Report from RBST AGM June 2007
At the AGM of the RBST at Dinefwr Parc, Richard Clarke, Chief Executive Officer, gave a presentation on the 'Way Forward' He identified the need to focus on 'at-risk native farming breeds' as opposed to just those classified as rare. Key directions were:
- Breed Conservation, by means of such activities as gene archives, breeding programmes, promotion, and support of breed societies, local groups and individuals.
- Working with groups in landscape management where our breeds can be of help.
- In Mainstream Agriculture - identifying and promoting the commercial and other qualities of native breeds.
- And supporting and promoting wide awareness of the contribution native livestock can have across a broad spectrum of society.
- The Way Forward for RBST is available as a booklet from HQ and the local support group has a few copies via the committee.
Issues raised by the audience included, ensuring that County Shows gave an adequate commentary to the public on rare breeds, the need for a database where one could find out 'who had what, and where' - both locally and across the country. Excellent presentations were also given by the chairman, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Wales, and senior people in the Countryside Council for Wales and the National Trust of Wales. There was a long discussion on the threat of animal diseases from Africa and the Mediterranean that might effect the UK and what we might have to do about it.
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After lunch many spent an hour or so being shown the White Park cattle, their handling facilities, grounds and the house. There have been White Parks on the estate from the 10th century up until the 1970s. Lawrence Alderson acquired many of the cattle and then brought 8 back to the park several years later as the nucleus of the existing herd of 40 animals.
Richard and Barbara Barker represented the Devon Support Group