Heritage Livestock Breeds Take Center Stage During International Awareness Week

The Livestock Conservancy says protecting rare breeds helps preserve genetic diversity and long-term agricultural resilience.

PITTSBORO, N.C. (RFD News) — Rare breeds of livestock and poultry continue playing an important role in preserving agricultural biodiversity and protecting genetic diversity within the industry.

As part of International Heritage Breeds Week, Les O’Dell with The Livestock Conservancy joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss the importance of heritage breeds and the organization’s efforts to help protect them.

In his conversation with RFD News, O’Dell discussed the work being done through The Livestock Conservancy, along with highlights from the group’s annual Conservation Priority List.

The conversation also focused on how organizations and producers are celebrating International Heritage Breeds Week and raising awareness about the role heritage breeds continue playing in agriculture.

Related Stories
SharkFarmer host Rob Sharkey takes us on a tour of the John Deere showcase on the trade show floor of CattleCon 2026 in Nashville.
Policies aimed at ground beef prices may primarily reshape dairy incentives rather than deliver lasting consumer savings.
Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions provides remote water-monitoring technology to help ranchers manage livestock water more efficiently.
Jones Hamilton Company shares insights on herd health, efficiency, and innovation for cattle producers this year at NCBA CattleCon in Nashville.
The House Agriculture Committee is set to debate a new, “skinny” Farm Bill at the end of February, according to a release from Committee Chairman Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson.
The fun continues in Nashville next year at CattleCon 2027!

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

JBS says the plant is now operating at full capacity as plant workers return to work.
Rising costs and prices are shifting acreage toward soybeans. Most fertilizer prices are up double digits from this time last year, with Urea seeing the largest gains.
A Nebraska rancher says his land may not support cattle this year after 2,000 acres were burned in recent devastating wildfires across the state.
Brandy Carroll with the Arkansas Farm Bureau shares an update on planting conditions and what producers are facing this season.
Aris Georgiadis with Dairy Management Inc. joined us to discuss the “Dairy Does More” campaign and how it is working to boost demand for dairy.
While social media has labeled the possible event a “Godzilla El Niño,” experts say the intensity remains uncertain—but the signal for a stronger pattern is there.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.