Declining breeds of domesticated animals

As farming has become more industrialized and energy-intensive, a small number of breeds have become dominant - specialized animals that respond well to high-energy diets, confined living conditions and intense medical treatment. This specialization develops narrow gene pools which may be susceptible to diseases.

In Canada, Holstein cow stands in 95% of the dairy stalls and there are only six commercial poultry breeds. In UK this century at least 20 breeds of British farm animals have died out.