Most of the animals, in the rare breeds’ farm at Belfast Zoo, would fit into the category of rare non-commercial breeds. Many of the older breeds have already gone, their genes and characteristics lost forever. Therefore, it is important to preserve as many rarer breeds as possible, which still survive. The rare breeds, which are cared for at Belfast Zoo, include: Dorking chickens, Tamworth and Saddleback pigs, White Park cattle and Irish Moiled and Dexter cattle.