“To protect endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction”
Many of America’s once-common farm animals face extinction if we do not take action now. Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of earth’s biodiversity and offer incredible variety that may be needed for future farms – robust health, mothering instincts, foraging, and the ability to thrive in a changing climate. These farm animals are a vital part of ensuring food security for our planet – now and for the future.
Herefords are true and tried midwesterners, with their development dating back a century ago in Iowa and Nebraska. Early interest in the breed also stems from the region, and most of their population remains there / http://bit.ly/HerefordHogTLC
Red Wattles are adaptable to a range of climates and thrive in outdoor or pasture-based productions thanks to their foraging abilities. They have a mild disposition & gentle nature, making them good fits for small-scale, independent producers. / bit.ly/RedWattleHog
Tamworth Pigs are what some call a ‘bacon’ breed. Yes, they can produce wonderfully lean bacon… & you could argue that they can be similar in color to bacon, but the term actually describes their slow growth & ability to thrive on low energy foods. http://bit.ly/TamworthPigAs 16th-century Spanish conquistadors sailed through the American coastline, it was common practice to leave small herds of pigs on the passing islands as future food sources. This is how the once feral Ossabaw Island hog came to be. http://bit.ly/OssabawCurrent purebred populations of this American hog – limited to just a few hundred in the U.S. – all descend from R.M. Holliday’s herd of the last few remaining Mulefoots back in 1964. http://bit.ly/MulefootPig
Last year, the Large Black pig moved from Threatened back to Critical status on our Conservation Priority List (fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and an estimated global population less than 2,000). https://t.co/EMwpAe55AKpic.twitter.com/J5L1XJXcBd
The Portuguese Society of Animal Genetic Resources (SPREGA) was founded in 2002, bringing together people who, in some way, are interested, engaged or engaged in any of the branches or sectors of activity linked to animal genetic resources.
Malhado De Alcobça, the most endangered pig in Portugal. Only 220 breeding sows & 12 boars exist in the country. They’re described as very gentle & a well-tempered pig.
The wild goat, raised in the area of the National Park of Peneda Gerês and the Natural Park of Alvão, is destined exclusively for the production of meat, so this is the only source of income for its producers. The wild goat was recognized by the State as an indigenous breed in 1987. Seven years later, in 1994, the National Association of Breeders of the Goat Bravia (Ancabra) was created, based in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, which started in 1998 to do the fieldwork in order to separate the “pure” animals from the “crusaders”, the first being inscribed in the breed’s genealogical book. Wild goat meat, a breed still in danger of extinction, has a good outlet on the market, but is underutilized from an economic point of view.
List of Portuguese cattle breeds
Alentejana
The breed region is circumscribed almost exclusively to the Southern Portuguese Region of Alentejo, in both, High and Low Alentejo.
The race is represented by rustic, energetic and gentle animals that in the recent past were used to work.
Forehead – slightly convex, especially in the transverse direction.
Ears – Well set, horizontal and covered with long hairs on its inner surface.
Eyes – The flower of the faces.
Bevel – Slightly convex, or even straight, and well delineated.
Faces – dry, leaving the muzzle posted.
Muzzle – Developed, with mirror staining identical to that of other mucosal or slightly pigmented.
Neck – In males, is thick, short, horizontal, provided with a barb that extends to a large fold from the chin to the cilhadouro, with only a slight slowdown after last the throat area. In females, is much less thick, narrow upper lip and barbless developed.
Withers – Medium in width and slightly protruding.
Back – Long and moderately wide.
Loin or kidney – For wide.
Croup – long, of good width and anterior muscular regularly.
Tail – Fine, falling in a regular smooth curve from its insertion and finished a tassel and hairy.
Breaststroke – For outstanding.
Backing – Alto, slightly convex, but extending and rounding gradually as approaches the abdominal region.
Flank – Short.
Udder – for developed and regularly implemented.
Lining – Long and developed.
States – Of medium size and thickness, and mus guided and regular upright.
Shoulder – Long and wide.
Arm and forearm – Strong.
Thigh – long and large but shallow muscle mass.
Buttocks – for tending to decline and arched.
Extremities (hands and feet) – solid, wide joints.
