Gaps in genetic diversity research risks some UK livestock breeds.

The genetic diversity of rare livestock breeds could be at risk without improvement to genetic monitoring, research has found.

The study, conducted by The Roslin Institute, identified several rare breeds which had no publicly available genetic data at all.

As part of the project, researchers reviewed a number of previous studies and national records to assess knowledge of the genetic health of UK livestock. This included estimates of in-breeding and population size.

This review identified 37 studies, published between 1975 and 2024, which explored species including cattle, pig, turkeys and geese.

Genetic studies had been carried out for 42 per cent of breeds listed on the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST) database. However many species, including rare breeds of turkey, duck and geese, were lacking genetic diversity estimates.

Experts compared census-based diversity estimates from the UK government to the DNA-based measures of livestock diversity found in peer-reviewed studies.

This revealed discrepancies between the estimates, with census figures generally higher than the peer-reviewed numbers.

Researchers believe this difference to be due to issues with census-based calculations, which assume all breeding animals contribute equally to the next generation. However this theory does not always work since, in some managed livestock systems, a small number of males may father most offspring.

This can mean the genetic pool is smaller than the headcount might suggest, leaving rare breeds vulnerable to in-breeding and the loss of rare traits.

One breed highlighted by the review was the Chillingham wild cattle, which grazes in northern England without human intervention. The breed's genetic diversity was found to be lower than those of some endangered animals, including pandas and cheetahs.

The most recent diversity estimates for the cattle had been over a decade ago.

The researchers believe that studying these populations could provide new insights into the impacts of inbreeding on long-term survival.

Chrissy Rochus, core scientist at the Roslin Institute, said: “Our goal was to bring together all the available data so policymakers, researchers, and conservation groups can see where the research gaps are.

“By identifying these, we can better target resources to safeguard the UK’s unique livestock heritage.”

The full study can be found in the journal animal.

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