What Is A Heritage Breed:
Heritage livestock are the true American Breeds, developed from imported breeds and carefully selected to be the gold mine of any farmer. Traits such as survival, hardiness, self-sufficiency, foraging ability, temperament, fertility, maternal instincts, resistance to diseases and parasites, food quantities such as high meat, egg and dairy yields, and other qualities such as soft hides and multi-purpose uses, were all a must. Over the years some heritage breeds were nearly lost as they integrated with other, newer breeds, while others were set on the back burner as farmers and breeders turned their attention to developing bigger, fatter, faster growing stock to meet the demand of commercial production.
Heritage livestock are the true American Breeds, developed from imported breeds and carefully selected to be the gold mine of any farmer. Traits such as survival, hardiness, self-sufficiency, foraging ability, temperament, fertility, maternal instincts, resistance to diseases and parasites, food quantities such as high meat, egg and dairy yields, and other qualities such as soft hides and multi-purpose uses, were all a must. Over the years some heritage breeds were nearly lost as they integrated with other, newer breeds, while others were set on the back burner as farmers and breeders turned their attention to developing bigger, fatter, faster growing stock to meet the demand of commercial production.
Why Is Heritage A Good Choice:
Although heritage breeds are slower growing they are better suited to homesteading and can lift a huge burden off a farmer with their ability to forage and fend for themselves. They not only tend to themselves better and gain well off of forage rather than feed, they produce outstanding quality of meat. The trick is to be patient. If you are willing to wait on a few extra months on a smaller animal that you practically just leave on the pasture, i can guarantee your taste buds won't be disappointed!
Although heritage breeds are slower growing they are better suited to homesteading and can lift a huge burden off a farmer with their ability to forage and fend for themselves. They not only tend to themselves better and gain well off of forage rather than feed, they produce outstanding quality of meat. The trick is to be patient. If you are willing to wait on a few extra months on a smaller animal that you practically just leave on the pasture, i can guarantee your taste buds won't be disappointed!