Conservation List
Gauging the pulse of heritage livestock
2022-2023 Conservation List
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Symbol Meanings
Internationally Rare +
Canadian origin =
Increased risk from previous conservation list ^
Decreased risk from previous conservation list v
Categories are designated for the number of females (in brackets) registered in a given year.
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Cattle
CRITICAL (1-25)
Kerry +
Lakenvelder +
Welsh Black
White Galloway
White Park +
Red Devon ^
Lynch Lineback + =
ENDANGERED (26-75)
Milking Devon +
Lincoln Red v +
Milking Shorthorn +
Red Poll
VULNERABLE (76-250)
Braunvieh
Canadienne + =
Hays Converter v =
Dexter
Galloway
Belted Galloway v
Guernsey ^
AT RISK (251-750)
Highland
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Donkey
CRITICAL (1-15)
Mammoth Jackstock
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Equine
CRITICAL (1-15)
American Saddlebred +
Cleveland Bay +
Exmoor Pony +
Fell Pony +
Hackney Horse and Pony +
Highland Pony +
Bashkir Curly (Curly) ^
Irish Draught +
Newfoundland Pony =+
Ojibwe =+
Shetland Pony
Shire +
ENDANGERED (16-50)
Suffolk Horse + v
Fjord v
VULNERABLE (51-150)
Canadian = +
Morgan Horse
Welsh Cob and Pony
Percheron ^
AT RISK (151-500)
Clydesdale +
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Goats
CRITICAL (1-35)
Oberhasli
San Clemente +
Angora ^
ENDANGERED (36-115)
Toggenburg ^
VULNERABLE (116-350)
Saanen ^
AT RISK (351-1165)
Nubian
Alpine
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Sheep
CRITICAL (1-30)
Jacob +
Navajo Churro +
Newfoundland + =
Scottish Blackface
Soay
Corriedale ^
Lincoln Longwool ^ +
Dorset Horn ^ +
ENDANGERED (31-100)
Rambouillet v
Border Cheviot
Border Leicester +
Cotswold +
Oxford Down +
Shropshire
VULNERABLE (101-300)
North Country Cheviot ^
Southdown
AT RISK (351-1165)
Canadian Arcott + =
Hampshire
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Swine
CRITICAL (1-35)
Berkshire ^ +
Hampshire
Lacombe =
Red Wattle +
Gloucester Old Spot +
ENDANGERED (36-115)
Tamworth v +
Large Black +
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Under Research
Under research is a designation specifically for those breeds which are on the point of being declared “extinct” in Canada and/or a new population of interest.
Karakul sheep + (on watch for extinction, no new females in several generations)
Dales Pony + (on watch for extinction, no new registrations for several generations)
Ossabaw Island Hogs + (population of international interest)
Heritage Livestock Canada researches, updates and manages our list of breeds and species at risk.
To meet our breeds and see for yourself why supporting diversity in livestock is so important to our food security and biodiversity, choose a category below and start exploring the many faces of Canadian agriculture.
Conservation List Criteria
Canadian Heritage Breed is listed if:
A. The breed is Canadian in origin.
1. A breed is a true genetic breed if, when mated together, it reproduces the breed type.
2. The breed has existed continuously in Canada for 50 years.
or
3. The breed has been registered in Canada for at least six generations.
A generation is as follows: cattle 6 years, sheep 4 years, goats 5 years, horses 10 years, pigs 2 years, and poultry 1 year.
or
4. The parental breeds used to form this breed are no longer available.
B. Registration information
A breed is listed if there are:
1. Fewer than the following annual registrations of pure female stock: 750 cattle, 500 horses, 1165 swine, 1000 sheep, 1165 goats.
or
2. Four or fewer distinct male lines.
(A distinct male line is one that has no ancestors in common for the past four generations including great-grand-
parents.)
C. Other criteria
The following criteria help to establish the category for each breed or even to list a breed that does not otherwise qualify.
1. Registrations or populations have decreased significantly in Canada in the last 5 years.
2. The breed is listed by other rare breed organizations (i.e., it is internationally rare).
3. The breed currently exists in four or fewer significant breeding units that are more than 1000 kilometres apart in Canada.
4. The breed is not supported by an active breed association in Canada
*Photo of Clydesdale. Courtesy Fort Steele, BC