Rare breed (agriculture)

![A rare breed Manx Loaghtan sheep at Cregneash, Isle Of Man. There are fewer than 1,500 registered breeding Manx Loaghtan females in the United Kingdom.[2]](/uploads/202501/11/Manx_Loaghtan_Sheep,_Cregneash,_Isle_Of_Man.2441.jpg)
![The Tamworth is a pig breed that is rare in both its native country and abroad.[7][11]](/uploads/202501/11/Mudchute_farm_pig_side2441.jpg)
In modern agriculture, a rare breed is a breed of poultry or livestock that has a very small breeding population, usually from a few hundred to a few thousand. Because of their small numbers, rare breeds may have a threatened conservation status, and they may be protected under regional laws. Many countries have organizations devoted to the protection and promotion of rare breeds, for which they each have their own definition. In botany and horticulture, the parallel to rare animal breeds are heirloom plants, which are rare cultivars.