housing.
As fuel costs increase, draft animals may again
be economical to use. Many of the minor breeds
today are draft horses which were very prevalent
earlier this century. The shift to mechanized farming
was so rapid that it caused the population of draft

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Suffolk Punch. Photo provided by AMBC.

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