The RBST (Rare Breeds Survival Trust), in association with Grassroots Systems Ltd., is working with Defra, DARDNI, SEERAD and WAGEPCD to compile a national register of premises that may be considered to receive special measures in order to conserve livestock during an FMD outbreak (Footnote: Article 15 of the European Union Council Directive 2003/85/EC on measures for the control of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) places a responsibility on member states to establish and maintain a list of premises keeping animals for the purpose of conserving Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) during an FMD outbreak). The register will include breeds on the Trust's Watchlist and other breeds that may be vulnerable because of their geographical distribution. The Trust will manage the register on Defra's behalf.
Inclusion on the register will be voluntary. However, it is in the interests of every breeder to register so their premises have the opportunity to benefit from any special measures that may apply or come into force for the conservation of rare breeds in the event of a fture FMD outbreak. For premises to be eligible they have to keep a breeding group, and for each breed the minimum criteria presently are:
Cattle: 8 females plus 1 male (or AI)
Sheep: 16 females plus 1 male
Pigs: 3 females plus 1 male (or AI)
Goats: 6 females plus 1 male
With your help, we will use our position as a partner in this project to advise and influence Defra to adjust these thresholds when necessary to ensure that genetically viable populations can be conserved. Of course, we need as much information as possible from you to enable us to do this.
Applications for inclusion on the database will be verified against Breed Society data: names, addresses, herd/flock number, and the number of breeding females. Grassroots have written a new option in the administration menu on Breed Society Record which will extract the names, addresses and number of breeding animals owned by your current members, to be imported direct into the verification module. This update is available from the Grassroots web site - www.grassroots.co.uk/bar - in the normal way.
After the application has been verified against the data you provide, the applicant's details will be uploaded to the Defra database.
Some of your members may be concerned about Data Protection and privacy issues. The Trust will use the data only in connection with the project, unless we receive your permission to use it for wider conservation work. The Defra database will be accessible only to its staff, the SVS, and other authorities that may be involved in combating an outbreak of FMD.
Please give this letter the widest publicity, and encourage your members to apply, which they may do on-line via the RBST website at www.rbst.org.uk. They can also request a registration form from the RBST in writing, by email or telephone to:
Breeds At Risk Register,
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Stoneleigh Park, nr. Kenilworth
Warwickshire CV8 2LG
Telephone: 024 7669 8763/8766
Email: bar@rbst.org.uk
Web: www.rbst.org.uk
The website for the application form can be found at www.grassroots.co.uk/bar
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Packed with masses of information and lots of exciting features to help RBST members and the general public get the most out of their visit, www.rbst.org.uk is the 'new look' website of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, a charity dedicated to the preservation of Britain's native livestock.
General information on rare breeds, including the 2006 Watchlist and details about the work of the Trust, will be of interest to both members and anyone else concerned with the restoration of Britain's traditional livestock breeds.
A special 'members only' area offers a discussion forum, magazine archive and a free subscription service for up to the minute RBST news and information. Plus, members will also be able to email colleagues and friends from the website.
Visitors looking for something in particular can check out the keyword search facility by typing in what they'd like to find - the search engine will produce a selection of results in seconds.
Shopping online couldn't be simpler, with a wide range of merchandise on offer, including books, greetings cards, gifts and novelty items.
RBST Executive Director, Robert Terry, says: "The website is an exciting development which the general public will find informative and easy to navigate, and I hope our members will enjoy accessing their own area, which has a discussion forum and the Trust's magazine "Ark-ive".
The Deeson Group (www.deeson.co.uk) has worked closely with the Trust on this project during the past three months. Deeson also publishes the Trust's quarterly magazine, "The Ark".
For more information please contact the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Stoneleigh Park, nr. Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG, Tel. 024 7669 8764, www.rbst.org.uk