The Politicization of Livestock: Rare Breeds and Countryside Conservation

Abstract

Despite a recent emphasis on conflicts in rural areas, differences between members of the farming community over issues such as conservation remain to be fully explored. Focusing upon rare breeds of domestic farm animals, this paper investigates the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (rbst)and discusses its importance in the politicization of livestock.Actor network theory is used to provide a framework to analyse the development of rbst .Two phases of operation are evident, representing a shift from emergency measures towards a proactive strategy for livestock breed conservation. In both periods, there are ‘moments’ of problematization, interessement, enrolement and mobilization which establish the rbst as a powerful actor at the centre of a rare breeds network. Such has been the influence of the Trust that remarkably little conflict over the conservation of rare breeds has arisen. Rbst appeals to both farmers and conservationists,but success through increasing animal numbers and a lack of political effectiveness are found to be forces undermining its position of power in the network. Further questions are raised about the manipulation of animals to support political objectives.

Re-assessing agrarian policy and practice in local environmental management: the case of beef cattle

“…The role of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) may well be significant here. This charitable body, which supports rare breeds using its own resources, could be viewed as promoting principles that would merely be replicated by DEFRA in statutory form (see Evans and Yarwood, 2000).…”

The paradoxical nature of growth in the US bison industry

“…Several of these writings have examined livestock in detail, investigating the image of livestock breeds, livestock disease, nutrition and consumption (e.g. Evans and Yarwood 2000;Stassart and Whatmore 2003;Convery et al 2005;Holloway 2005). In some cases, animal geography examines the role of discourses and imagery in the construction of human and non-human relationships.…”

Grass or Grain? Assessing the Nature of the US Bison Industry

“…A theoretical basis for the importance of nonhuman agency can be (and has been) drawn from writings associated with actor-network theory (ANT). Indeed, ANT has recently made inroads into agricultural research (Roberts 1995;Busch and Juska 1997;Whatmore and Thorne 1997;Fitzsimmons and Goodman 1998;Ploeg and Frouws 1999;Evans and Yarwood 2000;Lockie and Kitto 2000;Tan 2000;Goodman 2001;McManus 2001), some dealing with nonhuman elements more completely (and more successfully) than others. Yet, the mechanical nature of ANT, its focus on enrolment and its effort to explain durable social structures seem inadequate to the task.…”