If you had to choose a rare breed

[ilyria]

My God daughter is doing a school project on food production. She has chosen to look into what makes people choose the breed(s) they have and why.
The question she's decided on is if you had to pick a breed on the RBST watchlist which one would you pick and why?

In the scenario, there are no other breeds available to choose other than those that have come off the watchlist or are listed as native breed.

I'd be grateful if anyone could help her

 

[Estate fencing.]

Balwen welsh would be my choice. I have 5 I bought for £25 for my other half, they are incredibly hard and have a nice single lamb (I cross them with Suffolk tups). You won’t get rich off them but would struggle to fine a ewe that would live on less.

 

[Woolless]

I've chosen mine. I have a relatively newly established herd of Traditional/original population Herefords. The more I see, the more I think they are a great fit for more regenerative and mob grazing type grazing systems. They're smaller in stature, hold condition very well and do their calf adequately without pulling themselves down and simply don't need concentrate. Great beef too.

If I had a bit more time on my hands than I do, I would be tempted with sourcing a few Lincoln Longwools from @yellowbelly. Very much the diametric opposite from my main flock but would be nice to have a foot in the quality wool market!

Great question set by your God daughter BTW. The answers should be interesting

 

[JP1]

I chose Riggit Galloways as you basically can't buy them but have to breed your own

 

[M-J-G]

Irish moiled
Dual purpose and no horns

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Whitebred shorthorn. There's something timeless about them

 

[Treg]

When I started my Beef Shorthorn herd there was only 250 females left in this country, I didn't choose them they chose me, they were looking for a home and I thought they looked nice & would fit in with what I wanted to do.

 

[JSmith]

I’d have a few blue Albion cattle if I came across some, just because there’s not many about an I like a little old fashion blue suckler

 

[yellowbelly]

The question she's decided on is if you had to pick a breed on the RBST watchlist which one would you pick and why?

I suppose ours picked us rather than the other way round.

The old chap that farmed next door to us was one of the three breeders that stopped the Lincoln Longwool going the same way as the Curly Coat pig in the 1960's/70's, so it seemed right to carry on from where he left off.

 

[yellowbelly]

If I had a bit more time on my hands than I do, I would be tempted with sourcing a few Lincoln Longwools from @yellowbelly. Very much the diametric opposite from my main flock but would be nice to have a foot in the quality wool market!

Crikey
From the sublime to the ridiculous

 

[unlacedgecko]

Shetland sheep

 

[Cowslip]

We have border leicesters always found them striking to look at and son always liked them when at shows. They cross well and have been told fleece is worth £3kg, they are also great characters. Didnt realise they were on the list until a couple of months ago.

 

[Al R]

Most on the sheep list I could see have Horns or really long wool. I wonder why that is
Oxford Down for me, huge sheep that fatten well too, we used to have 3 Rams when I was younger - Blue, Orange and Red they were called as their Afro’s were left on at shearing and they were sprayed accordingly Blue Orange and Red

 

[Woolless]

When I started my Beef Shorthorn herd there was only 250 females left in this country, I didn't choose them they chose me, they were looking for a home and I thought they looked nice & would fit in with what I wanted to do.

Yes, I remember going to a rare breed sale at Perth about 30 years ago and there was a (very good, as I remember) BSH cow and her calf there. Just shows how trends come and go.

 

[Hesstondriver]

For me it would have to be Gloucesters . Ideally the milkier lines not the beef side . A neighbour was very much (accidentally) involved in the saving of them when they bought a load of store cattle out the market and just happened to be pure Gloucesters . One of their last bulls went to a well known farm in the cotswolds I believe.

A little pet hate / rant is that I’d love to get involved with doing my bit for a rare breed but with out stereo typing, it seems that so many of these small holders / hobbyists who keep rare breeds going don’t have a clue or care about health status’s and they seem ignorant of the consequences . So as selfish as it sounds I’m not going to jeopardise my main herd by buying in Unknown diseases.

edit the op asked why - well I like cheese .
And double Gloucester cheese made from Gloucester cow milk is fantastic.

 

[Weasel]

I chose Riggit Galloways as you basically can't buy them but have to breed your own

And are worth nowt

 

[JP1]

And are worth nowt

Like you'd know?

 

[Old Tip]

Whitebred Shorthorns for me, they are our local cattle breed and are exceptionally easy to look after

 

[Tim W]

Any of the pig breeds --they're all tasty
Might exclude the Tamworths though, i've had enough dealings with them
Old meat poultry breeds must have a future too ---the crap that passes for chicken these days is tasteless gloop

 

[Jockers84]

Is native AA and option?