CONFIDENCE IN rare and native breeds is rising in the UK – but in order to support this growth, urgent action is needed from the government to reverse the decline of the local abattoir network.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust recently surveyed 259 farmers and smallholders who sell rare and native breed products and services, and found that breeders can demand premium prices whilst also benefitting from lower input costs, in relation to continental breeds. However, it also found that breeders were concerned that consumers might not be willing to spend more money on higher quality produce and that a lack of suitable abattoirs could be a key barrier to future business growth.

The survey highlighted that confidence in rare and native breeds is growing, with 86% of respondents having made investments in their businesses in the past five years – 22% of which had made investments of more than £10,000.

Supporting breed survival was top of the list of reasons why respondents chose rare or native breeds, but when asked what they saw as the greatest opportunity for growing their businesses, 66% highlighted increasing consumer concern for the environment and animal welfare.

It found that 64% of respondents thought that overall costs with native breeds were lower than with continental breeds, pointing to feed, supplements, housing and vet costs as the main factors.

Almost half of respondents (48%) based in Scotland said that the commercial potential of superior products was one of the reasons why they chose a native breed, with 32% saying that lower input costs was a reason for their native breed choice.

The survey revealed that two main barriers were holding breeders back from growing their rare breed business: 48% felt that consumers would be unwilling to spend more for high quality or high standards and 42% of respondents shared their concerns of a lack of suitable abattoirs.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive of Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Christopher Price said: “The survey results show a thriving and dynamic native breeds sector with strong levels of investment and exciting opportunities for future growth. The opportunity to sell meat for a premium coupled with lower input costs creates an attractive opportunity for commercial success with rare and native livestock breeds, which is so important for these breeds’ survival long into the future.

“RBST will not only keep working to show consumers why buying native breed products is worth the money, we will also keep working with government and its agencies to ensure support for the wide range of ‘public goods’ benefits generated by farming with native breeds such as supporting biodiversity and resistance to disease.”

Steve McMinn of the RBST Scotland Forum, added: “The results show the breadth of opportunity for those keeping native breeds of livestock and equines, with commercial activity deriving from native breed meat, wool, breeding stock and dairy but also conservation grazing, hides and horns, and more.

“But the results also show very clearly the need for urgent action on a key barrier for rare breed businesses looking to grow – access to suitable abattoirs. RBST is campaigning for Government to commit to the support and collaboration which will help reverse the decline of the local abattoir network,” he concluded.