Heritage Comes in Animals Too

 

What Are Heritage Breeds?

Heritage breeds are traditional livestock breeds that were raised by our forefathers. These are the breeds of a bygone era, before industrial agriculture became a mainstream practice. These breeds were carefully selected and bred over time to develop traits that made them well-adapted to the local environment and they thrived under farming practices and cultural conditions that are very different from those found in modern agriculture.  -The Livestock Conservancy

Henry. 

Montpelier's resident Plymouth Rock Barred Rooster.

A dual purpose breed good for egg layers and Sunday Roasters, the Barred Rock was the most common farmyard breed in America before WWII.

Monoculture farming  replaced these beauties with genetically altered breeds designed either for heavy egg production or bigger carcasses.

 By 2000 the Rock Barred were almost extinct.

Silver Appleyard Ducks.

 A dual purpose breed developed in England to deliver steady egg production and quality meat. They mature quickly and have deep full breasts. Europeans still eat duck regularly but American grocery stores typically do not carry anything but a deep frozen choice.

 Fabulous eggs. Used in France for baking because of both richness and texture. Makes great deviled eggs because the whites are sturdy and don't tear. And they're large enough to handle heavy appetizers.

Watched over by a German Short Haired Pointer. No Joke!

Ruby.

Tunis Sheep arrived in America in the late eighteenth century as a gift to President George Washington from the Sultan of Tunisia. Thomas Jefferson was a huge fan.

By the middle of the eighteenth century Tunis were the most common breed in the mid Atlantic. Nearly wiped out by the Confederate Army during the Civil War, they have made a comeback. Seems fitting to have them at Montpelier.

Dual purpose, like most heritage breeds. Wool  rates one step below Merino and the meat, well,  legend says that Tunis dotted the fields when the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Passover lamb takes on new meaning.

And yes, that little lamb is red!

Commitment to Heritage Breeds represents an integral part of the Montpelier Farm mission. Preserving history, whether though architectural preservation, farming techniques or livestock connects us to not only our historical past but also our sustainability past. It is a renewal of community. Of conservation. An understanding that more isn't necessarily better. It's just more.

As a parting thought, a nod to Wendell Berry. By knowing his work I came to know and love the heritage of farming.

“Good farmers, who take seriously their duties as stewards of Creation and of their land's inheritors, contribute to the welfare of society in more ways than society usually acknowledges, or even knows. These farmers produce valuable goods, of course; but they also conserve soil, they conserve water, they conserve wildlife, they conserve open space, they conserve scenery.”
― Wendell Berry, Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food