The Challenge of Keeping Rare Breeds Relevant

You can’t manage what you don’t measure! Well, the beef cattle industry has certainly taken this management mantra to heart with the proliferation and emphasis on estimated breeding values (EBVs) as key determinants in selecting breeds and breeding animals.

The beef cattle industry runs on data and metrics, from EBV’s to MSA pricing grids. The driver is the need for the industry to economically feed an ever-growing global population. The need for scale along with concentration of participants in the industry have been the key drivers of the consolidation in the industry around a few key breeds.  This single factor is the biggest challenge for proponents of rare breed beef cattle. It is also potentially a risk for our food system.

In her book Saving Heritage Breeds, Catie Gressier observes that the livestock industry’s favouring of a diminishing number of high yielding commercial breeds has resulted in the extinction of at least 184 cattle breeds globally. In Australia, 12 cattle breeds are now extinct, with another 43 (British Whites included) listed as under varying levels of threat by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Over 50% of the national beef herd is now Angus.

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are calculated, statistical estimates, of an animal’s genetic merit for specific economically important traits, such as growth rate, fertility, or carcass quality. EBVs allow producers to compare an animal’s genetic potential against a base population, helping to select animals for breeding that will improve future herd performance.

Heavy reliance on genetic evaluations can improve selection efficiency in beef cattle, but it also carries several risks if used without other management and phenotypic considerations. Key risks include:

• Reduced genetic diversity through intense use of a small number of elite sires (and increasingly dams via ET). This can lead to lower long-term adaptability and increased susceptibility to disease or changing environmental stresses. When animals share very similar genetics, they often share similar weaknesses in their immune response. Greater breed diversity acts as a biological buffer, reducing the likelihood that a single health issue will affect the entire industry. Ironically, this concentration in genetic material can lead to inbreeding depression where performance traits such as fertility, durability and growth decline due to increased homozygosity.
• Ignoring Non-Genetic Factors – management factors still play a major role including nutrition, health management, handling and climate/environment. Adaptation to the local environment should not be underestimated.
• Overlooking other “non measured” traits – focussing on growth rate, carcass traits and fertility to the exclusion of temperament, longevity, mothering ability, udder structure, adaptability and structural soundness.
• Antagonistic Trait Relationships – strong selection for one trait may harm another desirable trait. For example, selecting for very high growth EBVs may increase cow size which in turn require more feed. Selecting for larger calves with fast weight gain can lead to fertility and longevity issues in the dams with reports cows can become spent after around 7 years.
• EBV accuracy limitations – EBVs are statistical predictions not exact values. Their reliability depends on data quantity, quality, integrity and trait heritability.

Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (gEBVs) have been developed to modify the risks with relying heavily on genetic evaluations.

gEBVs combine traditional Estimated Breeding Value calculations with genomic information obtained from DNA markers across the genome. These markers help identify genes associated with important traits such as growth, fertility, feed efficiency, and carcass quality.

This approach uses principles from Genomics and Quantitative genetics to improve predictions of an animal’s genetic merit earlier in life. gEBVs moderate the risks by:

• Increasing accuracy for young animals that have no progeny records yet. By using thousands of DNA markers prediction reliability can be improved and can speed up genetic progress. However, accuracy is still imperfect for traits with low heritability or limited genomic data. eEBVs do not however reduce the risk of intense selection (ie increased use of a small number of top sires) and hence increased inbreeding depression if many herds use the same high ranking bulls.
• Offering better prediction of difficult to measure traits – gEBVs are particularly useful for traits that are: expensive to measure, measured later in life or difficult to observe directly. Genomic data can improve predictions for feed efficiency, meat quality and fertility traits. However, traits that are heavily influenced by environment (eg heat tolerance or pasture adaptability) still require actual performance data.

Downsides include:

• Continued dependence on reference populations- genomic predictions rely on large reference populations with both DNA data and performance records. So, if the reference population is small, represents different environments, or is from different breeds then gEBV accuracy may drop when applied to other herds. This means results may not always transfer well between production systems or climates.
• Risk of overconfidence in technology – because genomic tools appear highly advanced, producers may rely on them without considering practical traits, such as: structural soundness, temperament, maternal ability and adaptability to local conditions. Even animals with excellent gEBVs may perform poorly if they are not physically suited to the production environment.

Overall, gEBVs generally improve reliability, especially for young animals and complex traits. They: increase selection accuracy, reduce generation intervals and accelerate genetic improvement. But they do not replace good breeding management. The most effective approach is still to combine economic evaluations (gEBVs), traditional performance dataand visual appraisal herd management tools.

For heritage breeds with a low overall national herd size and often novice breeders it is hard to play the numbers game inherent in a EBV driven world. For example, measuring sire performance is an interaction between the sire’s and dam’s genes who each contribute 50% plus, the multitude of environmental factors. Because the sire’s genes will not be expressed evenly in every progeny you need to take the average of many progeny. But those progeny are born to a large variety of dams with a range of genes contributing half the genetic makeup of each progeny. Consequently, large performance recording herds are needed to get reliable figures of performance for individual animals and produce reference sires (sires used widely in the industry where its performance is being measured).

The breed cannot penetrate the commercial market without performance data but performance data can’t be obtained without penetrating the commercial market (to provide the data depth).

Why is it important to preserve heritage breeds?

Preserving heritage breeds is important for several ecological, economic, cultural, and scientific reasons which are ultimately a function of protecting genetic diversity.

