Welcome to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust

 Throughout the world one breed of farm animal becomes extinct every month. RBST is working to make sure that this does not happen in the UK.

 Between 1900 and 1973 we lost 26 native breeds of livestock in this country, in addition to many varieties of poultry. Breeds with evocative names such as the Goonhilly ponies, Somerset Sheeted cattle, Lincolnshire Curly Coated pigs, and Limestone sheep, were all lost.

 In 1973 RBST was founded to save our native breeds and since then no breed has become extinct.

  RBST is working to secure the future of our native breeds and to promote the important role they play in the conservation of genetic diversity, landscape management, agriculture and as part of our heritage and cultural identity. 

    As the UK’s only charity dedicated to conserving Britain’s native farm livestock, our work relies upon the support of our members. If you would like to join RBST or help support our work by making a donation please click on Join Us or How You Can Help  

More funds are still needed to support the ReGENEration Appeal, launched in 2001. Among the projects is the establishment of a National Bank of Genetic Resources, in which will be stored semen, embryos and other genetic samples from all of the species we conserve to protect them from the effects of epidemics such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which inevitably will occur in the future. We are almost halfway to our target of £2.5 million needed for these projects.

To get the most from this website please view the site guide.