Most farm animals were created to provide traction, milk products, fibre or meat. Only by utilising rare breeds in the most appropriate way for them can we increase numbers. The development of practical commercial uses for rare breeds, to make them attractive to potential users, is one of the most effective methods of conserving them. There is much enjoyment from keeping rare breeds but if it cannot be done profitably, then the breeds become only living museum pieces. With over 70 breeds among six species, uses are diverse and numerous. If home spinning or horse logging creates an opportunity for even a few animals to be kept profitably, then that helps the overall conservation effort.
Meat
Some rare breeds may not have the conformation to suit today's mass market but they make up for it in flavour, succulence and eating quality. It will help the conservation of rare breeds if the public seek out butchers who sell it.
Wool
Most sheep breeds grow wool, which is shorn in early summer. The fleece is then sold to the British Wool Marketing Board for the international market. Unfortunately, wool is over produced in the world as a whole, (most clothes, carpets etc. now being made from man-made fibres), and prices do not cover the cost of shearing. Different breeds of sheep provide different qualities and colours of wool and the RBST encourages specialised producers and marketing of products made from named rare breeds. Rare breed wool is very popular with hand spinners and a niche market can be created through contacts in this field. At many rare breed sales, there are bring & buy stalls for such fleeces and a good trade can be expected for well-presented, good quality fleeces from almost all rare breeds of sheep.
Sheepskins are another important commodity where breeders can recover some of the cost of keeping rare breeds. Some sheep provide wonderful skins when cured and whether you are a producer looking to arrange for some tanning or someone looking to buy a rare breed sheepskin, please contact the Trust and we will be happy to help.
Dairy Produce
The composition and quality of milk varies from breed to breed. Some is higher in butterfat than others, and milk from some of the more dairy types of rare breed is ideal for specialist applications.
For cheese making, the size of the fat globules is important; the smaller the globules, the better. Niche markets for specialist craft-made cheeses are developing for milk from breeds such as Gloucester and Red Poll. Such specialisation adds value to the product, especially now that there is the opportunity to sell direct to the public through farmers' markets.
Conservation Grazing
Natural management of the environment has created a new market for rare breeds, grazing environmentally sensitive areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), nature reserves etc. Natural pastures need grazing to prevent the grasses swamping other plants and herbs and many rare breeds do this extremely well. Not only do they graze on the right sort of plants, but often they are lighter than mainstream breeds and do less damage to the ground (known as 'poaching') in poor weather.
”Primitive” breeds are better able to digest poorer plants and thus can help to remove gorse or whin, birch, roan or willow scrub, coarse grasses and sedges etc.
Pigs too can fulfil a specialist role in forestry work. Their rooting habit can clear the floor of mature woodland of scrub plants and saplings such as bramble, bracken, roan etc. in much the same way as wild boar once did.
Use of Equines
Today horses and ponies are used almost only for leisure-or sport-based activities, in which most rare breeds have a role. Medium-sized breeds are used for crossing with Thoroughbreds to produce high quality working hunters and event horses. Heavier breeds too can be crossed to produce heavy hunters. Pony breeds offer a good, sound temperament for riding animals. Breeds such as the Dales and Fell ponies and Cleveland Bays are popular for driving. The Dales and Fell, are used increasingly in horse logging and Suffolks, Clydesdales and Shires provide spectacular displays at shows drawing brewery and other trade wagons.