Capel Manor College, London’s only specialist environmental college, has received RBST Education Accreditation from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. It becomes one of just three education institutions in the UK to hold this accreditation. Rare Breeds Survival Trust is the national charity working for the survival of the UK’s rare breeds of farm animals and equines. RBST’s accreditation scheme sets standards of information and procedures, provides advice, and co-ordinates joint conservatio Read more
Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park has become the first recipient of Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST)’s new Rare Breeds Approved Associate accreditation, in recognition of the farm’s excellence in education about the importance of Britain’s endangered native livestock and equine breeds and its work to conserve their unique genetic characteristics. Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust says its new RBST Watchlist, published today in a fresh format, reflects growing recognition among farmers and smallholders of the commercial potential and environmental importance of the UK’s rare breeds of livestock and equines. Read more
World first for rare breeds as a healthy Suffolk foal has been born from sexed semen Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust has welcomed two high profile, experienced champions of rare breeds to help lead the charity as it builds on its success in supporting the survival of the UK’s native breeds of livestock and equines. The newly appointed RBST President is Shadow Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the House of Lords Baroness Sue Hayman, and the newly elected RBST Chairman is Lake District farmer John Atkinson. Read more
Last week, RBST visited Exmoor, helping with the roundup of the beautiful Exmoor ponies, which are one of our most valued and endangered equine breeds. Read more
The 2021 Annual General Meeting will be held at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, Amesbury Road, Cholderton, Salisbury, SP4 0EWat 12 noon on Thursday 4th November. The meeting will be held in compliance with the Government COVID-19 guidelines on indoor meetings and social distancing in place at the time of the meeting. Read more
The RBST Young Shepherds Final will now take place at Springtime Live on Saturday 2nd April 2022 at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate. Read more
The RBST Cumbria Support Group were in attendance at the Westmorland Show last week. On Thursday the group were honoured to have a Royal visit to the Rare Breed Young Shepherds competition. Both Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex were extremely supportive of the work of the RBST group and very encouraging towards the young shepherds. Read more
RBST comment on the Government’s response to the Live Exports Consultation. Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is encouraging smallholders and farmers to ensure timely registration of their rare breed livestock and equines despite the disruption to shows and sales for a second year, to help safeguard the breeds’ futures. Read more
On the weekend of 5th July, Cumbria Support Group held a native breed sheep show and young handlers event at the Westmorland Show Ground, as part of the Country Fayre. There was an amazing show of sheep including 23 different breeds, with one class having 33 entries. Across the two days, over 5000 people got to see the sheep and the young handlers really excelled in showing their stock in perfect conditions. Read more
In July 2021 the rare native horse and pony breeds on the RBST Watchlist have the chance to compete for ‘RBST Priority breed’ and ‘RBST At Risk Breed’ champion rosettes for the first time. The two RBST Rare Breed Champion classes will close the Norfolk Equestrian Show, hosted by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) in association with RBST, behind closed doors at the Norfolk Showground on Wednesday 28 July 2021. Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has awarded its new RBST Education Accreditation to Tom’s Farm at Nightingale Community Academy in Wandsworth, London. The award recognises the important contribution of the urban farm to the conservation of some the rarest livestock and equine breeds native to the UK, as well as the farm’s excellence in educating young people about the UK’s rare native breeds. Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has awarded RBST accreditation to Chatsworth Farmyard, recognising its important contribution to the conservation of some the rarest livestock and equine breeds native to the UK. The award comes ahead of the farmyard’s reopening to visitors after several months closed in line with Covid restrictions. Read more
RBST Scotland today launched a manifesto for Scotland's native livestock and equines. Read more
Rare Breeds Survival Trust has urged Welsh Government to promote and support native breeds of livestock and equines in order to maximise the economic, environmental and cultural benefits that these breeds can provide in Wales. RBST’s message is set out in the charity’s response to the Welsh Government’s White Paper to provide the basis of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill. Read more
RRBT Scotland is holding a free half day online conference on the 31st March . Expert speakers discussing conservation grazing, rare breeds’ genetic advantages and the place of native breeds in our cultural landscape, farmers and smallholders will give insights into their experiences and plans for the future. Panellists will also explore some of the different commercial opportunities with rare breeds, and examine what the future holds for small local abattoirs. Read more
The rare Badger Face Torwen, a Welsh Mountain Sheep breed whose numbers have declined nearly 30% since 2013, has been added to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s Watchlist. The RBST Watchlist indexes the UK’s rarest native livestock and equine breeds, and the Torwen’s addition to the Watchlist in February 2021 means the breed will now benefit from focused RBST support to help the breed’s revival. Read more
The birth of a female Vaynol calf through the first ever successful embryo transfer for a semi-feral breed of cattle has brought new hope in the work to save one of the rarest breeds of UK native livestock. Read more
Commercial advantage: new research shows better leg health and tenderness in native breed turkeys New scientific research released today shows that native breed turkeys have stronger leg bones than commercial strains of turkey within the study. Read more
The Old English Goat joins the Watchlist Read more
View the recording of today's RBST AGM Read more
Sarah Dusgate & Rob Havard of Phepson Angus point to a way of ensuring that native breeds are relevant in the 21st centary Read more
RBST is warning of a set-back for the conservation of rare livestock and equine breeds if animal registrations are overlooked this year as a result of the Covid pandemic. Read more