Your Help is Needed to Protect Britain’s Native Livestock Breeds for Future Generations

The RBST’s ReGENEration Appeal was established to protect listed breeds from the effects of epidemics such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which will inevitably occur in the future. This appeal will provide an essential resource for breeders and farmers in the changing UK agricultural and rural climate.

More funds are still needed to support the ReGENEration Appeal, launched in 2001. We have received many donations towards a number of valuable projects:-

The National Genetic Archive

Although the Trust had for many years collected, stored and distributed rare breed cattle semen, the need to expand the archive to include other farm species became urgent as a result of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic.

The Appeal enables us to use developing technology to establish a collection of semen, embryos and other genetic samples from all of the species we conserve to protect them against the danger of another catastrophe.

The National Rare Breeds Library

The second major project funded by the appeal was the development of the National Rare Breeds Library at Stoneleigh.

The Library was opened in 2003, it will eventually house and extensive collection of flock, herd and studbooks, together with other written material and photographs as well as electronic records. The establishment of this library was funded by the Tubney Trust. If you would like to visit the Library please contact us on the number listed below.

Both these long-term projects are destined to run for many years alongside the Trust’s other conservation work. Their ultimate success will be possible only with your help. We are almost halfway to our target of £2.5 million needed for these projects. If you would like to make a donation please click here and use the online facilities or contact the Trust on 024 7669 6551 for further details.