Heritage Cattle
David has always said that there should be a 12-step program for people who are interested in rare breed conservation. It started as a hobby. As with any hobby, there comes a time when it should either decrease in size or start paying for itself.
We focused on both objectives. As we are dairy farmers, not trust fund farms, it was decided that we should focus on a couple of breeds and make them economically viable on our farm rather than just collect rare breed animals.
The Dairy cows that we focus on are Ayrshire and Kerry cattle. Both are able to graze effectively and are known for excellent "cheese milk." Shannon also has Arapawa Island Goats. Their economic value is not known yet. They are great at eating thistle and other weeds that we purchased with the farm. For now, that beats mowing every few weeks.
Resouces:Arapawa Island Goats (PDF 40KB)
Current History of the Kerry Cow in America (PDF 46KB)
The Introduction of the Kerry to America (PDF 46KB)
by Charles S. Plumb
