Events

Everything sheep. Wonderful rare breeds will be there - including the Valais, Ile de France, Shrophire, South Suffolk, Hampshire Down, English Leicester, Lincoln, Romney, Ryeland, Charollais and a category for Heritage Sheep in case the breed isn't specifically catered for. Heritage Sheep in both long and short wool classes. Everything from show classes for breeds to working sheepdogs - the Victorian Farm Dog Championship is held. Lambplan classes galore. Wool handling. Professional shearing competition. Ram sale. Lambs for children to cuddle. Fashion. And more! Plentiful refreshments, yes, tasty lamb prepared by chefs availiable. A great couple of days out, seeing the best in many beautiful breeds, it supports them to go along. A great opportunity to compete for breeders.  Event schedule and all information.

This webinar will be of interest to breed associations and breed representatives seeking to establish a registry.  Libby Henson delivers the webinar - she's has been involved in pedigree livestock breeding and the conservation of rare breeds of farm livestock all her life. Her father was the founder chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK and her family are well known and well respected in the livestock world. Libby set up and ran an equivalent to the RBST in the USA, has worked for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, has ran a number of pedigree breed societies and was a member of the UK and Devolved Governments committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR). Register here -  the webinar is free.  

This webinar will be of interest to anyone working to conserve rare livestock and poultry breeds. The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia is excited to let you know about two exciting online Zoom webinars on rare breeds that we are hosting at the end of July - this is the first. We are thrilled and honoured to have Libby Henson deliver both webinars. Libby Henson has been involved in pedigree livestock breeding and the conservation of rare breeds of farm livestock all her life. Her father was the founder chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in the UK and her family are well known and well respected in the livestock world . Libby set up and ran an equivalent to the RBST in the USA, has worked for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, has ran a number of pedigree breed societies and was a member of the UK and Devolved Governments committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR).   Register here...the webinar is free.  

Great show, horses galore - riding and breed classes - poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and more. Animal nursery, Avilculture pavilion, Horticulture pavilion, buffalo rides and plenty more. Usual sideshow, rides, refreshments, live music. Their website  

The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia (RBTA) is holding its sixth Annual Online Charity Auction during International Heritage Breeds Week to raise funds for a Future Farms Fund Genebank, from May 15 – 21 2026  AuctionsPlus website - the fabulous list of goods and services is now available for browsing with bidding opening on May 15. The auction is being generously hosted by AuctionsPlus. This will be the sixth year we have raised funds through AuctionsPlus for our gene bank. Now, more than ever, a gene bank is vital to Australian agriculture.  Other than private semen collections there is no gene bank in Australia for domestic livestock.  In 2021 there was a government roundtable discussion where it was unanimously agreed that one was needed, however, since then nothing has happened so the RBTA has established one. Since starting our Genebank in 2020 thanks to the generosity of our auction sponsors, private donors and several Semen Storage facilities we have semen from horses, cattle and sheep stored at 6 facilities Australia-wide. The RBTA is run entirely by volunteers. We receive NO government funding. The majority of our income is from memberships. Included in our membership is our quarterly publication, Paddocks and Perches. Find out more about membership on our Join Us page. We thank all the generous sponsors of this year’s auction and acknowldege them on our Facebook page which has over 10,000 followers. If you would like more information on the Trust or the auction, please do not hesitate to contact Judy at the Trust at any time : rarebreedstrustau@gmail.com        

The 2024 Rare Breeds Trust of Australia's Poultry Census is open. Head to the 2024 Poultry Census menu on the Trust website at https://rarebreedstrust.com.au to find out how to submit your breeding age pure breed poultry numbers - chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl - to the 4th RBTA Poultry Census. The Census is voluntary. You can choose to provide your name and email, or not to provide them. PICs are not requested. Distributed results are completely anonymous. Any provided personal details are destroyed after all data has been collated The RBTA Poultry Census is an important snapshot of how poultry numbers in Australia are faring, especially since there appears to have been an increase in the numbers of people keeping poultry courtesy of the COVID years. The goal of the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia’s 2024 census is to increase awareness of rare breeds and through this increase the number of breeders taking them on. The ultimate goal is that breeds move to an “In Recovery” status. The Trust’s Rare Breeds Watchlist provides important listings for poultry clubs in profiling exhibition rare breeds at shows and education activities. Having breeders seek out a rare breed after seeing it at a show, supports not only an obvious increase in numbers but also the development of information networks for strengthening the breed. Including utility strains and heritage breeds fills out the picture of domestic poultry in Australia, providing a wider view of poultry keeping in Australia. This time around the Census is similar to a Poultry Show Schedule and entry form. There are census codes - aka class numbers on a show schedule; and a submission form - aka entry form. This will allow for submitting a number of breeds/forms/colours/ varieties all in one go. For those wanting to do online entry there is an online option (one submission at a time). If you want to be emailed the Census documents, or be sent a link to the online submission form, email rbtapoultrycensus2024@gmail.com. We have heard that some breeders have bird numbers that would take that breed out of the 2021 assigned rare status. Which is great! The goal really is to move breeds (and forms) out of being rare! For all enquiries email rbtapoultrycensus2024@gmail.com.