Livestock Conservancy Releases 2026 Conservation Priority List

Cotswold sheep reclassified as Critically Endangered, while two breeds graduate off the list

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:30pm

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The Livestock Conservancy, a national non-profit dedicated to rare agricultural breed conservation, has released its 2026 Conservation Priority List. The list tracks the extinction threat for over 180 breeds across 11 livestock species in the United States. This year, Cotswold sheep were reclassified as Critically Endangered, while the Belgian horse and Silver Fox rabbit graduated off the list entirely due to successful conservation efforts.

Why it matters

The annual Conservation Priority List drives specific breed conservation programs, outreach, and promotion to ensure these endangered livestock and poultry breeds don't disappear from American farms, ranches, and backyards. Preserving genetic diversity in rare breeds is vital for meeting sustainability challenges and ensuring future food security.

The details

The Livestock Conservancy works closely with breed associations, breeders, and conservationists to thoroughly analyze data on each breed's status, risks, and opportunities. Breeds are then placed into one of four categories - Critical, Threatened, Watch, and Recovering. In 2026, the Belgian horse and Silver Fox rabbit graduated off the list due to successful conservation efforts, while Cotswold sheep were reclassified as Critically Endangered as their global population has declined, with the US now representing about half of the roughly 2,000 remaining Cotswold sheep worldwide.

  • The Livestock Conservancy has released its annual Conservation Priority List for 2026.
  • The Belgian horse and Silver Fox rabbit have graduated off the list this year.
  • Cotswold sheep were reclassified as Critically Endangered in the 2026 list.

The players

The Livestock Conservancy

A national non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation, protection, and promotion of rare agricultural breeds in the United States.

Allison Kincaid

The executive director of The Livestock Conservancy.

Alison Martin

The program director for The Livestock Conservancy.

Hannah Ramirez

The president of the Silver Fox Rabbit Breeders Club.

Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America

The organization that has worked to restore the popularity of Belgian horses in the United States.

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What they’re saying

“More than 4,000 volunteer breeders and 150-plus breed associations work diligently to ensure these endangered breeds don't disappear from our farms, ranches and backyards throughout America.”

— Allison Kincaid, Executive Director, The Livestock Conservancy

“This club has worked tirelessly to make this happen, and I am thrilled with this accomplishment!”

— Hannah Ramirez, President, Silver Fox Rabbit Breeders Club

“Thanks to the hard work of family farmers and the associations that represent individual breeds, several breeds of livestock and poultry, such as Red Devon cattle, Tennessee Fainting goats and Polish chickens, need only a few more serious breeders to achieve the next step in growth that will help them graduate from the List.”

— Alison Martin, Program Director, The Livestock Conservancy

“Many of the breeds that are found only in North America and have played important roles in our nation's history are now critically endangered. Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of the Earth's biodiversity. They offer remarkable genetic diversity and distinctive production traits, including disease resistance. Saving these breeds is vital to meeting today's sustainability challenges and ensuring food security for the future.”

— Allison Kincaid, Executive Director, The Livestock Conservancy

What’s next

The Livestock Conservancy will continue to work closely with breed associations, breeders, and conservationists to monitor the status of rare livestock and poultry breeds and implement targeted conservation programs to ensure their survival.

The takeaway

The Livestock Conservancy's annual Conservation Priority List serves as a critical tool for tracking the extinction threat to over 180 rare agricultural breeds in the United States. By highlighting breeds in need of conservation efforts, the list drives programs to preserve genetic diversity and ensure the long-term viability of these unique livestock and poultry breeds that are vital to sustainable food production.