Credit American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
I became interested in heirloom vegetables and heritage breeds about the same time and for the same reasons. I have never been the innovative type. In fact, my dream when I was small was to grow up and become Amish. I mourned the loss of each dirt road, each field, and each woods as "progress" reincarnated my beloved countryside into highways, malls, and suburbs. I was concerned that life as I had known it would not be something my future children would be able to experience. It seemed to me that we lost far more to progress than we gained. What did I know? I was twelve.
The Years Pass...
Thirty years later I found myself not only a mom, but a woman living a twelve year old's dream. I had two acres, a historic home, and the ability to raise a few animals. Heritage breeds became my interest when I saw my first Jacob's sheep. Heritage breeds became my passion when I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, twice in one week. I was impacted by the new knowledge that commercial turkeys no longer know how to breed. I was determined to raise the same livestock breeds as my grandparents had known. But where to start?
When we were researching heritage breed sheep, goats, and chickens I came upon a website that I would use over and over again, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC).
Recently I had the opportunity to chat with a few members of the ALBC about what it does, and the history behind it as well as a little about the breeds and why we must make sure that they don't disappear.
An Interview with the Jennifer Kendall, of the ALBC
Jennifer, what is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy?
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, or ALBC, is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect over 170 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Included are:
- Donkeys
- Cattle
- Goats
- Horses
- Sheep
- Pigs
- Rabbits
- Chickens
- Ducks
- Geese
- Turkeys
ALBC is the pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock. Our mission is to ensure the future of agriculture through genetic conservation and the promotion of endangered breeds of livestock and poultry.
To put our mission into context, in 2006 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that we lose an average of 2 domestic animal breeds each week. In the past fifteen years alone, the FAO has identified the extinction of 300 out of 6,000 breeds worldwide, with another 1,350 in danger of becoming extinct. ALBC is the ONLY organization in the United States working to stop the extinction of these breeds - ensuring the future of our agricultural food system.
What does the ALBC do?
The most common question we get from people that are unfamiliar with our organization is - do you own animals? As much as I'd love to be around rare breeds all day, ALBC does NOT own animals although we are involved with them daily.
We do many things including the following:
- Maintain and annually update our Conservation Priority List (CPL).This list provides an ongoing record of both the livestock and poultry in need of conservation and the progress being made to preserve it.
- Conduct research to define breed characteristics for each rare breed on the CPL, and collect census data to track and report population numbers.
- Provide technical and practical education to both ALBC members and non-members interested in raising these breeds.
- Investigate and assist with methods of promoting these breeds and their products to help make raising them a profitable and satisfying option for farmers.
- General education about genetic diversity, breed attributes, and the role of livestock in sustainable agriculture.
- Assist with rescues of threatened breed populations.
Chickens may never go extinct but the vital genes that enable them to thrive outdoors, brood and hatch their own chicks, and live long healthy lives can very well vanish along with the breeds.
How long has the ALBC been in existence?
ALBC was "born" in the mid-1970s because farmers, scientists, environmentalists, historians, and others discovered that they shared a common concern for the fate of America's traditional livestock breeds, many of which were rapidly disappearing.
On March 16, 1977, a small group of concerned citizens met at the Vermont Department of Agriculture to sign incorporation papers for the American Minor Breeds Conservancy (the original name of ALBC). Although the ALBC had its beginnings in the ecology movement of the 1960s and 1970s its success came from individual livestock farmers that kept the old time cattle or chickens.
In 1993, the American Minor Breeds Conservancy changed its name to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC).
What Are Some Highlights from ALBC's History?
- One of ALBC's first rescues occurred in December 1987, when we learned that a unique population of feral sheep on Santa Cruz Island (off the coast of southern California) faced imminent eradication. Thanks largely to Phil Hedrick, Marion Stanley, and Dirk Van Vuren; a viable population was brought off the island.
- ALBC staff member Jeannette Beranger and former staffer Don Schrider developed a master breeder program for Buckeye chickens that has set the gold standard for expansion and selection of rare chicken breeds.
- Former ALBC Executive Director Don Bixby initiated a gene bank to store genetic material in case of a crisis and to give breeders access to stored semen.
- A ranch strain of Colonial Spanish horse known as the Wilbur Cruce was rescued before the land was turned to a land conservation program. Dr. Phil Sponenberg, ALBC technical advisor, developed a conservation plan, and placed small breeding groups with breed stewards.
- The last of the Randall Lineback cattle were literallyrescued from the slaughter-house door by ALBC member Cynthia Creech. This breed now numbers over 300.
- ALBC member Leslie Edmundson documented all of remaining herds of Spanish goats, and built a website that now serves the membership.
- ALBC member Frank Reese has been at the center of Heritage Chicken and Heritage Turkey conservation. Through his efforts, Standard varieties of turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese are now finding their way to grocery store shelves and American tables.
Do you have materials that homeschoolers and teachers can get to use in the classroom?
Actually, we have developed an entire curriculum called Noah's Ark Today which has lesson plans and materials for teachers. We will be putting this curriculum online to allow free access for teachers and educators. In the meantime, you can contact the ALBC office to obtain a copy.
Want to Learn More?
Getting involved with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is one thing you can do to help keep these heritage breeds in existence. You don't have to own livestock or even live in the country. Spend some time reading the information on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy website.
Other things you can do:
- Let others know about heritage breeds and why they are important.
- Link to the website when you can, so that word gets out about the important work they are doing.
- Become a member.
- Offer the educational materials to your child's teacher or school.
- Buy meat from heritage breeds when you can.
