Traditionally, farmers throughout the world have raised thousands of different animal breeds and plant varieties. However, since today's industrial farms rely upon only a few specialized types of livestock and crops, thousands of non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with the valuable genetic diversity they possessed. Fortunately, a growing number of sustainable farmers are preserving agricultural variety and protecting biodiversity by raising “heritage” or “heirloom” animal breeds and crops.

Heritage Livestock Breeds
Heritage breeds are traditional livestock breeds that were raised by farmers in the past, before the drastic reduction of breed variety caused by the rise of industrial agriculture. Within the past 15 years, 190 breeds of farm animals have gone extinct worldwide, and there are currently 1,500 others at risk of becoming extinct. In the past five years alone, 60 breeds of cattle, goats, pigs, horses and poultry have become extinct. ⁱ

In the US, a few main breeds dominate the livestock industry: ⁱⁱ

• 83 percent of dairy cows are Holsteins, and five main breeds comprise almost all of the dairy herds in the US.
• 60 percent of beef cattle are of the Angus, Hereford or Simmental breeds.
• 75 percent of pigs in the US come from only 3 main breeds.
• Over 60 percent of sheep come from only four breeds, and 40 percent are Suffolk-breed sheep.

Heritage animals were bred over time to develop traits that made them particularly well-adapted to local environmental conditions. Breeds used in industrial agriculture are bred to produce lots of milk or eggs, gain weight quickly, or yield particular types of meat within confined facilities. Heritage breeds are generally better adapted to withstand disease and survive in harsh environmental conditions, and their bodies can be better suited to living on pasture. ⁱⁱⁱ

These livestock breeds also serve as an important genetic resource, and when heritage breeds become extinct, their unique genes are lost forever and can't be used to breed new traits into existing livestock breeds. Therefore, by raising heritage livestock breeds, sustainable farmers not only maintain variety within our livestock populations, they also help to preserve valuable traits within the species so that future breeds can endure harsh conditions.

There is no official definition or certification for “heritage” animals, but for a livestock breed to be truly heritage, it must have unique genetic traits and also be raised on a sustainable and/or organic farm. Heritage animals are well-suited to sustainable farms since they are able to survive without the temperature-controlled buildings and constant doses of antibiotics administered to the commercial breeds raised on factory farms.

Heirloom Crop Varieties

According to Seed Savers Exchange (a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving rare plant varieties), an heirloom plant is “any garden plant that has a history of being passed down within a family.” ^iv While some argue that an heirloom variety must be at least 50 to 100 years old, all agree that heirloom fruits and vegetables are unique plant varieties which are genetically distinct from the commercial varieties popularized by industrial agriculture.

Sustainable farmers who grow heirloom fruits and vegetables help to preserve genetic diversity by ensuring that these unique plant varieties are not completely replaced by the few commercial varieties that are mass-produced by industrial agriculture. They also preserve delicious, unique and interesting kinds of fruits, vegetables and grains that add color and flavor to meals that everyone can enjoy.

What You Can Do

There are still small farms throughout the US and Canada that specialize in producing heirloom and heritage foods. Visit the Eat Well Guide to find a farm, market or restaurant near you that sells meat, eggs and dairy products from heritage animals.
Try cooking with heirloom crop varieties to add exciting new elements to your meals; heirloom fruits and vegetables have unique colors, textures, and tastes that can't be found in factory-farmed industrial produce. They can often be found at farmers markets around the country.

Did You Know?

• 99% of all turkeys raised in the U.S. are Broad-Breasted Whites, a single turkey breed specially developed to have a meaty breast. ^vi
• Almost 96% of the commercial vegetable varieties available in 1903 are now extinct. ^vii
• Reliance upon modern varieties of rice caused more than 1,500 local rice varieties in Indonesia to become extinct. ^viii

For More Information

• American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
  This nonprofit organization works to protect endangered livestock breeds from extinction. Their website includes a list of rare and endangered breeds along with numerous links to additional sources of information.
• The ARK USA
  Created by Slow Food, The ARK is a project designed to preserve foods that are at risk of becoming ‘extinct' – this includes rare varieties of fruits and vegetables, heritage breeds of animals, and foods created using increasingly uncommon methods of production.
• Breeds of Livestock
  Created by the Department of Science at Oklahoma State University, this site includes an extensive listing of domestic animal breeds, complete with background information and photographs.
• New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy
  This organization works to preserve heritage breeds as part of America’s livestock legacy.
• Seed Savers Exchange
  This nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and sharing heirloom seed varieties. Their site includes information about heirloom plant varieties and an extensive catalog of heirloom seeds.

Sources

• Food and Agriculture Organization, “ Farm animal biodiversity .” Agriculture 21, 2006.
• University of Missouri, “American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.” Ag Opportunities, August 21, 1996.
• Ibid.
• Seed Savers Exchange. “Saving Heirlooms.” Seed Savers Exchange. Accessed October 2004.
• Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI). “The Seed Giants – Who Owns Whom ?” RAFI. 2000.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Special: Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture: Farm Animal Genetic Resources.” FAO. February 1998.
• Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. “Biodiversity and Your Food: Did You Know?” American Museum of Natural History. Accessed 9/30/04.
• World Resources Institute, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), “ Global Biodiversity Strategy: Guidelines for action to save, study and use Earth's biotic wealth sustainably and equitably.” World Resources Institute. 1992, p 9.