A   FOCUS   ON HERITAGE BREEDING 

Today’s commercial farms rely on breeds that aren’t always well suited to an open environment such as ours.  At Cedar Meadow, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure the future of those breeds that were once a familiar and commonplace sight across the New England Landscape.  As such, we are now utilizing Tamworth Hogs as our sole source for pork.  Our turkeys are heritage breeds as well:  Slate Blues and Bourbon Reds.  We also raise small numbers of Eastern Wild Turkeys.  We are in the process of converting all of our layer flocks to Dominiques and Non-Commercial strains of Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns.

Because of their genetic profile, heritage breed animals tend to grow at a much slower rate then their commercial cousins.  Though this requires a greater investment in both time and money, we think you will agree it is well worth it!

In addition to better taste and healthier food, you can take pride in knowing that you are preserving a part of America’s past.  By supporting our farm, you are helping to keep heritage breeds flourishing and centuries-old traditions alive and well!

 Take a moment to browse through the text below to learn more about the different types of heritage breeds at Cedar Meadow Farm.

We are advocates of the movement to help save our history.  Please take a moment to visit these heritage breeding sites so you too can understand how important these animals are.

http://www.nehbc.org/

http://www.albc-usa.org/

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HERITAGE CHICKENS

Cedar Meadow Farm is proud to have Dominiques, Non-commercial strain New Hampshire Reds and White Leghorns make up the majority of our laying flocks.  Dominiques are a calm, dual purpose breed with a Rose Comb and lay brown eggs.  The rose comb is especially advantageous because they are not prone to frostbite on their comb and wattles.  Because they are dual purpose, they will make an excellent addition to the stew pot when their egg-laying days are over.  Best of all, they are very attractive with their barred markings.  To learn more about this breed, visit the oklahoma state website at  http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/poultry/chickens/dominiques/index.htm.  You can also visit the Dominique Club of America at http://dominiquechickens.org/

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 HERITAGE TURKEYS

  Did you know that commercial strains of turkeys are unable to reproduce without artificial insemination?  Sure, they may be big breasted, uniform in size,grow quickly, and have excellent feed conversion - but as far as we are concerned, they are almost unnatural.  Not just any turkey can be considered a heritage breed. 

"Heritage turkeys are defined by the historic, range-based production system in which they are raised. Turkeys must meet all of the following criteria to qualify as a Heritage turkey:

1.      Naturally mating: the Heritage Turkey must be reproduced and genetically maintained through natural mating, with expected fertility rates of 70-80%.

2.      Long productive lifespan: the Heritage Turkey must have a long productive lifespan. Breeding hens are commonly productive for 5-7 years and breeding toms for 3-5 years.

3.      Slow growth rate: the Heritage Turkey must have a slow to moderate rate of growth. Today’s heritage turkeys reach a marketable weight in 26 – 28 weeks, giving the birds time to develop a strong skeletal structure and healthy organs prior to building muscle mass. This growth rate is identical to that of the commercial varieties of the first half of the 20th century. "

Source: American Livestock Breed Conservancy  http://www.albc-usa.org/turkeydefinition.htm 

 At Cedar Meadow Farm, we raise three heritage breeds:  Naragansetts, Wishard Bronze, and Bourbon Reds.

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HERITAGE PIGS

Cedar Meadow Farm is proud to feature the Tamworth Pig - a truly historic breed originating from England.  This wonderful, utilitarian pig is sadly on the Threatened List, meaning there are fewer than 1000 annual registrations in the United States and estimated fewer than 5000 global population.  Oklahoma State University has a wonderful overview of the history of the Tamworth Pig at http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/tamworth/ .  We have gotten our stock from local farmers, Craig and Cheryl Floyd at Footsteps Farm.  We encourage you to visit Craig and Cheryl's website at www.footstepsfarm.com.

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 HERITAGE SHEEP

We are pleased to have Scottish Blackface Sheep at the farm.  Though they are not listed on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Preservation List, they are a historic breed and provide excellent meat and wool. 

The breed's origin is lost in the midst of time, but undoubtedly emerged from the genetic umbrella of ' horned ' sheep from which also sprung the Swaledale, Rough Fell and other localised types such as the Lewis and Mayo Blackface.

Monastery records of the 12th century tell of the Dun or Blackface breed of sheep. The monks used the wool for their clothes, and also exported large amounts to Europe. In the 16th century, King James IV of Scotland established an improved Blackface flock in Ettrick Forest. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was known as the Linton Sheep, West Linton in Peeblesshire being the main sale for the type. In the early 19th century, the breed was taken from Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire and introduced into the north of Scotland, but due to the high price of cheviot wool the Blackfaces were cleared off the hills in favour of the cheviot. This continued until 1860, when the wool prices reached the same level and the farmers realised that the blackface, with its ability to survive and reproduce in adverse weather conditions, was the best suited breed to utilise hill and mountain grazing.

Source: http://www.scottish-blackface.co.uk/

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 HERITAGE RABBITS

Cedar Meadow Farm has a fledgling rabbitry featuring Giant Chinchilla Rabbits. 

The Giant Chinchilla originated in the US.  It was developed in 1921 by Edward H. Stahl of Holmes Park, Missouri. Stahl was one of the first to own a Chinchilla rabbit, a breed that had been created in France in 1913. He knew the fur industry would be taken by storm when it was introduced to America, but he knew that the breed's diminutive size would hamper its success. While other breeders began to breed up the weights to what would become known as the American Chinchilla, Stahl set his sights on breeding a "giant" breed. In his basement he began experimental breeding using a pure Chinchilla buck of large size and perfect color to New Zealand White does and does of several other large breeds. The offspring from the cross with White Flemish and American Blue does had reasonably good coloration with progress toward a larger size, and were used for continued selection. On Christmas morning, 1921, a Giant Chinchilla doe was born that Stahl considered ideal. He named her the "Million Dollar Princess".

True to their name, Giant Chinchillas are quite large, with mature bucks weighing in at 12 to 15 pounds and does at 13 to 16 pounds. It is the only breed in America that is judged for its commercial value, with meat producing qualities given top consideration on the judging table.

There are fewer than 200 annual North American registrations of the breed, and the global population is less than 2,000.

source:  http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ark/giant_chinchilla_rabbit.html