Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Case Study: Southampton Homestead, Southampton, Western Australia
Jeff Pow, the owner of the farm, breeds heritage chickens and ducks.
The chickens, which include Australorp, Frizzle, Rhode Island Red and Plymouth
Rock, produce different coloured eggs and Jeff sells these as 'Rainbow Eggs' to connois-
seur food outlets. To add that extra touch each egg carton contains a feather from one of
the birds. This is a low cost, high value way of adding value to an unique product to make
it memorable.
Farms such as Norwood Farm in Somerset in the UK have turned rare breeds into a
tourist attraction. They are rearing rare breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry and
have installed a café and farm shop to provide an entertaining experience for tourists.
Food tourism is one way that the conservation of minority breeds can be encouraged
and help with genetic conservation for the future.
Rare breeds can also include exotic animals to a region. We are aware of farms that
raise alpaca, camels, buffalo, bison, ostrich and other exotic game as a culinary offer and
tourist opportunity.
Rare breed associations
The aim of rare breed associations is to preserve rare farm animals. Some asso-
ciations have member farms that are open to the public as tourist attractions.
Australia
•
Rare Breeds Trust of Australia.
France
•
FERME (Fédération pour promouvoir l'Elevage des Races domestiques
Menacées; Association for the Promotion of Endangered Domestic Breeds).
International
•
Rare Breeds International (RBI) - the mission of RBI is to prevent the loss
of diversity in global farm animal genetic resources (AGR).
The Netherlands
•
Dutch Rare Breeds Survival Foundation.
New Zealand
•
Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand.
UK
•
The Rare Breeds Centre is owned and operated by The Canterbury Oast
Trust, a charity dedicated to the care and occupational development of
adults with physical and learning difficulties. All income from each visit
