We recently linked to the Pick-a-Chick chart from the Livestock Conservancy, allowing prospective chicken keepers to compare the characteristics of heritage breeds at a glance. The Livestock Conservancy has many other useful charts for other types of livestock, as well: Cattle. Horses. Donkeys. Pigs. Goats. Sheep. Rabbits. Turkeys. Geese. Ducks. Depending on the type of…
Tag: Draft Animals
Saanen
This pure white breed has earned its reputation as the Holstein of the goat world.
Nubian
Long ears and a loud voice make this popular dairy breed distinctive—but it does not come from Africa.
Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees, or Pyrenean Mountain Dog as it is called in Europe, has guarded sheep in the mountains of France and Spain as long as history records. Its lineage has been entirely lost in time, but it is probably related to the other ancient flock guardian breeds. Its ancestors may have been giant Asian…
Anatolian Shepherd
As far as we can tell, the Anatolian Shepherd was a fixture on the landscape of rural Turkey from the most ancient times. Its ancestors are not known for certain. It can undoubtedly be traced to various dogs of Mesopotamia, possibly including both sighthounds and mastiff-like hunting dogs. It may also have ancestors among the…
Ox Yokes and Collars: Withers Yokes and Ox Collars
Withers Yoke The withers yoke is only used with humped zebu-type cattle, such as Brahmans. The yoke is a wooden pole resting on the hump of the animal and is held in place by a rope or leather strap around the neck. Note that the rope does not take any of the weight of the…
Ox Yokes and Collars: Neck Yokes and Head Yokes
When most of us think of an ox yoke, we tend to envision the long, gracefully bowed piece of wood resting on the necks of a pair of oxen. This traditional neck or bow yoke certainly has had an important place in American history, but it is not the only option for aspiring teamsters today….
Get Ready for September 2016
Are you ready for fall? Spend a little time watching the birds, caring for the animals, and stocking the pantry. Invest in a dog owner’s home veterinary handbook. Feed your backyard birds. Discover why people built round barns. Stock up for the winter. Learn about pH. Weigh the pros and cons of draft animals. Explore…
Suffolk Punch
The story of the Suffolk Punch is that of a quiet farm worker, lacking in incredible incidents, but nevertheless important. The breed’s lineage is obscure, but ancient, with written records tracing back to the 1500s, yet already referring to the horse as the “Old Breed.” For centuries the Suffolk Punch worked the heavy clay fields…
Shire
One of the largest horses in the world is the ancient Shire of Great Britain. Its precise origin is unknown. It may have had ancestors among the heavy horses of the Bretons at the time of the Roman invasions. Probably it also traces back to the Great Horse ridden by armor-clad knights of medieval times. …
