Heritage Breed Animals On Our Homestead
We place a special emphasis on raising heritage breed livestock on our little farm.
Heritage animals are the kinds of animals that would have been found on farms and homesteads a hundred years ago, before animals were specially bred for maximum growth and production.
These animals do not necessarily grow as quickly or produce as abundantly, but they are a great choice for our family farm.
Heritage breed livestock may or may not be endangered.
Many species are considered threatened, and special care is taken in their preservation.
Other breeds are still in abundance.
All of the heritage breeds deserve our protection if we are to preserve an important part of our past.
We once raised a batch of chickens for our freezer.
These chickens, which were not heritage breed chickens, were specially developed to put on weight very quickly.
As a result, if the chickens were not butchered at a young age, they would often develop leg and heart problems due to their rapid growth.
Heritage breed animals are not this way.
A heritage breed chicken will grow much slower, in a more natural pattern, and thus have a healthier and longer life.
Our animals are allowed to range on our farm and forage for their food.
We supplement their diets as appropriate, but they are free to graze, roam, and wander about as safety allows.
As a result, we have no problem with illness or disease on our homestead.
A natural way of life helps to keep our animals naturally healthy and productive.
Our goat herd and our dairy cows are not maximum producers by commercial standards.
Many commercial dairies have animals that produce an enormous amount of milk each day.
Our dairy goats and Jersey cow produce more than enough milk for my homestead dairy needs, but compared to non-heritage breed animals, their production would be considered quite low.
I do not mind.
I am willing to sacrifice a few gallons of milk each day in return for animals that will most likely live much longer, healthier lives.
It is a pleasure to gaze out at our barnyard full of thriving animals.
Each of our chosen breeds adds special character to our farm.
Heritage Breed Livestock, like many things from the past, deserve to be preserved.
2010 Julie Cazier
Heritage animals are the kinds of animals that would have been found on farms and homesteads a hundred years ago, before animals were specially bred for maximum growth and production.
These animals do not necessarily grow as quickly or produce as abundantly, but they are a great choice for our family farm.
Heritage breed livestock may or may not be endangered.
Many species are considered threatened, and special care is taken in their preservation.
Other breeds are still in abundance.
All of the heritage breeds deserve our protection if we are to preserve an important part of our past.
We once raised a batch of chickens for our freezer.
These chickens, which were not heritage breed chickens, were specially developed to put on weight very quickly.
As a result, if the chickens were not butchered at a young age, they would often develop leg and heart problems due to their rapid growth.
Heritage breed animals are not this way.
A heritage breed chicken will grow much slower, in a more natural pattern, and thus have a healthier and longer life.
Our animals are allowed to range on our farm and forage for their food.
We supplement their diets as appropriate, but they are free to graze, roam, and wander about as safety allows.
As a result, we have no problem with illness or disease on our homestead.
A natural way of life helps to keep our animals naturally healthy and productive.
Our goat herd and our dairy cows are not maximum producers by commercial standards.
Many commercial dairies have animals that produce an enormous amount of milk each day.
Our dairy goats and Jersey cow produce more than enough milk for my homestead dairy needs, but compared to non-heritage breed animals, their production would be considered quite low.
I do not mind.
I am willing to sacrifice a few gallons of milk each day in return for animals that will most likely live much longer, healthier lives.
It is a pleasure to gaze out at our barnyard full of thriving animals.
Each of our chosen breeds adds special character to our farm.
Heritage Breed Livestock, like many things from the past, deserve to be preserved.
2010 Julie Cazier
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