Rare Breed Animals

Rare Breed Farm Animals

Here you can see some of the rare breed animals we have at Croxteth Park Farm. Many are listed as priority, the others are at risk. We also have some breeds which, thanks to successful breeding programmes from farms such as ours and the RBST, have increased in population enough to move off the Watchlist. Our breeding programmes are carefully organised to help to keep these rare and valuable animal breeds alive.

The Irish Moiled herd at Croxteth was developed in 1984 and was the first Irish Moiled herd on mainland Britain. Since then, over 200 calves have been born with many being sent off to new breeding groups throughout the UK. All of our breeding females have been born at Croxteth and are one of the most genetically important herds of Irish Moiled.

In addition to our cows, we also have many rare breed pigs, sheep and goats as well as our magnificent shire horses.

Cattle

Gloucester: Priority

Irish Moiled: At Risk

British White: At Risk

White Park: At Risk

Native Aberdeen Angus: At Risk

English Longhorn & Belted Galloway: Formerly considered to be Priority or At Risk breeds.

Pigs

Middle White: Priority
British Lop: Priority
Large Black: Priority
British Saddleback: At Risk
Gloucester Old Spot: At Risk
Oxford Sandy and Black: At Risk

Goats

Bagot: At Risk

Sheep

North Ronaldsay: Priority

Boreray: At Risk

Soay: At Risk
Wensleydale: At Risk
Greyface Dartmoor: At Risk

Kerry Hill, Jacob and Ryeland: Formerly Priority or At Risk breeds

Equine

Shire Horse: At Risk

Rare Breed of the Month: Irish Moiled Cattle – Classified as At Risk

The Irish Moiled, originally from Ireland, is one of our rare and most distinctive cattle breeds. It is a red or roan colour with some white on the body. They grow a thicker coat in winter and like to be outdoors, even in the coldest weather.

Did you know? When bought in 1984 the Croxteth herd was the only one on mainland Britain, today it is one of the largest herds in mainland Britain.

In addition to our herd of Irish Moiled cattle in the field, we also have Mollie who comes into the farm each morning with our other cattle breeds.

For more information on the breed visit the RBST site at https://www.rbst.org.uk/irish-moiled

28 Jun 2020

My name is Poppy, I am a Gloucester cow, born here on the farm in 2014. Gloucester cattle are classified as Priority on the Rare Breeds watchlist which means we are one of the breeds of most concern.

28 Jun 2020

Hi there, we are the Highland herd. As you can see, we have sturdy bodies with a very shaggy coat, a fringe over our faces and long spreading horns. Our colors vary from yellow to red, or even black. We are long-lived and can withstand harsh weather conditions, that’s why you will still see us out in the fields in the winter – originally from the Highlands of Scotland, we are used to harsh weather. Interesting fact: We have lived in Croxteth Park for 80 years.

28 Jun 2020

I’m Betty, I am one of the Boreray flock of sheep on the farm. The RBST status for our breed has been classified as at risk, however we are working hard on the farm to improve this and our ewes have had lots of lambs this spring.

28 Jun 2020

I’m Pingyang, a Middle White sow. Middle White Pigs are endangered, meaning that there are less than 200 breeding females left. Fortunately, I had my first litter of 10 piglets so after arriving on the farm. These will go on to help to improve the RBST status of my breed in the future.

28 Jun 2020

My name is Ellie, I am a White Park Cow. As part of the RBST my breed has been classified as ‘At Risk’. I can proudly say that I have helped to improve our population as, being part of the breeding programme on Croxteth Park Farm, I have a daughter.

28 Jun 2020

Hi, my name is Mollie, I am an Irish Moiled cow. Irish Moiled are a minority breed, fortunately, I am part of a herd of Irish Moiled cattle on the farm. When first bought in 1984 the Croxteth herd was the only one on mainland Britain, today it is the largest herd in mainland Britain.