Conservation charity Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) is urging shoppers to choose the delicious produce of the UK’s rare native farm animal breeds over the festive period this year.

The charity says that choosing pigs-in-blankets made with native breed sausages and bacon, a native breed turkey or goose for your Christmas roast, or a cheese plate filled with products from the UK’s native dairy breeds could help the conservation of Wales’ rarest breeds of livestock.

Many of the UK’s rarest livestock breeds originated in Wales, including Welsh pigs, Llanwenog and Badger Face Welsh Mountain sheep, Brecon Buff geese and Welsh Harlequin ducks. Many more of the UK’s rare native breeds have been reared on Wales’ farms for generations such as Slate and Norfolk Black turkeys, Embden geese, White Park cattle and British Saddleback pigs.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust Chief Executive Christopher Price said: “The UK’s native livestock breeds are a wonderful part of Wales’ heritage and they continue to provide us with fantastic, high-quality and high-welfare local produce. There are all kinds of different tastes and textures, and the festive period is a great time to give native breed produce a try.

“The farmers in Wales who keep herds or flocks of rare native breed animals are key to saving these breeds from becoming extinct. Every person who buys native breed produce this Christmas will be helping create the vital markets needed for these farmers to carry on this work. It’s a great way to enjoy delicious food in the knowledge that you are making a real difference to the survival of these irreplaceable native breeds.”

Sue Dudley keeps rare breeds including Large Black pigs at Black Orchard Farm near Meinciau in Carmarthenshire. She said: “Christmas is a time to celebrate with a very special meal, and what could be more special than meat from a native rare breed? Totally unlike anything from the supermarket, juicy and full of flavour, not only is rare breed meat delicious, but by giving a market for those animals not good enough for breeding, it enables farmers to continue to preserve these wonderful breeds. Additionally, traditional native rare breeds are unsuitable for intensive rearing, so you can be confident that they are free range and raised to very high welfare standards.

“Like many of our customers, we will be tucking into a joint of our very special Large Black pedigree pork for Christmas, with fantastic crackling and all the trimmings.”

Look out for native breed produce at farm shops, farmers markets, butchers, selected supermarkets and cheesemongers throughout Wales. Many of Wales’ native breed farmers also sell their produce online.