The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has reported a sharp decline in Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, with less than 100 females producing registered piglets. The breed remains in the 'at-risk' category on the RBST watchlist, having seen a 23% reduction in the number of dams producing offspring in the last year. In 2017, there were 709 breeding Old Spot females left, less than half the 1,430 recorded in 2014, according to the British Pig Association. The RBST noted that the Gloucestershire Old Spot pig is declining at an alarming rate, with the number of breeding females dropping significantly over the past decade.
White Park cattle have been moved to the most urgent 'priority' category on the RBST watchlist, the trust said. New calf registrations for White Park cattle sank last year to less than two-thirds of their 2022 level. Three other native breeds—original population Lincoln Red cattle, Boreray sheep, and Soay sheep—were also moved from 'at-risk' to 'priority' category, according to the RBST. This shift highlights growing concerns for these rare breeds.
The Hackney horse has seen the number of females producing offspring decline by 41% in 2025, the RBST reported. The RBST is urging the government to improve support for rare native livestock and equines, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to prevent further losses.
Princess Anne became patron of the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders' Club in 2009, according to the Daily Mail. In 2015, one of her prized pigs was killed by a wild boar that broke into its pen, the newspaper reported. Her involvement has brought attention to the breed's plight.