Bio-Lancaster Farming. Saturday, March 18, 1995
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Farm Animals Can Be Endangered Species
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
Today we hear a lof about
“endangered species.” Animals
such as whales, California con
dors, whooping cranes, American
bald eagles, chimpanzees, Russian
desmans, or blackfooted ferrets
are only a few of the wild animals
that are on the list.
“Endangered” means there
aren’t any of this type of bird or
animal left anywhere on the earth.
Domestic or farm animals also
have an endangered list.
They include nearly 100 breeds
of cattle, goats, horses, donkeys,
sheep, swine, and poultry.
Reasons for abandoning certain
breeds center on large changes in
the way farming is done today.
The number of farmers, there
fore the number of farm experts,
has declined which means we
have fewer farmers interested in a
smaller number of breeds.
At least one group, the Ameri
can Livestock Breeds Conservan
cy, thinks it is important to keep
some of the genes or characteris
tics of all breeds alive.
Holstein cattle, for instance, are
very productive cows. However,
in order for them to give large
quantities of milk, it is necessary
to give them a good diet which is
based on grain.
The first dairy cows in America
needed only a grass diet to give
milk.
These early breeds of cows did
not give as much milk, as, for
instance, today’s Holsteins, but
they did provide good quality
milk.
The American Livestock Con
servancy believes it might be a
disaster to the milk industry if the
price of energy became so high it
would be difficult for farmers to
grow grain. Then, keeping milk
cows that need a lot of grain in
order to produce milk would not
be cost efficient.
Breeds of milk cows which are
on the list of declining domestic
animals will probably surprise
you.
If an animal is on the “critical”
list, it means there are fewer than
200 in North America and fewer
than 2000 in the world.
“Rare” means there are fewer
Spanish Mustang Horses are also considered rare among
horses.
The sketches are from "Taking stock, ” The North American Live
stock Census.
than 1000 in North America and
less than 5,000 in the world.
If an animal is on the “Watch”
list there are fewer than 2,500 in
North America and 10,000 in the
world.
Ayrshires, Guernseys, and
Milking Shorthorns, all milk cows
which are shown at local fairs and
dairy shows, are on the “Watch”
list.
The of Guernseys
is now less than half what it was in
1970.
Another danger of having
fewer cows of these species is, as
the numbers decline, improvement
of the breed becomes more diffi
cult.
To demonstrate the importance
of continuing many of these old
breeds, the American Livestock
Conservancy gives these exam
ples:
“Irish potatoes,” were once the
potato source for a large portion of
the world. Then, in the 1840 s, a
blight hit the Irish potato crop.
Had there not been another type of
potato being grown in Mexico, we
might not be eating French fries
today.
Or, as recently as the 19605,
when many of your- parents were
young, “stripe rust” attacked the
wheat, crop in the western United
States. Prior to this, a type of
wheat being grown in Turkey had
been ignored because it did not
bake as well. However, it was this
wheat which helped the farmers to
eventually overcome the stripe
rust.
There are sheep parasites in
North America which do not react
to any modern day antibiotics.
The Escherichia coli scour
which invades the bodies of some
Northern American hogs does not
phase the Chinese hog.
A number of 4-H members
raise Finn sheep because the
mothers usually have multiple
births. A few years ago, this breed
had all but been discarded. They
were being raised only by Finnish
peasants.
Or, several weeks ago we wrote
about Leicester Longwools, the
breed of sheep that has recently
been revived in America at Colo
nial Williamsburg.
Another animal on the “Watch”
list with which many young peo
ple are familiar is the miniature
donkey. Because machines fast
replaced mules and donkeys in the
1930 s and 19405, many of these
animals began to die out. Now,
they are making a comeback most
ly for recreational purposes.
Large horses such as Clydes
dale and Lipizzan are on the “rare”
list and it has only been in recent
years that some farmers have real
ized how valuable horses can be
on a farm.
We live in a complex world
and, for more than 10,000 years,
farmers have depended on domes
tic animals as a part of their agri
culture.
How important is it to keep
some of the genes going from the
original animals which helped to
create farming as we know it
today?
It is a question that can only be
answered by time.
For more information on
“endangered” domestic animals,
write to The American Livestock
Breeds Conservancy, Box 477,
Pittsboro, NC 27312.
Pork, please.
It's an important part of a well-balanced diet.
Willa Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.)
An imaginary candy factory is the
theme of a special Saturday morn
ing program scheduled for April 1,
from 10 a.m. to noon at the Her
shey Museum. Following the
screening of the 96-minute film
“Willie Wonka and the Chocolate
Factory” visitors can participate in
These two breeds of. swine, the Essex snd Suffolk, an
already extinct.
The Navajo Churro aheap are considered rare with lest
than 1,000 left in North America.
a number of short, candy-related
activities in the museum’s galler
ies. The program, appropriate for
children ages S and up is free with
museum admission. Children
must be accompanied by an adult
The film, with its lively music.
Cast action and imaginative sets re
volves around the story of the
mysterious owner of a fabulous
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candy factory who offers a tour
and a lifetime supply of chocolate
to the finders of five golden tickets
hiden inside Wonka candy bars.
However, the winners ate in for
some thrills and excitement before
they can claim their prizes.
For more information, please
call (717) 534-3439.
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