The Livestock Conservancy Inc

TO PROTECT AMERICA'S ENDANGERED LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY BREEDS FROM EXTINCTION.

SPECIES SUPPORT: THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY DOCUMENTS AND PROMOTES RARE BREEDS AND WORKS AS A CATALYST TO REINTEGRATE THEM BACK INTO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS. FAMILY FARMS RELY UPON THIS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO CHOOSE THE LIVESTOCK THAT WILL WORK ON THEIR FARMS. THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY SERVES AS EXPERTS TO BEGINNING AND EXPERIENCED FARMERS ON TOPICS RELATED TO ENDANGERED BREEDS. THE SHAVE 'EM TO SAVE 'EM INITIATIVE PROMOTES WOOL FROM RARE-BREED SHEEP. IN 2022 AND 2023 IT INCREASED PRODUCER SALES BY 60%. THE EQUINE MANUAL ENABLES OWNERS AND VETERINARIANS TO SECURE GENETICS OF THE RAREST BREEDS IN CRISIS.

CONSERVATION: MANY OF AMERICA'S ONCE COMMON FARM ANIMALS FACE EXTINCTION IF WE DO NOT TAKE ACTION NOW. RARE FARM ANIMALS REPRESENT AN IRREPLACEABLE PIECE OF EARTH'S BIODIVERSITY AND OFFER INCREDIBLE VARIETY THAT MAY BE NEEDED FOR FUTURE FARMS ROBUST HEALTH, MOTHERING INSTINCTS, FORAGING, AND THE ABILITY TO THRIVE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE. THESE FARM ANIMALS ARE A VITAL PART OF ENSURING FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR PLANET NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE.

BREED SUPPORT: THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY MAINTAINS THE DEFINITIVE LIST OF ENDANGERED LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY BREEDS IN THE UNITED STATES. MORE THAN 1/3 OF THESE BREEDS WERE DEVELOPED IN NORTH AMERICA, AND THESE ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO GENETIC CONSERVATION. IN THE PAST DECADE, EIGHT BREEDS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE CONSERVATION LIST, AND RESULTS OF A RECENT POULTRY CENSUS WILL SUPPORT GRADUATION OF 4 BREEDS OF CHICKENS IN 2023. THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY SECURED RARE GULF COAST SHEEP THROUGH CENSUS, CONSERVATION BREEDING STRATEGIES, BREEDER EDUCATION, AND CRYOPRESERVATION. EIGHT BREEDS OF PIGS WERE ALSO CRYOPRESERVED. THE FIRST-EVER US REGISTRY FOR PUREBRED POITOU DONKEYS WAS LAUNCHED, ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND VIDEOS TO ENHANCE DONKEY BREEDER SKILLS.THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY SUPPORTS BREED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PEDIGREE REGISTRY SERVICES. MICROGRANTS PROVIDE FARM IMPROVEMENTS FOR GROWING FLOCKS AND HERDS OF RARE LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY BREEDERS OF ALL AGES.

GENERAL EDUCATION: THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROVIDES FARMERS WITH KNOWLEDGE TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF ENDANGERED LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY. EDUCATION COVERS ALL FACETS OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, BREEDING, AND MARKETING THROUGH BOOKS, VIDEOS, ONLINE MATERIALS, AND EVENTS. VIRTUAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN 2022-2023 INCLUDED A YEARLONG SERIES OF MARKETING WEBINARS, ADVANCED WEBINARS ON GENE-BANKING, AND THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED VIDEO, "HOW TO SHEAR SHEEP & WHY IT'S IMPORTANT". THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY ALSO RAISED PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT ENDANGERED BREEDS THROUGH OUR INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE BREEDS WEEK IN MAY AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC-FACING EVENTS INCLUDING FARM AID 2022.