Nails – Well shaped, solid and smooth, whose colour ranges from amber to fiery.
Algarvia
Algarvia cattle are native to the Algarve region of southern Portugal and were first represented in 1868, Based on its morphology, the breed has been classified in the Aquitanian (or Red Convex) group, together with Alentejana, Mertolenga, Garvonesa and Minhota. Except for Minhota, these breeds are distributed throughout the southern river Tagus valley. Algarvia cattle were used predominantly for meat production and/or draft. Although they were never formally registered as an independent breed, 25,000 – 29,000 animals were officially catalogued between 1940 and 1970. Since then, the population has declined rapidly and the breed was considered to be effectively extinct by the 1980s, an event that subjected the Regional Agricultural Authorities to criticism for failing to implement proper conservation measures.
Arouquesa
The Arouquesa is a cattle breed from Portugal. The Arouquesa breed was granted protected geographical status of DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) from the European Commission.
The cows reach a height of 1.23 m (4.0 ft), the bulls 1.36 m (4.5 ft), so the Arouquesas can be described as small. The breed’s weight is around 360–430 kg (790–950 lb). Their hair colour is light brown although the males may become a little darker than females. Mucosa and claws are dark coloured. The wide horns are directed forward, first down and then up.
Arouquesas are adapted to the mountains – their hind legs are very muscular. In Portugal today they still work as draught cattle. In the past century oxen often were exported to Great Britain because of their beef. In 1902 Arouquesa beef was the winner of the “Award for the Best Beef” in Paris. Unfortunately this excellent, fine marbled beef today is only known in Portugal. There they count as the best native breed for beef production. The animals are very long-living; 16–18 calves per cow are not uncommon. Most times they practice mother cow husbandry. The animals are very affable but active.
We visit Wendy Parker of Heritage Farms Northwest. Wendy raises heritage breed pigs in Dallas, Oregon with her husband, Jim, and son, Daniel. Living Culture is a television series that showcases cuisine and agriculture in the Willamette Valley and Pacific Northwest. Our mission is to generate interest in local foods through inspiring and positive media. Produced by Nate Rafn. Music by Daniel Rafn. Visit www.livingcultureonline.com.
In this video, Jason from the Big Bear Homestead talks about the different types of pigs and goes over the differences between pig breeds. In this video, he focuses on the differences between the lard pig and the bacon pig. Jason will share his opinion as to which one of the different types of pigs is best to the homesteader
In this Garden Home VLOG, Host P. Allen Smith is checking in on his heritage turkey flocks at Moss Mountain Farm. Find out which ones are kept for breeding and which ones make it into the noodle pot! TURKEYS FEATURED: Bronze Turkey Blue Slate Turkey Chocolate Turkey Royal Palm Turkey Narragansett Turkey Bourbon Red Turkey Spanish Black Turkey
Berkshire pork is prized for its juiciness, flavour and tenderness. It is pink-hued and heavily marbled and known in Japan as the Kobe beef of pork.
Highland Cattle have a long history of living with people. They are generally easy to work with despite their long horns and produce quality beef from marginal land.
Boondockers Farm is a preservation farm. It’s a working farm dedicated to protecting rare species of heritage livestock and heirloom vegetable seeds. Read the full post and see images of their farm on Cooking Up a Story: http://cookingupastory.com/preserving…
This is the story of heritage breed animals and their looming extinction crisis. How small farmers are waging the battle to save these animals and the human race.
Top 10 favourite rare heritage chicken breeds and why! Top 10 favourite rare heritage chicken breeds and why! Free Ranging Beauties Running to Greet Me | SourceJust a Few BreedsI want to share our experience raising these best rare breeds. We have had about 40 Rare and Heritage chicken breeds in the last 4 years. We started with fifteen 5 week-old Partr…
We explain why we are choosing to raise heritage breed pigs and livestock on our off grid farm. We take you along as we pasture rotate our livestock using electric hog netting and solar chargers and show you how we are building up pasture land. Want To Support Our Efforts?https://www.paypal.me/GuildbrookFarm
This video is an excerpt from a Meatsmith Harvest Podcast number 10 in which Brandon and Lauren discuss all things heritage pigs. This short explores the different types of heritage breed pigs: lard vs. bacon vs. lean pig.
