Securing Rare Breeds in Drought Conditions

Heritage breeds
are survivors, although some may be in for a very challenging year. The
national drought is about to have a huge impact on the American economy and now
is the time to plan ahead. Undoubtedly, food for home and feed for animals is
going to skyrocket in price this year because most of the corn crop and other
grains are under threat due to the drought. Forage for grazing animals has
suffered as well with many farmers already feeding hay at a time when there
should be plenty of grass.

Producers
are going to be facing hard decisions in order to weather the tough times
ahead. For stewards of endangered breeds, planning for the future is going to
be critical for the long term survival of these rare animals. It is their
responsibility as stewards to ensure that the breeds will live on, whether they
remain on their farms or go into the hands of new owners in this time of
struggle.

Where to start?

If you live in an area of the
country that is still getting rain, consider growing supplemental feed for your
animals. Depending on where you live, there are some forage items that can
still be planted this summer season such as cowpeas, rape, and buckwheat. In
the fall, think about planting with your animals in mind or imagine turning
your grass clippings into a food source. There is some great information on
small scale silage production that might be another answer to turn failing crops
into feed for your animals. See the resources below for ideas on gardening and
silage for your animals.

For those individuals who
will have to make the decision to downsize their herds or flocks, careful
consideration for which animals to keep is key. You must retain both quality
and diversity in the animals that remain on the farm. Taking a hard look at
pedigrees and bloodlines and then judging the animals based on how they conform
to breed standard will guide you in the process. It is much like judging by
card grading, which is outlined on the ALBC website here.

There may be situations
in which it will be financially impossible to keep any of the animals. In this
case locating a new steward will be the optimal solution versus the stockyard
or sale barn. If you must sell, priority must be given to making sure breeding
quality animals get into the hands of capable people. There are many
opportunities to network with potential stewards through breed clubs,
associations, and of course the ALBC network through the website and office.
Selection of which animals must go to other conservation breeders is similar to
the decisions involved in the previous paragraph outlining a strategy for
making priorities for “must keep” breeding stock.