The Conservation Priority List, an annual report of the status of more than 180 endangered agricultural breeds, includes one addition and one reclassification for 2025.
Barbados Blackbelly sheep moved from Watch to Threatened on the CPL. Few Barbados Blackbelly sheep have been imported into the U.S., the most recent in the 1970s. Many of these naturally polled sheep were crossbred with horned breeds to establish the American Blackbelly, a non-CPL breed. In 2004, the remaining uncrossed (purebred) Barbados Blackbelly sheep were identified through pedigree research by the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International, and these are the ancestors of all registered Barbados Blackbelly sheep in the U.S. today.
While populations in the U.S. remain steady, with around 1,100 animals in a recent census conducted by the BBSAI, the loss of sheep in Barbados is a major factor in the reclassification. Sheep numbers have declined in Barbados due to social and economic factors such as the lack of recruitment of new farmers as older farmers retire, the decreasing availability and rising value of agricultural land, and increasing feed costs. The coronavirus pandemic led to even more flock dispersals.
Additionally, Araucana chickens are added to the CPL in the Critical category for 2025. The population of purebred Araucanas in the U.S. is estimated to be around 400 birds. There are only four breeding flocks of 50 birds or more, all in private hands
Most Araucana chickens in the U.S. are raised for exhibition and their fascinating, blue-colored eggs. They can be proficient egg layers, with good hens laying approximately 250 eggs annually. In the U.S., Araucana chickens have ear tufts and are “rumpless,” that is, they have no tail. The rumpless trait is due to the absence of tail bones and does not affect their health or productivity. The dominant gene that causes this trait results in lethality for embryos that carry two copies. Therefore, 25% of fertile Araucana eggs will not develop to maturity.
Even though no other breeds are being reclassified on the Conservation Priority List this year, the population of many breeds are improving, pointing to possible category changes and even graduations from the CPL in 2026.
“Thanks to the hard work of family farmers and the associations that represent individual breeds, several breeds of livestock and poultry, such as Red Devon cattle, Tennessee Fainting goats, Silver Fox rabbits and Polish chickens, need only a few more serious breeders to achieve the next step in growth that will help them graduate from the List,” says The Livestock Conservancy Program Director Alison Martin.
Working closely with breed associations, breeders and conservationists, The Livestock Conservancy thoroughly analyzes data on each breed’s status, risks and opportunities. The results place each breed in one of four categories, from Critical (most endangered) to Threatened, Watch and Recovering (least threatened). The annual list drives specific conservation programs, outreach efforts and promotion of heritage breeds. Thousands turn to the CPL when selecting heritage livestock and poultry breeds for their operations. This is the 39th year for the CPL.
