FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Livestock Conservancy’s Mission?
“To protect endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction”
How many breeds do you work with?
Currently, The Livestock Conservancy works to protect over 150 individual breeds from 11 different species. See our Conservation Priority List here.
Do you sell animals?
No. The Livestock Conservancy does not own or sell animals, but many of our members do. To search for stock and products, visit our Breeders and Products Directory or our online classifieds site.
Where is The Livestock Conservancy located?
Our national headquarters is located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, but we have members in all 50 states and over 20 different countries. Our mailing address is PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC, 27312.
How much is membership?
Basic membership is $45 and online student memberships are $25. To see more information on membership and become a member, click here.
Can I meet with you in person?
One of the best ways to meet with our staff is to catch us on the road at one of the many events we attend throughout the year. See the event calendar here.
How do I contact you?
You can reach us by sending an online message, or giving us a call at (919) 542-5704 M-F 9am-5pm Eastern Standard Time.
How can I make a donation or pay my dues?
Donations can be made online here, membership can be renewed online here, or you can send cash or checks to The Livestock Conservancy, PO Box 477, Pittsboro, NC 27312, or call with a credit card (VISA, MC, AmEx, or Discover) at (919) 542-5704.
Are you a charity / are my donations tax-deductible?
Yes. The Livestock Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. ID# 03 0270 281 See our Top-Rated Charity status here.
What is a Heritage breed?
The Livestock Conservancy developed the term “Heritage breed” to in order to help breeders of historic and endangered breeds of livestock market their animals. For more information on how we developed this term and to see the official Heritage breed definitions, click here.
Why isn’t my breed listed?
The mission of The Livestock Conservancy revolves around genetic conservation of endangered breeds in the United States. Although some breeds may be rare, they don’t always fit the criteria for our Conservation Priority List. To see the parameters for inclusion on the list, click here.
Do I have to own/breed animals to be a member?
Nope! In fact, over half of Livestock Conservancy members don’t own animals, but still support our cause through their membership. We’d love to have you as a member.
Does The Livestock Conservancy own animals?
As much we’d love to be around heritage breeds all day, The Livestock Conservancy does not own animals, but we serve a critical role in heritage breed conservation. See more about our involvement and ongoing projects here.
Are there grants for people who want to raise heritage breeds?
Although there aren’t usually grants specifically tailored to raising heritage breeds, there are some financial resources that may benefit people raising them. When we hear of these, we list them on our Financial Resources page here. If you know of additional resources we can share, please contact us to let us know and we’ll add them to our list. Another good place to check is with your local Cooperative Extension office. They may know of local or state resources we are not aware of.