What's Going On News RBST Love a Longwool Love a Longwool In 2020 RBST is focussing on native longwool sheep breeds. While the Watchlist has shown sheep numbers generally being stable or increasing, some of the longwool breeds have had a sustained decline in numbers over the last decade. UK Native Longwool Breeds Border Leicester Cotswold Devon & Cornwall Longwool Greyface Dartmoor Leicester Longwoold Lincoln Longwool Teeswater Wensleydale Whiteface Dartmoor Our aim is to secure the future of our longwool sheep breeds. Our objectives are to: Increase the diversity within each breed, making them more resilient Limit inbreeding in each of the breeds through bespoke breeding programmes Use cutting-edge conservation techniques and technology to make sure we safeguard each of the breeds for the next generation Encourage the establishment of new flocks in new locations to improve geographical spread of each breed. We will do this by: Quantitatively recording the current conservation status of each of the breeds Carrying out pedigree evaluation analyses for each breed Establishing breeding programmes in order improve the genetic basis of the breeds Establishing new breeding groups in geographically distinct locations Adding selectively determined germplasm to existing semen stocks in the RBST Gene Bank Promoting their uses for fibre, meat and conservation grazing Applying a multidisciplinary approach in defining the breeds within the wider remit of Natural Capital and public good Supporting breeders in combining modern breeding and conservation techniques with policy in order to identify new market and publicity opportunities To support the work of RBST please click here