Rare Livestock Breed Conservancy

March 8, 2006 10:52 AM

The Last Days of the Ark: "We found that in 90 to 95 percent of turkeys produced worldwide, the genetic stock comes from one of three breeding stocks" but there are heritage breeds being preserved throughout the world. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Heritage Breeds Conservancy. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Rare Breeds Canada. Rare Breeds Australia, with by far the best Breed Profile pages. New Zealand Rare Breeds. Desert Heritage Breeds. Rare Steeds. "Eating these breeds may be the best way to save them", so, for shopping. [more inside]
posted by OmieWise (14 comments total)

A lot of the fun is in the pictures:

Navajo-Churro Sheep. Spanish Black Turkeys.

Leicester Longwool, and the other breeds at RBST: cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, equines, poultry.

The gallery at HBC. The rare breeds of Canada.
The huge gallery at ALBC, along with extensive breed specific links. Look at that Florida Cracker, and this American Blue rabbit!

The Virtual Livestock Library at U. Oklahoma.

The Andalucian Giant Donkey.

Previous MeFi thread about livestock photography.
posted by OmieWise at 10:53 AM on March 8, 2006

American wild turkeys are a great breed, very smart and cagey. Apparently great eating, too. Ben Franklin thought they should be the national bird.

I don't know if it's true, but I've been told repeatedly that domesticated turkeys are so stupid that they'll die of thirst if you move their water source.
posted by Malor at 11:05 AM on March 8, 2006

I guess if I don't make a joke about Andalucia's huge ass, someone else will.
posted by nebulawindphone at 11:26 AM on March 8, 2006

Thanks, OmieWise. I was also able to find a few co-ops near me through your 'shop' link, so I'm doubley grateful.

Reading these links makes me long to have a goat farm more than ever.... *sigh*
posted by maryh at 11:34 AM on March 8, 2006

My sister-in-law raises heritage breed turkeys near Grass Valley. We've dined on Colorado raised heritage turkeys as well. They are absolutely delicious and only a remote taste relative to concentration camp turkey. Consume to preserve!
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 11:53 AM on March 8, 2006

Yeah, well if you want to see a big Ass, check out the American Mammoth Jackstock.
posted by OmieWise at 12:27 PM on March 8, 2006

We had to eat the turkey in order to save it.
posted by RakDaddy at 12:35 PM on March 8, 2006

A friend raises chickens for competition. Truely amazing the variety, many who have been specially bred by man to solve specific problems.

Want to help protect biodiversity but feeling left out because the man won't let you raise turkeys in town? Try heritage seeds.
posted by Mitheral at 12:44 PM on March 8, 2006

Zelda, the Battery Park Turkey, is still strutting, despite all the construction down here (just saw her today).
posted by gubo at 12:46 PM on March 8, 2006

For those who what to grow their own rare poultry breeds, Murray McMurry Hatchery is recognized among small farmers and organic growers as one of the top suppliers in the U.S. With any luck, we might have our own home-raised turkey for Thanksgiving next year.
posted by turtlegirl at 12:53 PM on March 8, 2006

I've got a couple dozen wild turkeys out in my yard, every morning. They chase the cat around and frighten the pygmy goats. Mean buggers. I don't know why they congregate around our measly 12 acres - it may be because everyone else around us shoots at them (no hunting on our land). However, I have to say - they're freaking. Huge. I am mighty tempted to 'cull' one for my new smoker.

Sometimes I love living in Michigan more than anything.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:29 PM on March 8, 2006

You forgot Nature's Turkey.
posted by dhartung at 3:24 PM on March 8, 2006

This is great, I was just adding some information on Randall Cattle to the Sunderland Vermont Wikipedia page. The whole notion of isolated breeding stock is just so odd in these wacky days of advanced globalization, but it wasn't so unusual even 80-100 years ago in parts of rural America and, I'm sure, other countries.
posted by jessamyn at 5:58 PM on March 8, 2006

Those are some pretty cows! I love the story on that website of dedication and concern.
posted by OmieWise at 7:00 AM on March 9, 2006