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Dear Friends,

Survival or extinction. That's what is at stake for more than 150 breeds of livestock and poultry. Without your help, these beautiful, historic and useful breeds could be lost - forever.

American agriculture is consolidating, industrializing, and vertically integrating at an unprecedented rate. Four beef packers control 79% of the market. Three of these are also pork packers and control 57% of that market. Four companies control 42% of turkey production. A handful of people are making the decisions about what breeds are raised and how livestock is raised. As a result, eight breeds of beef cattle, nine breeds of pigs, and eleven breeds of turkeys are critically endangered because they don't fit the industrial model.

Livestock and poultry were once valued for their services as much as for their products. They controlled weeds, insects, and brush, and gleaned gardens, fields, and orchards. Today's industrialized agriculture values only the most productive of breeds and discards the rest. But agriculture is continually changing, and our future needs are uncertain. Even now, a growing number of people are seeking to build an agriculture that is at once sustainable, productive, and humane. This new agriculture needs exactly what these endangered breeds have to offer:

  • Thriftiness
  • Hardiness
  • Self-sufficiency
  • Intelligence
  • Easy births
  • Good mothering ability
  • Long lives.

Since 1977, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy has been working to establish meaningful and productive roles for rare breeds of livestock and poultry. We have organized rescues to prevent the extermination of the last of herds or flocks. We have served as the clearing house and educational center for livestock conservation. We have developed a gene bank for rare breeds. And we published one-of-a-kind books on rare breed conservation. This year we have

Saved more breeds. Through the efforts of ALBC's powerful network both Highland cattle and Shetland sheep have stepped away from danger, now being able to boast larger and more secure populations.

Championed heritage turkeys. ALBC's 1997 census found a mere 8200 heritage turkeys, all that remained of eleven breeds. While over 270,000,000 Broad Breasted White turkeys are raised for the grocers' freezers in a single year, these birds are essentially all "first cousins." ALBC continued its strategic campaign to undergird heritage turkey conservation. We provided turkey breeders with hard-to-find varietal descriptions. We promoted turkey conservation to small-scale breeders and supported two newly organized turkey associations. These efforts led to record sales and increased production of heritage turkey breeds.

Advised the USDA. ALBC was appointed to the National Animal Germplasm Species Committee to develop a national livestock genetics conservation program. Through this appointment, the USDA recognized ALBC as a valuable and needed contributor to livestock genetics conservation. ALBC stands on equal footing with livestock industry leaders.

Conducted a census of domestic ducks and geese. The counts tell us that thirteen breeds of ducks and ten breeds of geese are endangered. Only the Embden goose and the Pekin duck are secure. ALBC raised the alarm and took immediate action to save these rare waterfowl. We published Taking Stock of Waterfowl to document the frighteningly low populations of most waterfowl. We developed Breed Briefs to promote each breed and compiled a Breeders List to help people find stock.

Provided timely information and conservation tools to ALBC members and the public through ALBC News, the ALBC website, the ALBC Breeders Directory, and the ALBC Annual Conference.

ALBC's work continues to be critically needed. We can't do it without you. In 2001, ALBC will continue to champion rare horses, cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, rabbits, turkeys, ducks, and geese – but pigs and chickens need our most immediate attention. They are at greatest risk because they are most industrialized.

In the 1930s fifteen breeds of pigs were raised for market. Today, six of these breeds are extinct. The Hampshire, Yorkshire, and Duroc pigs provide 75% of the genetics for commercial production.

In the 1920s more than 60 breeds of chickens were raised on farms across the United States. Today, one hybrid chicken, the Cornish Rock cross, supplies nearly all the supermarket chicken, while White Leghorns lay almost all the white eggs.

You play a critical role in the survival of rare breeds. With your help ALBC will continue to be a strong voice for conservation, genetic diversity and a valuable resource for those seeking agricultural alternatives.

We depend on your commitment and generosity to ensure the future of all of Americas priceless livestock and poultry breeds.

Please contribute generously to ALBC today. Your financial support will make a difference.

Yours, in conservation,

Charles R. Bassett

Executive Director

P.S. If these breeds are lost they will be gone forever. Dont let them slip away!

Your contribution is important to the survival of rare breeds.