As a result of the pork-chop-express attitude of
commercial meat production, 75 percent of pigs in the U.S. now come from
only three main breeds. They have lost the genetic characteristics
that help pigs survive in their natural, outdoor habitat.
Most are light skinned and used to lives spent in
air-conditioned and heated comfort, away from the harshness of the outdoor
environment. However, pigs are healthiest when they spend at least
part of their lives on pasture, thus the coarse hair and dark-skinned
genes are important for this type of lifestyle.
Breeds like the Gloucestershire Old Spots, Tamworth,
Red Wattle, and Mulefoot Hogs are all superb examples of heritage pig
breeds that are highly rated for American homesteaders. Kiss My Grass Farm
in Brown County, Indiana has been greatly pleased with their choice of the
Red Wattle Hog; they refer to them as “Gentle Giants.” They are
excellent foragers, great mothers - which produce rapidly growing piglets
that fit perfectly on the grass range that Kiss My Grass Farm promotes.
It is a great bonus that the meat from these hogs tastes so good that, in
2006, it won a blind taste-test in St. Louis. It is benefits such as
these that make heritage animals the kind to raise over the popular
commercial breeds.
Perhaps you’re considering cattle for your next
homestead project? If you consider today’s information: 83 percent
of dairy cows are Holsteins and almost all of the dairy herds in the U.S.
consist of just five main breeds; add to that Angus, Hereford or Simmental
breeds make up 60 percent of the beef cattle industry. If you were
to follow those standards, and you want both meat and milk production then
you need at least two different breeds of cattle - what a headache it
would be to manage that arrangement!
However,
research the heritage breeds and you’ll find cattle like the Devon, which
was utilized by the colonist as early as 1623 for not only beef and milk
but as oxen as well.
Looking for just a meat-producing breed that works
well on any suitable grazing land? Check out the Belted Galloway, they are
smaller than their commercial counterparts and possess a gentle
personality. They are also well known for efficient grazing all the way to
maturity.
Perhaps you have very rough or steep and brushy
terrain; if so, Longhorn cattle could be of interest to you.
Whatever your desire, there is a heritage breed of cattle just for your
homestead.
