Red List
Dying pets and livestock animals?
That the Mountain Gorillas and Siberian Tigers are threatened with extinction, every one of us knows! But pets and livestock animals? Do we really need initiatives to save old and endangered breeds of livestock animals?
Yes, unfortunately they are urgently needed!
Whoever knows the Bentheim Black Pied, the Ramelsloher Chicken or the Pomeranian Coarsewool Sheep? In the various regions of Germany, as elsewhere on our globe, a variety of different breeds were bred for centuries. These conformed well to their surroundings, got along well with some specific climatic conditions or characteristics of the “soil". With the increasing modernization of agriculture after World War II interest in this ancient native breeds was lost and they were replaced by hybrid and high yielding breeds which promised more profit.
Today we know that so an important genetic potential with properties such as robustness, longevity, contentment, resistance to diseases, etc. was irretrievably lost and is still lost. Moreover, the ancient breeds which accompanied our ancestors over the centuries are a heritage to be protected, similar to an ancient monument or artwork. As the problem of dying breeds was recognized, it was already too late for many breeds. Thus, e.g. the German Pasture Pig became extinct some years ago.
(Copyright www.vieh-ev.de, dated from 07-03-2010)
The Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds writes the following about the German Angora:
Characteristics:
White, albino (red iris) or leucistic (blue iris), and all other colours without markings. Exception: White with coloured markings in black and brown.
Front and rear almost the same width - roll form. Ears erect, adult bucks with much stronger head than does.
The weight is between 3.5 - 5.5 kilograms.
Attributes/Achievement:
Wool production and rabbit for slaughter.
Specialities:
Long hair by mutation. The hair is growing continually and must be regularly shorn. The fleece is very dense and regular. Depending on country and standard different requirements (population).
Stock:
There are only a few dedicated breeders.
Endangerment:
Category I (highly endangered) on the Red List of the Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds.
