RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
powered by TidyHQGuidelines for Rare Breed Categorisation 2024
Guidelines for Rare Breed Categorisation 2024
| Definition of a Breed | Livestock Guidelines | Poultry Guidelines | Providing Updates |
Definition of a Breed
The breed is a true genetic breed when mated together. In other words it breeds true to type.
Livestock (Cattle, Donkeys, Goats, Horses, Pigs and Sheep) Guidelines
Why does Rare Breeds Trust of Australia only count registered animals?
Registered livestock animals are those with documented pedigrees. Assuming that registries are operated with integrity (an assumption we make), we take registered animals to be purebred. Generally, animals that are intended as breeding stock are registered and will contribute their genes to the next generation. Historically, unregistered animals had jobs other than breeding. This makes continuity of pedigree registration from generation to generation very important. While this approach results in an under-count to varying degrees, it does consistently count those animals most likely to contribute to the next purebred generation
- Placement of a breed within Watchlist categories may not be wholly defined by registered breeding female population size (the numeric thresholds serve as a guideline).
- Population genetic factors (such as inbreeding and genetic erosion) and
- Trends in breed density and distribution (geographical concentration in a small area) can mean a breed will be highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks, and so are also included in making assessments of endangerment.
If insufficient information exists to fulfill all current guidelines, the RBTA may occasionally recognize breeds it considers to be of genetic conservation importance.
Section A: Genetic Basis
- Has the breed existed continuously for 40 years?
- Has there been an accepted Stud/Herd/Flock book for at least 6 generations, or in the case of poultry and waterfowl, is the breed recognized in the Current Australian Poultry Standard? (In the case of poultry colour variants will normally be considered as part of the same interbreeding population unless there is evidence of genetically distinct origins and these variants are not interbred)
- Have other breeds contributed less than 20 percent of the genetic makeup of the breed in the last six generations?
If the answer to 1 is affirmative, and if one of the other answers are affirmative, proceed to Section B.
If the breed does not qualify under his section, it is not accepted unless it possesses a distinct characteristic not found elsewhere.
Section B: Numerical Basis
- A breed will be included in the lists if there are fewer than the following number of breeding females in the breed: Cattle 750; Horses 600; Sheep 1500; Goats 500; Pigs 500.
- Breeds with four or fewer distinct male lines will be included on the priority list. A watching brief will be kept on breeds with six or fewer distinct male lines, (A male line is one which has no ancestors in common with another in the last four generations, i.e. up to and including great grandparents.)
- Livestock breed priorities will be set according to the table below.
Poultry Guidelines
In contrast to Livestock, pure breed poultry has no animal registration requirements. All data submitted via the RBTA's Poultry Census is voluntarily submitted by individual breeders and is taken on face value as matching the requirements for a submitted breed. The breeding nature of poultry also means that numbers can move up much more rapidly than other livestock, followed by low to high culling approaches . Conversely, flocks can be dispersed rapidly. Accordingly the use of submitted numbers alone to identify categories of risk has presented a significant challenge over many years.
With 2024, the Poultry Census now analyses submitted numbers, added to by data from selected shows, across four measures. These are:
- Effective Population Size* Index figure derived from the ratio of breeding males and females as identified in the Census.
- Breeding flock numbers as identified in the current Census.
- Correlations with Australian rare poultry association lists.
- Comparison with the Effective Population Size Index figure and breeding flocks derived from the previous Census.
In the simplest terms, Effective Population Size (EPS) is an indicator of the prospect for genetic survival of a breed into the future. EPS calculates the relative numbers of male and female parents within a population (called "breeding male/female ratio" above) and yields an index figure. A low EPS index figure signifies a greater risk of loss.
The 2024 Poultry Census analysis method uses three rating categories - Critical, Of Concern and Watch - as summarised in the following graphic:
This is a new analysis approach for poultry compared to previous Census analyses. It represents a move away from "cut off numbers" categorisation based on submitted total numbers, to a "conservation" type approach using correlations across multiple data sets and the calculation of breeding flock male/female ratios.
Nevertheless, the rare poultry listings nevertheless should still be considered indicative as opposed to absolute.
It is important to note that the Poultry Census is (1) voluntary and (2) unable to be based on breed registration records due to the lack of pure breed registration requirements. Therefore there may be differences between "on the ground" numbers to numbers reported through the Census. If you have not participated in the 2024 Poultry Census, you can submit numbers using the link in the Providing Updates section following.
Providing Updates
If you have further information on a breed on a Watchlist, or amend its position on a list, please complete the online Watchlist update form.. Newly provided data, once analysed, will be collated for the next scheduled update of the species lists.
