Increasing awareness of the contribution of native breeds to the quality of human life has created widespread support for conservation of rare breeds in Britain. The organizations concerned with conservation are either commercially oriented or charitable agencies. Public support for the latter is created through radio and television programmes, publications in magazines, demonstrations in agricultural shows and special farm parks for rare breeds.

The rationale for conserving breeds of livestock may be extended to free-living populations which are descended from domestic stock (= feral). An important management difference is that feral animals are not maintained as fixed breeds, but are free to vary and adapt. Many feral populations are pests, and threaten the status of native flora and fauna. This means that they continue to diminish as a result of control operations. Nevertheless, some populations and herds of goats, cattle, horses, sheep and pigs have now been protected. Positive values of commercial and scientific Interest are emerging as animals of feral extraction are studied. Further work is needed to assess the contribution that feral animals can make to the cause of conserving genetic diversity in the world's livestock.