RBST founded as a charity
breeds on watchlist
Why our Native Breeds matter
RBST is the charity that exists to conserve and promote our native livestock and equine breeds, whether sheep, cattle, pigs or poultry, as sustainable alternatives to the intensively farmed breeds that have come to dominate our countryside in recent decades.
Perfectly adapted to our landscapes
Our original native breeds are now beginning to be recognised as extraordinary animals which bring incredible benefits to nature, living and working in harmony with our countryside. Perfectly adapted to our landscapes, thriving in a variety of environments, they can help restore degraded soil, improve our biodiversity, provide public benefits and provide commercial opportunities including meat, eggs, wools and skins.
Fundamental to the future of sustainable farming
The genetic pool that our native breeds represent is fundamental to the future of sustainable livestock farming, particularly with the need to reduce artificial inputs, improve disease resistance and address the challenges of climate change.
A major contribution to our rural economy
Native breeds provide a major contribution to our rural economy, both economic and culturally. There are around 30,000 herds and flocks of native breeds in the UK. They contribute over £700 million to UK local economies.
A part of our national identity and heritage
Native breeds are part of our national identity and heritage – and they represent a unique piece of the earth’s biodiversity. We have inherited a rich variety of livestock breeds and their loss would impoverish agriculture and diminish the human spirit. We must work together, for the sake of future generations, to safeguard these treasures.
Our Goals
RBST recognises the importance of evidence-based decision making. We will ensure that all our work is based on the best available evidence. Where the evidence base is lacking, we will endeavor to fill it.
01.
Ensure that the Effective Population Sizes (EPS) of our native breeds is increasing
BY…
- Ensuring both CFB and Watchlist breeds have ZooTech compliant breeding programmes (or equivalent)
- Encouraging those Breed Societies who struggle to meet the ZooTech requirements to join the CFB to get whatever support and guidance they require
02.
Expand the commercial markets
for native breed food, clothing and grazing
BY…
- Working with each of the UK governments advocating for policies that support livestock generally and native livestock and equines specifically
- Providing support and advice to native breed businesses, including the regular production of case studies and training webinars
03.
Reduce challenges whether from a lack of local abattoirs or from notifiable diseases
BY…
- Working with government to ensure that the interests of native livestock and equines are properly recognised in disease contingency planning
- Ensuring the Gene bank complies with FAO guidance
- Working with government and other stakeholders to ensure the existence of a network of local abattoirs capable of meeting the needs of the native breeds sector.
For forty years the RBST has been building this country one of the most valuable insurance policies it has
King Charles III (royal.uk)
Quality Assured by Lantra
RBST is also a leading provider of LANTRA accredited conservation grazing and livestock management courses.
Livestock
Checkers
A basic introduction to checking livestock and equines in the conservation/land-based sector.
Conservation Grazing
Exploring the use of livestock to achieve environmental objectives.