Welcome to American Livestock Breeds Conservancy's learning adventure about Rare Breeds of farm animals.
We are all familiar with the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem health. We have experienced some of the vast variety of life on earth, witnessed some of the unique characteristics of earth's creatures, and learned the specific adaptations of animals to particular habitats. We know that due to human development, whole species and sub-species of animals are going extinct, and many others are endangered. And, we understand that these issues are important globally as well as locally.
But how do we experience these issues in our own regions? How do we have first-hand knowledge and come to terms with our own impact? How do we see examples of these important issues where we live, as opposed to always looking to the rainforest, the pacific northwest, or the few wild spaces that remain?
We need look no farther than farmyards and countryside of our home state, even as close by as local counties. In fact, everywhere you look, from the grocery store to the clothing store, from restaurants to views just a few miles from the local interstate, the issues of diversity, habitat preservation, adaptation, and extinction are actively at work and available for you to explore.
Travel with us as we share some of the ways you can learn more about rare breeds of farm animals, how special and unique they are, why they are endangered and what lifestyle choices come into play in the creation of the current system.
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American Livestock Breeds Conservancy works to both protect and help promote rare breeds of farm animals. These breeds are an important part of our heritage and key players in human health systems. Their loss to the farm threatens the viability of sustainable practices since these breeds are adapted to specific environments and perform unique jobs. The loss of these breeds' genetic diversity puts global food systems at risk.
Current large-scale agriculture practices face challenges, such as a growing demand for antibiotic, hormone-free meat, and organically raised, free-range products. These rare breeds contain the genetic make-up to live outside the factory farm setting. When disease such as hoof and mouth, spreads on a large scale and destroys whole populations, these animals contain the genetic flexibility and disease resistance to be important players in production. One day we may truly need these strong, diverse breeds. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) is keeping that option open for all of us, taking responsibility now for a natural resource developed over generations from wild animal stock that no longer exists.
The Rare Breeds curriculum shares the story of this adventure with you and your students, and invites you to join in as we appreciate their unique gifts ever more deeply.
We are working very hard to have this site up and running smoothly. Please be patient with us as we add to the site. Soon there will be more photos and support materials, and we hope to regularly update this offering to better serve the growing Rare Breeds Curriculum Team.
Thank you,
Webmaster
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