Conservation Priority List Reports Status of Livestock Breeds

The Livestock Conservancy released its 2025 Conservation Priority List, which reports the status of more than 180 endangered agricultural livestock breeds, including cattle, chickens, donkeys, ducks, geese, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, sheep, and turkeys. 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. This year’s list includes a reclassification for the Barbados Blackbelly sheep, which moved from “Watch” to “Threatened” based on the loss of sheep in Barbados. Additionally, the Araucana chicken was added to the list 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.