"...when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again."
-William Beebe

History

The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy was "born" in the mid-1970s precisely because farmers, scientists, environmentalists, historians, and others discovered that they shared a common concern for the fate of America’s traditional livestock breeds, many of which were rapidly disappeaing from the rural landscape.

More specifically, during preparation for the American Bicentennial Celebration, Old Sturbridge Village and Plimoth Plantation attempted to upgrade the authenticity of their agricultural interpretation by exhibiting appropriate breeds documented in their respective archives. The historic documentation indicated that Milking Devon cattle should be one of the centerpiece breeds. The difficulty in finding this once popular breed was the inspiration for the creation of the first North American livestock conservation organization, which was to become the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

On March 17, 1977, a handful of concerned citizens gathered at the Vermont Department of Agriculture to sign incorporate papers for the American Minor Breeds Conservancy (the original name of ALBC).

In 1993, the American Minor Breeds Conservancy changed its name to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

For the past 30 years, the organization helped to preserve the genetic resources embodied in endangered breeds of livestock and poultry. We look forward to the next 30 years and beyond!

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