Cobthorn Trust

Cobthorn Trust

Founded	1986
Founder	Andrew J. Sheppy FLS FSB
Focus	Rare breeds and conservation
Location	Congresbury, North Somerset, England
Area served	International
Website	http://www.cobthorn.org/

The Cobthorn Trust works on the conservation of commensal and food species, their related farm and wild species and their environments.^[1] Formed in 1986, the trust has been involved in the conservation of several rare breeds, initiation of the National Poultry Collection, genetic research on Dexter cattle, and the development of conservation grazing.

History and location

The Cobthorn Trust was formed in 1986, originally to support and promote the conservation activities at Cobthorn Farm in Congresbury, North Somerset. Cobthorn Farm has been involved in rare breed farming since 1959 and is now the base for the trust’s conservation activities. It has been farmed by the present (2013) Director’s family since at least the 1820s.

Rare breeds conservation

Major conservation breeding of the Cobthorn Trust has involved many breeds of domestic cattle, pigs, sheep and particularly poultry, plus related wild species such as pheasants. From 1969, there has been close involvement with the Rare Poultry Society^[2] and subsequently the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST).^[3] While the RBST is solely involved with native British breeds, the Cobthorn Trust holds stocks of internationally endangered rarities and related wild species.

National Poultry Collection

The National Poultry Collection (NPC) began with breeding stocks established at Cobthorn Farm and the trust; it is now maintained on numerous farms in co-operation with the trust. All the birds in the collection have an individually recorded pedigree. The collection includes all the main domesticated poultry species of fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys. All the traditional British breeds have been bred in the collection, and numerous other rare or endangered poultry from around the world. Several of the breeding stocks held in the National Poultry Collection are the only ones known to remain for those breeds.

Field conservation

The Cobthorn Trust has undertaken many field conservation projects, working with a number of other conservation organisations such as wildlife trusts and local authorities. The trust has produced surveys of biodiversity and species records for several sites, both in the UK and overseas.

Conservation grazing

Conservation grazing is actively promoted by the Cobthorn Trust with the publication of observations on grazing patterns for the various rare breeds on the farm. Conservation grazing is now accepted as an environmental conservation technique of fundamental importance. Using both cattle and sheep, schemes have been prepared for a number of conservation sites, including the restoration of Cadbury Hill at Congresbury and the site of special scientific interest at Uphill Cliffs^[4] near Weston-super-Mare.

Animals bred by the trust

English Longhorn cow

Oxford Sandy and Black sow

Silver pheasant

Sheep

Seven rare breeds of sheep have been bred by Cobthorn Trust including the most endangered bloodline of Norfolk Horn sheep which was kept for 20 years. Research has included the determination of the colour genetics in Hebrideans. Rare breeds of sheep are used by the trust in the development of conservation grazing.

Cattle

Conservation breeding groups of some of the rarest cattle have been maintained by the Cobthorn Trust since 1976, including Irish Moiled and Gloucester. Longhorn and Highland cattle have also been bred at the farm. The trust has been a centre of research into the breeding and genetics of Dexter cattle worldwide. The genetic nature of a major defect in the breed was established in a breeding programme at Cobthorn and has been instrumental in isolating the gene concerned. Studies have shown there to be very few purebred Dexters and a small group of these purebreds is kept by the trust. The trust's database on Dexters is highly detailed and a project to examine the genetic history of the breed is being undertaken in collaboration with Cardiff University.

Pigs

The trust has contributed to the conservation of rare breed pigs with a herd of Oxford Sandy and Blacks. As a result of work at the trust, a breed society was established in 1985, ensuring the continuance of the breed.^[5] Several of the boars bred at Cobthorn have become the principal sires used to perpetuate this critically endangered breed.^[6]

Pheasants

Breeding groups of wild species of pheasants have been kept at Cobthorn for many years. These include the jungle fowl and gallopheasants, with breeding successes in Swinhoe's pheasants (Lophura swinhoii) in the 1960s leading to the establishment of a number of breeding populations, including at Bristol Zoo. Cobthorn Trust is engaged on a breeding programme to study the biology of the kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) and silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera). The trust has also undertaken field studies of several pheasant species in their native habitats in Asia.

References

1. "Cobthorn". Cobthorn Trust. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
2. "Rare Poultry Society". Rare Poultry Society. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
3. "Rare Breeds Survival Trust". Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
4. "Uphill Cliff" (PDF). English Nature's SSSI Information. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
5. "Discover Oxford Sandy & Black Pigs". Oxford Sandy & Black Pig Society. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
6. "The Oxford Sandy & Black". British Pig Association. Retrieved December 2, 2013.