Synopses & Reviews
Over the centuries man has selectively bred animals to achieve productivity. However, modern agriculture has meant that today relatively few breeds are now used and bred extensively. Fortunately, many of the more rare and interesting breeds still exist and are being carefully conserved for the future. We now realize the importance of their gene pool and enthusiasts everywhere are setting up small breeding programs for animals such as chickens, cattle, farm horses, goats, sheep, ducks and geese. This book will help the enthusiast set up a breeding program and instruct them in how to care and maintain their animals.
A rare breed is defined as a breed of livestock that is not common in modern agriculture, though it may have been in the past. Various national and international organizations, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the United Kingdom, each define the exact parameters by which a breed may be defined as rare, and many breeds that qualify only have a few thousand or a even a few hundred breeding individuals remaining in the world.
Synopsis
This book describes rare livestock breeds, is packed with full-color photographs, and will help the enthusiast set up a breeding program and instruct them in how to care and maintain their animals.
About the Author
David Alderton trained as a veterinarian, and his books about dogs have sold over a million copies. David has been awarded the Maxwell Medal by the Dog WritersÆ Association of America, and has acted as consultant on canine programs screened by the Discovery Channel. He was very closely involved in the TV documentary celebrating the Crufts Centenary dog show, screened by the UKÆs BBC and broadcasters in thirteen other countries world-wide.Derek Hall is a freelance author and editor, specializing in natural history, including pets. He has an Honors degree in Biology from London University. As editor, he has produced numerous pet books, covering a range of subjects including aquarium fish, horses, cats, dogs, cage birds and small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, etc).