Article in the NY Times about historic livestock breeds

[Guest guest]

Here is the highlight of the article:

" I spoke to Ware, of the New England Heritage Breeds

Conservancy, who told me how tough Highland cattle are. One of the

attractions of the so-called historic livestock varieties is that

they were bred in a day before factory farming and antibiotics. The

task of these animals was to go forth and prosper in often

inhospitable territory like the ish Highlands or the New England

hills.

Ms. Ware said friends of hers in New Hampshire had seen first-hand

how successful the animals are. They bought two Highland cattle and

when they were delivered, one escaped. This was in the early fall.

Throughout the winter the cow was often seen in nearby woods and on

the outskirts of neighboring farms, but they weren't able to catch

it. When it was finally recaptured in the spring, after a typical New

Hampshire winter without benefit of a barn or any food other than

what it found on its own, the cow was in excellent health and had

gained weight. "

What do the farmers think about that? Speaking as a city type that

knows nothing about the realities of farming, I think it would be

cool to get milk and meat from cattle that spend the winter outside

of the barn.

[Guest guest]

it may be cool, but it will also be very expensive, scott hightland s take

two years to grow to a size that is edible.

justinbond wrote:

> Here is the highlight of the article:

>

> " I spoke to Ware, of the New England Heritage Breeds

> Conservancy, who told me how tough Highland cattle are. One of the

> attractions of the so-called historic livestock varieties is that

> they were bred in a day before factory farming and antibiotics. The

> task of these animals was to go forth and prosper in often

> inhospitable territory like the ish Highlands or the New England

> hills.

>

> Ms. Ware said friends of hers in New Hampshire had seen first-hand

> how successful the animals are. They bought two Highland cattle and

> when they were delivered, one escaped. This was in the early fall.

> Throughout the winter the cow was often seen in nearby woods and on

> the outskirts of neighboring farms, but they weren't able to catch

> it. When it was finally recaptured in the spring, after a typical New

> Hampshire winter without benefit of a barn or any food other than

> what it found on its own, the cow was in excellent health and had

> gained weight. "

>

> What do the farmers think about that? Speaking as a city type that

> knows nothing about the realities of farming, I think it would be

> cool to get milk and meat from cattle that spend the winter outside

> of the barn.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We've got a ish Highland cattle breeder here in town (Western MA). Field

of nearly a dozen just before the Town Common. Their photo was front page of

the newspaper few Saturdays ago.Farm I watch for a neighbor when they go away

has two. I call them hippie cows with their long hair hanging over their

faces.

Are beautiful. Work wonderfully in this hilltown where forage isn't the

grasslands of the valley. Quality of meat is up there in comparison to all

breeds even though their hardiness allows them to eat what other cattle don't.

Wish we had the acreage clear to raise.

Wanita

At 03:44 PM 3/22/02 +0000, you wrote:

>Here is the highlight of the article:

>

> " I spoke to Ware, of the New England Heritage Breeds

>Conservancy, who told me how tough Highland cattle are. One of the

>attractions of the so-called historic livestock varieties is that

>they were bred in a day before factory farming and antibiotics. The

>task of these animals was to go forth and prosper in often

>inhospitable territory like the ish Highlands or the New England

>hills.

>

>Ms. Ware said friends of hers in New Hampshire had seen first-hand

>how successful the animals are. They bought two Highland cattle and

>when they were delivered, one escaped. This was in the early fall.

>Throughout the winter the cow was often seen in nearby woods and on

>the outskirts of neighboring farms, but they weren't able to catch

>it. When it was finally recaptured in the spring, after a typical New

>Hampshire winter without benefit of a barn or any food other than

>what it found on its own, the cow was in excellent health and had

>gained weight. "

>

>What do the farmers think about that? Speaking as a city type that

>knows nothing about the realities of farming, I think it would be

>cool to get milk and meat from cattle that spend the winter outside

>of the barn.

>

>

[Guest guest]

> We've got a ish Highland cattle breeder here in town (Western

n "

> >

> >What do the farmers think about that? Speaking as a city type that

> >knows nothing about the realities of farming, I think it would be

> >cool to get milk and meat from cattle that spend the winter outside

> >of the barn.

> >

> >

......................I bet some folks would call it inhumane. Dennis

Kemnitz

[Guest guest]

At 09:25 PM 3/22/02 +0000, you wrote:

>

>> We've got a ish Highland cattle breeder here in town (Western

>n "

>> >

>> >What do the farmers think about that? Speaking as a city type that

>> >knows nothing about the realities of farming, I think it would be

>> >cool to get milk and meat from cattle that spend the winter outside

>> >of the barn.

>> >

>> >

>.....................I bet some folks would call it inhumane.   Dennis

>Kemnitz

Dennis,

There's a lot of animal rights people in this area so if there were complaints

they'd be here. Fortunately the Highland's long haired appearance tells that

they're bred to live with the cold elements and their robustness in winter

shows there are no ill effects. The half dozen (counted them) steers around

the

corner have two hay rolls every morning and a stream through the pasture. The

two I take care of sometimes have a young forest in one of their pastures they

have cleared of brush. We need agricultural revitilization here and what a

beautiful breed to be a symbol of it year round. More of the Highland's

hardiness at

<http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle>http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breed

s/cattle/

Wanita