Rare Breeds Survival Trust Rare Breeds Survival Trust The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a conservation charity whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the native farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) of the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1973 by Joe Henson to preserve native breeds; since then, no UK-native breed has become extinct. It maintains a watch list of rare native breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, goats and poultry, and an approved list of farm parks. Projects have included the collection of genetic material to ensure the future of rare breeds in a farm animal "gene bank".
Animal genetic resources for food and agriculture animal genetic resources. In 2009, six years after the completion of the human genome project, cattle became one of the first livestock species to have a fully mapped genome. Some general conclusions from recent molecular studies show that individual breeds only differ by typically 40% in total genetic molecular composition; species differ by about 80% of their genetic material. Additionally, breeds with well-defined and appreciated traits tend to be inbred and have low genetic diversity, while non-descript local populations tend to have high molecular genetic diversity. Characterization of animal genetic resources is a prerequisite for its management. Advances in molecular