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Farming Today This Week

Fewer breeds are being farmed to feed our desire for consistent cuts of meat. Charlotte Smith finds out how these breeds have come to dominate on the supermarket shelves.

We're farming fewer breeds than ever before, to feed our desire for consistent cuts of meat. Ninety per cent of dairy cows are Holsteins, 90 per cent of pig sows are Landrace, and 70 per cent of our beef comes from Limosin cattle. Last century, the UK lost 26 native breeds of livestock, as farmers concentrated on the most productive lines. Charlotte Smith visits a research farm in Oxfordshire to find out how these breeds have come to dominate, and what makes them stand out from the crowd.

27 minutes

Last on

Sat 7 Nov 2009 06:30

Broadcast

  • Sat 7 Nov 2009 06:30

Podcast