If you are thinking about getting chickens this spring, you’ll need to do some research on what breed you want to have. But before you even get that far, you’ll need to decide if you want heritage breed chickens or if you’ll go with commercial breed chicks.
This week is #HeritageBreedsWeek sponsored by the Livestock Conservancy. On this episode, I am joined by Cathy R. Payne, author of the award winning book, Saving the Guinea Hogs: The Recovery of an American Homestead Breed to talk about heritage breeds, why they are important and what homesteaders can do to help conserve them. Cathy’s homesteading journey has been greatly influenced by heritage breeds (she’ll be returning again next week to talk specifically about that journey) and she is very passionate about preserving these breeds for future generations. Cathy’s contact information and website are below: Cathy R.Payne guineahogbooks@gmail.com www.guineahogbooks.com
Visit our website for workshops and many free resources for growing food organically at http://www.livingwebfarms.org
In the spring of 2013, in the rolling hills of Southeast, Iowa, Jason and Angela Johnson launched Lucky George Farm. It had been their dream to live on a small farm, raising and growing their own food and at the same time being good stewards of the land.
Rhode Island/New England: Narragansett turkeys are a hardy heritage breed that stay close to the farm even when free ranging. Calm, beautiful birds that produce excellent meat.
Which Chicken Breed Is Right For you & your homestead?? Heritage Breed Edition If you are just beginning raising chickens or just beginning a homestead, then choosing a chicken breed for your backyard or farm or homestead can be confusing! So here is a video of a few tips on how we chose our chicken breeds…especially the old heritage breed chickens, which we prefer on our family homestead.
Join McMurray Hatchery vice president and co-owner Tom Watkins at home as he talks about the best chicken breeds for a homestead. This video is part of the Grow Your Own Food Series — a collaboration with the @Homesteaders of America. To view more videos in this series by other channels, visit https://youtu.be/h9NkdcT-FPc .
In this episode, Garden Home Host P. Allen Smith is checking in on the heritage geese at Moss Mountain Farm.
The British Heritage Sheep project is an initiative introducing the public to the fantastic flavours and sublime eating experiences of one of the UK’s iconic and priceless assets – its 60 native breeds of sheep.
Canada
We harvested some of our Heritage Breed Meat birds and know we are comparing the different breeds we raised to see which ones produced better. We will be harvesting 25 more this coming week.
On August 8, 2015 Gerry Oliver talks about the three rare breeds of sheep she brought to the Carberry Heritage Festival. Her breeds are Romney, Cotswold and Wensleydale. More info at http://carberryheritagefestival.com/2…
For more information on the Heritage Breeds program, please visit; heritagechickens.ca All proceeds go back to the University Of Alberta, Poultry Research Centre.
At Abbey Gardens we have two rare agricultural breeds that we’re showcasing: The Lac La Croix Indian Pony and the Chantecler chicken. (from Quebec). Lac La Croix Indian ponies are a rare Canadian breed dating back to the 19th century. By the 1970’s, the breed was virtually extinct, with only 4 ponies left living near a small village in northern Ontario. The Chantecler is a breed of chicken originating in Quebec in the early 20th century. With plumage that lies tight against the body and an exceptionally small cushion comb and wattles (to protect against frostbite), the Chantecler is one of the most cold-hardy chickens and is suitable for both egg and meat production. Biodiversity in agriculture is just as important as diversity in nature, as it strengthens biological systems and provides resilience to change. Stop by and visit our rare breeds!
Research
Jeannette Beranger from the Livestock Conservancy presented at UConn on April 20, 2017 about heritage breeds.
Mike Badger interviews Delaware chicken breeder Erin Angulo about the advantages of heritage poultrybreeding. Matt Hemmer, another heritage poultry breeder joins the conversation late to offer his perspective on working with growers. This video was livestreamed for American Pasture Poultry (APPPA) members. The interactive Q&A portion of the video has been removed from the public video.
Heritage breeds are those raised by our farming ancestors. Learn the advantages and disadvantages to raising these breeds.
