Breeds You Need
Hundreds of varieties of livestock are suitable to raise on a hobby farm! Here are a few more.
Pineywoods Cattle, Tamworth Pigs, Livestock Guardians
Pineywoods Cattle
This breed’s history in North America began when Spanish explorers deposited a small herd in the Gulf Coast centuries ago. The harsh environment of the South shaped a true landrace breed that established and thrived for centuries without the aid or err of humans.
The vast open pine timber was filled with cattle that bore the prized marks of ownership of settlers in the region. Utilizing the breed for milk, beef, leather, tallow and draft power allowed a herding culture and way of life to be sustained. These families isolated cattle into distinct strains that became critical genetic goldmines of longevity, hardiness, calving ease, mothering, disease resistance, thriftiness, fertility, carcass quality, milking and intelligence.
Despite the value of the breed and the role it played in shaping early cattle production, industrial preferences shifted over time to larger framed animals. Very few pure animals remained after the implementation of this shortsighted trend.
Coupled with emerging fence laws that ended open-range grazing, the Pineywoods Cattle became endangered of being cross-bred out of existence. In 1999, a group of breeders who had preserved pure herds joined together to form the Pineywoods Cattle Registry and Breeders Association (www.pcrba.org). The PCRBA’s mission is to educate, promote and preserve Pineywoods Cattle with purpose. Breeders today range from hobby farm, seed stock, cow/calf, beef production and homesteads.
The adaptability of Pineywoods cattle make them suitable to raise and thrive in nearly any environment, especially those classified as fragile due to their thrifty nature and light footprint. A hardy and fertile breed that calves unassisted in harsh conditions makes life simpler for breeders.
Pineywoods Cattle have a varied palate and will fully utilize a native range or silvopasture by consuming grasses, legumes, forbes, brush and browse. Their rich milk provides rapid calf growth and strong mothering instincts ensure the calves are safe and healthy.
A docile and calm nature makes them a great breed for a family farm. This mild temperament is valued when frequent penning, sorting and transport is required of larger producers. Their smaller frame increases productivity per acre as well as carcass yields for beef production. The carcass quality is highly desired by butchers and chefs for tenderness, taste and profitability. Combining all these important traits make Pineywoods Cattle an equally great fit for a commercial producer or homestead that wants to utilize them as a multipurpose breed.
Tamworth Pig
Named for the village of Tamworth, England, where they originated, these dark red pigs with long snouts are excellent rugged foragers. They’re active and need space to root and wallow. Their red coloring lets them adapt to various climates; it protects against sunburn.
Once considered a bacon breed because of their slow growth and lean, fine-grained meat, Tamworth pigs, which reach a mature weight of between 500 and 600 pounds, are raised for all cuts of meat. The sows are prized for their ability to raise large litters, making excellent mothers and doing a good job of suckling their litters.
Livestock Guardian Dogs
KANGAL DOG: Like many landrace breeds, this livestock guardian was developed as a regional breed over many generations in the rugged Kangal area of Turkey and was introduced in small numbers to the U.S. in the late 1970s. It bonds strongly to its humans and livestock; seldom wanders; is unfriendly and aggressive to intruding dogs and predators; and is fearless when facing intruders. Recent research suggests the Kangal Dog is the breed of choice where big predators — bears, cougar and wolves — are a problem. Importantly, it’s bite-inhibited toward people and its own livestock.
This large black-masked dog has a relatively short, dense, fawn-colored, soft, double coat, varying from pale gold to dark brown. Males weigh between 90 and 150 pounds, standing from 30 to 34 inches at the withers; females are often smaller and lighter. The Kangal Dog is less inclined to bark than some other livestock guard dogs. This powerful, athletic, sometimes hardheaded dog needs to be socialized as a puppy.
Like most other breeds, a secure perimeter fence will help teach the young dog to limit its territory. Boredom is the most serious issue with a young dog placed in a small area. Digging, chewing and then chasing (livestock) are the results. New owners need to work with an ethical, knowledgeable breeder who will mentor them; such a breeder won’t sell a Kangal Dog to a novice livestock guardian dog owner. Big dog plus big ability equals more needed space than an acre farmette can offer.
GREAT PYRENEES: This large, principally white, long-haired dog originated thousands of years ago as a livestock guardian dog in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. Renewed interest in the guardian trait occurred in the 1970s following EPA rules forbidding the use of poison to control livestock predators.
Great Pyrenees can adapt to a small fenced farm or a large range with open grazing, and the presence of one Pyr in a small farm situation is sufficient. To maximize its working ability, the dog should be neutered or spayed to control possible roaming problems and the attraction of unwanted feral dogs or coyotes during estrus. Great Pyrenees are more active at night and can be vocal when warning of unwanted strangers. They can adapt to any form of animal or bird that needs their protection. Great Pyrenees can be a very effective deterrent to farm animal or fowl predation.
AKBASH DOG: Described as a combination of mastiff and sight hound, the Turkish Akbash Dog stands 28 to 32 inches at the withers weighing from 85 to
130 pounds with females typically smaller than males. Always white, the coat varies in length from 11⁄ to
2
4 or 5 inches in length. The weatherproof double coat sheds the soft undercoat when warm weather comes, leaving even a long-coated dog looking short-coated. This is in contrast to a mountain breed such as the Great Pyrenees, which retains a thick coat throughout the year.
Large size and pendant ears are mastiff family traits; however, the Akbash Dog is “tucked up” like a sight hound (or greyhound) and is more active and heat-tolerant than the heavier livestock guardian dog breeds. That mastiff/sighthound combination is only visual. Turkish DNA research has shown the purebred Akbash Dog to be a unique Turkish breed with no relationship to other Turkish breeds.
The Akbash Dog naturally protects species it’s bonded to whether it’s livestock — poultry, goats, alpacas, etc. — or other family pets, such as small dogs. The same attitude is shown toward its people, making Akbash Dogs a trustworthy farm-family companion. They like to please, but the instinct to investigate and protect will override most human commands.
The Akbash Dog needs a secure perimeter fence from the time it is young. A dog that never learns to wander will stay home even when it could easily jump most boundary fences. When a strange person or animal approaches, the Akbash Dog will posture, bark, growl and threaten. Akbash Dogs, however, are not biters but rather, by instinct and genetics, bite-inhibited and are rarely people aggressive.