The RBST
Founded in 1973, the RBST is the national conservation organisation whose aim is to secure sustainable futures for those native British Breeds of farm animal identified as being rare and threatened in the UK.
The trust currently lists over 70 rare breeds (including cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep) using a set of guidelines based on conservation criteria.
The Watch list contains all native breeds of cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep. Conservation criteria determine into which category breeds are listed.
The RBST is the leading conservation charity working to restore Britain’s native livestock breeds to their rightful place in our countryside. Their work is funded entirely by membership subscriptions, donations and legacies.
Their purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources (FAGR).
http://www.rbst.org.uk
The Leicester Longwool
Since the formation of the Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association in 1893, later to be called the Leicester Longwool Sheepbreeders’ Association, members have strived to keep the breed pure and to improve it in keeping with modern demands. What was once one of the most important duel purpose breeds producing both mutton and fine quality wool, the Leicester Longwool is now a Rare Breed.
The Leicester sheep appears to have inhabited Leicestershire and it’s neighbouring counties for a long period before it was “improved” by Robert Bakewell in England during the eighteenth century. Bakewell was the first to utilize modern animal breeding techniques in the selection of livestock. Using these practices he developed the Leicester Longwool from the old Leicester sheep. Robert Bakewell deserves recognition for his work with these sheep because it changed livestock farming forever and because it influenced the work of people such as Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel.
The worldwide population is under 2,000 animals, making their survival critical. The Association Council and members are working to conserve and promote the Leicester Longwool breed.
http://www.leicesterlongwoolsheepassociation.co.uk
Founded in 1973, the RBST is the national conservation organisation whose aim is to secure sustainable futures for those native British Breeds of farm animal identified as being rare and threatened in the UK.
The trust currently lists over 70 rare breeds (including cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep) using a set of guidelines based on conservation criteria.
The Watch list contains all native breeds of cattle, goats, horses, pigs, poultry and sheep. Conservation criteria determine into which category breeds are listed.
The RBST is the leading conservation charity working to restore Britain’s native livestock breeds to their rightful place in our countryside. Their work is funded entirely by membership subscriptions, donations and legacies.
Their purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources (FAGR).
http://www.rbst.org.uk
The Leicester Longwool
Since the formation of the Leicester Sheep Breeders’ Association in 1893, later to be called the Leicester Longwool Sheepbreeders’ Association, members have strived to keep the breed pure and to improve it in keeping with modern demands. What was once one of the most important duel purpose breeds producing both mutton and fine quality wool, the Leicester Longwool is now a Rare Breed.
The Leicester sheep appears to have inhabited Leicestershire and it’s neighbouring counties for a long period before it was “improved” by Robert Bakewell in England during the eighteenth century. Bakewell was the first to utilize modern animal breeding techniques in the selection of livestock. Using these practices he developed the Leicester Longwool from the old Leicester sheep. Robert Bakewell deserves recognition for his work with these sheep because it changed livestock farming forever and because it influenced the work of people such as Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel.
The worldwide population is under 2,000 animals, making their survival critical. The Association Council and members are working to conserve and promote the Leicester Longwool breed.
http://www.leicesterlongwoolsheepassociation.co.uk
Leicester Longwool circa 1860
The Leicester Longwool Today