Today is the International Day of Biological Diversity. As it happens, Eat This Podcast today published an episode that raises a question I have seldom seen given any serious discussion. Are rare breeds important for the conservation of genetic diversity? Like all headline questions, the answer is probably “No”. Let me explain.

Using land that could be used to feed people to feed animals is a terrible waste, but for today’s modern breeds it is absolutely essential.

The DNA of chickens, sheep and cattle tells slightly different stories about their domestication

Time was when veal calves were kept in the dark. These days, it may be the shoppers who have helped to solve the problem of surplus male dairy calves.

Antibiotic resistance is one consequence of feeding animals large amounts of antibiotics — about three times the amount given to people in the US. Why is it so hard to regulate the use of antibiotics in agriculture, and how else might we tackle the problem?