Starting with Rare Breeds?

[Mare Owner]

I know some of you raise rare breeds, I have tried to do a search for more info, but didn't find much here. Maybe I am doing the search thing wrong?

If you raise rare breeds, what do you raise, how long have you raised them, and any advice?

I am looking into getting a heifer or two to add to our farm (we raise commercial beef cattle) and have two rare breeds in mind. Our operation is mostly grass based so the rare breeds should be a good fit as we use little commercial grain, and have room to separate them if needed.

I am just starting now to contact breeders of my first choice. Very few breeders out there, few have email or websites, and only a couple on the breeders list have phone number listed. I expect it will be months at the earliest, before we can actually get a heifer or two here, but I am excited at the prospect!

I am also looking at a rare breed of pig, and probably chickens. We already raise chickens, but pigs will be new to me. Lots of reading to do!

[Stonehead]

In my experience, it was much easier to get into rare breed pigs than poultry or sheep.

The British Pig Association (which maintains almost all the herd books) and the breed clubs have their acts together and are very professional, which makes it much easier to find quality livestock and find breeders near you. (I'm a BPA member and Berkshire Pig Breeders Club member).

On the poultry front, the Poultry Club is is fairly good but the individual breed clubs are all over the place. Some are good, some are average and some are ramshackle to say the least. I'm a member of the Poultry Club and the Scots Grey Club, the latter is one of the ramshackle ones with only intermittent communication and little help. I even thought the club was defunct for a while as I couldn't get in touch with anyone for nearly 18 months at one point.

With sheep, it's down the various breed societies. I looked into various rare breeds with a view to keeping a small flock, but gave up in the end. Very few of the societies seemed interested in attracting potential new breeders, they weren't very good at giving out details of breeders who might have stock for sale, and some were very, very inward focused. I now let a neighbouring farmer use our main field for his sheep and get a few lambs to slaughter in return.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust can be a help in finding breeders of particularly rare breeds - again I am a member. But, their efforts and professionalism are somewhat patchy. (Their online forum, for instance, should be a goldmine of information and support but almost no one uses it.)

The only cattle breeders association I've had dealings with was the Shetland Cattle Breeders Association. That was about two years ago and they were quite helpful.

[red]

you could still raise your own sheep Stonehead, even if not a rare breed - how come you don't do that? not enough time at the moment?

[Stonehead]

Yes, I could have any old sheep but I prefer rare breeds as they suit my ethos. I keep an eye on the rare breeds auctions, but for the moment it's easier to focus on developing our pig herd and chicken flock. And we still get lamb thanks to our agreement with the neighbouring farmer.

When the youngest boy starts school, that will give me a bit more time so I'll probably look at getting a Shetland cow.

And if I can find time to find out more about horses, their care and how to use a working horse, then an Eriskay pony would be tempting as well.

But, like us, all animals have to earn their keep here.

[red]

hm yeh the problem with rare breed sheep is that the breeds are often difficult - escapologists etc!

that and the fact that the definition of 'rare' means there is not much of it around so hard to get.

in the end we opted to get a local breed, rather than rare (we have Devon Closewools) partly because it keeps the breed going if you purchase them (create a need etc, and stops them *becoming* a rare breed), partly cos we just like the idea of having something local, and mostly because the breed was bred to thrive in the conditions we have.

(we also tried some chops first to see if we like the flavour!)

[Stonehead]

Don't get me wrong, we don't just have rare breeds for the sake of it. They also have to fit the environment of the croft and be productive in our conditions.

Take a house cow, for example. We'd need a small, very hardy breed that could be used for milk and beef, thrives on poor grazing, efficiently converts poor grazing to milk, is light on its feet, calves reliably, consistently and well, and have a long, productive life. It needs to be easily handled, able to be trained to come to the bucket, and haltered with ease.

Factor in our preference for pedigree rare breeds, and the Shetland fits the bill to a T. Even better, it's a Scottish breed that is appropriate to a croft.

It's the same with sheep.

We put a lot of thought into choosing our livestock - it's not just, "Oh, I'd like something rare".

[red]

I appreciate that. I was just expressing that the breed you chose might not be a rare breed, if everything else about it was desirable.

what breed of sheep would you choose by preference?

[Mare Owner]

Thanks for the info, I'll check out those links Stonehead. I am in the USA, but I am sure I can still find useful info!

[Stonehead]

In the US, the place to start is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

It find it interesting to compare the US and UK watchlists for rare breeds, seeing which animals crop up on both, as well as the breeds that are unique.

I've been keeping an intermittent eye on the web for mention of the Boston Pig or Boston Hog, a curly coated pig related to the extinct Lincolnshire Curly Coat but it also appears to have become extinct. A pig with a coat somewhat akin to a sheep's sounds brilliant - and is very hardy.

[Stonehead]

what breed of sheep would you choose by preference?

We'd be looking at small breeds that are hardy, light on their feet, and able to thrive on rough or unimproved land. The ewes need to be good, milky and reliable mothers and I'd prefer if they were of an easy birthing type. We're not after faster growing and maturing breeds as we prefer hogget and mutton to lamb and don't mind waiting. And if they were Scottish, all the better.

Minority breeds like the Shetland or Hebridean would certainly fit with what we do.

[Mare Owner]

In the US, the place to start is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.

That is a great website! I found it a couple weeks ago and have been researching some of the breeds they have listed. Specifically I've been looking at breeds that are native to North America, and also not from the southern states. They have to be able to do well in the cold.

I found some pigs today!!!! The breeder who is closest to me (luckily only 3 hrs drive) finally got back to me and has six 6-month old piglets still available. He is now at the ALBC conference, so will call again next week to make arrangements to go and pick up 2 or 3. These are the Guinea Hog, found on the ALBC site above.

The next closest breeder is much further away and said they have a long waiting list, didn't even offer to add me to it. So I feared I would have a LONG wait.

The breeder I'll be buying from is very active in the registry also, so I hope to make a good connection there. Now if only the cattle I'd like to find were closer!

[red]

[. We're not after faster growing and maturing breeds as we prefer hogget and mutton to lamb and don't mind waiting. .

thats what I thought we would do... perhaps bump some of as lambs (on the older side) and then more as mutton... space in freezer - better taste etc.

still we dont have any lambs yet - borrowing a ram this weekend! bit serious... this breeding thing...eek.