ALL manner of rare beasts went on show in Carlisle last weekend.

It included different breeds of sheep, cattle, pigs goats, many of which were in danger of disappearing altogether, and not forgetting the odd donkey or two.

But as the Rare, Minority and Traditional Breeds show and sale at Borderway Mart proved keeping traditional breeds of livestock is proving popular with smallholders and farmers alike.

In its 27th year the premier traditional and native breeds sale was also a highlight in the calendar for poultry and waterfowl breeders.

Between 1900 and 1970, 20 unique breeds have been lost, but since the setting up of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in 1973, not one has been lost, although Chillingham wild cattle, northern dairy shorthorn, Vaynol cattle, Boreray sheep, Bagot goats and marsh daisy and Orpington poultry are all critical.

The show and sale run by Harrison & Hetherington is RBST approved and last Saturday was buzzing from early in the morning and throughout the day.

Trade throughout all classes in all sections was in strong demand, and some new records for animals on show was set.

A small number of miniature donkeys were on offer, but stealing the show was the jenny Kyleston Little Lucy and her May-born jack foal Adam of Newton, sold by Norman Blackburn of Newton Reigney for £3,000.

Another jenny from the same home to sell for four figures was Kyleston Thumbelina, selling for £1,800.

A breeding pair of white call ducks sold by Messrs Hewertson of West Cumbria sold for a centre record price of £800, which were both bred from show winning stock.

In the cattle ring were

Longhorns, Highland and Dexters, while sheep breeds included Kerry Hill, Ryelands, Shetland, which enjoyed a buoyant trade on the day, Wensleydale, greyfaced Dartmoor, border Leicesters, Castlemilk Moorit, Oxford Down, Hebridean, Icelandic, Hungarian screwhorn, and old English Leicester longwool, and goats included the popular pygmy breed.