The 2026-27 Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist has highlighted concern over one of the UK’s most iconic pig breeds.
There has been a 23% reduction in the number of Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs dams producing registered pigs. The breed remains in the ‘At Risk’ category with the situation being monitored.
In more positive news, Large Black pig breeder numbers have increased, alongside improved performance on all collected data points. However, the breed remains in the most endangered ‘Priority’ category breed.
Elsewhere, there is little change. Berkshires remain a ‘Priority’ – RBST’s data shows there were 236 breeding females and an Effective Population Size of 88 in 2024.
The British Lop is described as ‘critically rare’, with only 12 herds registering pedigree pigs in 2024.
The UK has 11 native pig breeds, and all are considered rare and at risk of extinction. Here is full pig Watchlist:
Priority: Berkshire, British Landrace, British Lop, Large Black, Large White, Middle White Tamworth.
At Risk: British Saddleback, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Oxford Sandy and Black Welsh.
In other species, the ancient White Park cattle breed has been moved to the most urgent ‘Priority’ category, along with Lincoln Red cattle, Boreray sheep and Soay sheep, reflecting growing concerns about their outlook.
RBST chief executive Christopher Price said: “Fantastic work by farmers and land managers is placing native livestock breeds at the heart of sustainable farming and nature restoration throughout the UK, but Government support is very limited and difficult to access. We want to see Government deliver more incentives for choosing native breeds.”
- See the new RBST Watchlist in full at rbst.org.uk/watchlist