One of the most significant reasons to preserve heritage cattle breeds is to maintain genetic diversity. Different cattle breeds evolved or were developed to perform well under different conditions. Each breed carries unique genes that influence traits such as disease resistance, fertility, longevity, adaptability and the ability to survive in certain, and sometimes harsh, environments. When agriculture relies on only a few high-yield breeds (genetic concentration), the genetic pool becomes narrow and may reduce the industry’s ability to adapt to climate change, new parasite pressures, disease outbreaks and variable grazing conditions.

As a few breed’s genetics dominate breeding programs, valuable traits from other breeds may be underutilised or lost from commercial herds. These traits might include: improved maternal ability, greater feed efficiency, better drought tolerance, faster growth in certain systems, and higher fertility under stress. Crossbreeding systems traditionally allowed producers to combine these strengths. Genetic concentration reduces the benefits of heterosis (hybrid vigour) that crossbreeding provides.

Sustainable genetic improvement requires a broad genetic base. When the beef cattle population narrows genetically, breeders have fewer options for future selection and improvement. Maintaining a diverse cattle population helps ensure the industry can sustainably continue improving key commercial traits.

Rare breeds often possess traits that may become valuable in the future. For example, some are better adapted to extreme temperatures, poor-quality grazing land, or resistance to certain parasites and diseases. By conserving these genetic resources, farmers and scientists retain options for breeding cattle that can adapt to changing conditions.

Maintaining diversity through multiple breeds and structured crossbreeding programs helps protect the long-term health, adaptability, and profitability of the global beef cattle sector.

So, what can we do to ensure heritage breeds survive and thrive?

Promoting heritage breed cattle requires strategies that make the breeds economically valuable, culturally visible, and genetically secure. If farmers cannot make a living from keeping them, the breeds will continue to decline. The most effective approach is a combination of effective marketing tailored to identified niche/ smaller markets and tapping into sustainability/conservation programs.

1. Create Strong Premium Markets for Heritage Breed Products

The most effective way to ensure survival of heritage breeds is to give them clear economic value.

Heritage cattle breeds can create economic opportunities for farmers. Many consumers are interested in specialty foods, heritage products, and sustainably raised meat and dairy and traceability, low food miles, and high welfare production methods.  Products from heritage breeds are often marketed as premium or artisanal goods, which can provide higher returns for small-scale farmers.

These niche markets help make conservation economically viable while educating consumers about agricultural biodiversity.

Producers can promote products such as grass-fed heritage beef, paddock to plate meat products and sustainably and ethically produced.

In the United Kingdom many conservation efforts are supported by organisations such as the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and The Livestock Conservancy, which promote heritage breed products and help farmers access premium markets. Creating and supporting effective advocacy forums in Australia should be a priority for heritage breed associations.

2. Use Breed Branding and Storytelling – Preserving Cultural Heritage

\Heritage cattle breeds are also part of agricultural and cultural history. Many were developed over centuries by local communities and are closely tied to regional traditions, landscapes, and food cultures. When a breed disappears, a piece of cultural heritage disappears with it.  Turning these stories into strong branding helps attract consumers who value heritage agriculture.

Successful promotion may include:

• Heritage breed certification labels
• Story-driven packaging
• Websites and social media marketing
• Partnerships with restaurants and chefs

Consumers are more likely to support products when they understand that their purchase helps save a breed from extinction.

3. Encourage Use in Sustainable Agriculture

Many heritage cattle breeds are well suited to low-input, sustainable farming systems. Unlike highly specialised commercial breeds that are bred and selected based on intensive feeding and management models, heritage breeds are often hardy and capable of thriving on natural pastures with fewer resources. They can graze on rough terrain, help maintain grassland ecosystems, and contribute to environmentally friendly farming practices such as regenerative agriculture.

Using these breeds in sustainable agriculture can reduce reliance on mass produced feed, chemical inputs, and intensive management systems. As interest grows in regenerative and pasture-based farming, rare breeds may become increasingly valuable.

This ecological role can make them attractive to farmers focused on sustainable land management.

4. Improving Food System Resilience

Modern food systems face numerous challenges, including climate change, emerging diseases, and shifting consumer demands. A livestock population with diverse genetic backgrounds is better able to adapt to these uncertainties. Heritage breeds act as a “genetic insurance policy,” ensuring that agriculture has the resources needed to respond to future challenges.

If a disease or environmental change severely affects common commercial breeds, rare breeds may provide alternative genetic traits that help rebuild or improve livestock populations.

5. Government and Institutional Support

Public policy can also play an important role. Governments and agricultural organisations may support rare breeds through; conservation grants or subsidies, research programs and agricultural biodiversity & sustainability initiatives.These programs help reduce the financial risk for farmers who choose to maintain rare breeds.

6. Education and Public Awareness

Public awareness is essential. Agricultural shows, farm open days, and educational programs can help introduce people to rare breeds and their importance.

Promotional activities include; Heritage livestock exhibitions, school education programs, agricultural tourism and media and documentary coverage.

The more people understand the role of rare breeds in biodiversity and farming heritage, the more likely they are to support conservation efforts.

The long-term survival of heritage breed cattle depends on making them valuable to farmers, visible to consumers, and protected through responsible breeding programs. Combining premium marketing, conservation initiatives, sustainable agriculture, and public education creates the strongest strategy for preserving these important genetic and cultural resources for future generations.

The preservation of heritage cattle breeds is about more than saving unusual animals—it is about protecting biodiversity, supporting sustainable agriculture, maintaining cultural traditions, and ensuring the long-term resilience of the global food system. As agriculture continues to evolve, conserving these breeds provides valuable genetic resources and opportunities for future generations. Protecting rare cattle today helps secure a more adaptable and sustainable agricultural landscape for tomorrow.