What are Heritage livestock breeds and why are they important?
Heritage livestock breeds are old breeds that were created before the onset of industrial agriculture. Industrialization of agriculture has greatly reduced the number of variety of livestock breeds that remain today. Since 1993, at least 190 different breeds of farm animals have gone extinct. Since 2003 alone, at least 60 breeds of cattle, goats, poultry, horses and pigs have become extinct. Today there are only a few main breeds that dominate the livestock industries: There are only 5 main breeds of dairy cows, with 85% of the market being Holsteins 60% of the beef cattle are Angus, Hereford or Simmential breeds Only 3 breeds make up the 75% of the hog industry Over 60 percent of the sheep come from only four breeds, and 40 percent are Suffolk-breed sheep Today, the agricultural industry breeds animals for quick production in confined spaces, while Heritage breeds were bred slowly over time and are favored for their hardiness. Heritage breeds are generally better adapted to withstand
