Rare Cows and Kids-The Furry Kind!

By Tonia Evans

Plimoth Plantation’s Rare Breed Parade

On Saturday March 21st, approximately 75-100 people, including my aunt, and me, gathered at the Plimoth Plantation to take part in the Rare Breed Parade. In attendance were the farm animals, the Plimoth Plantation staff, English Village Characters, the Plymouth 4-H Club that works with the Rare Breeds Program, and a handful of visitors from parents and kids-and I don’t mean the baby goats!

Since about 1980 Plimoth Plantation has helped to preserve rare and heritage breeds of livestock through their Rare Breeds Program. Not only is Plimoth Plantation making an effort to authenticate the types of livestock the settlers would have had in the 1627 English Village, but they are also concerned about saving livestock that are becoming extinct.

In fact, all of the breeds in the museum program, are considered a priority, on some level, by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC). Saving rare breeds is extremely important because they offer genetic characteristics that would otherwise vanish off the face of the earth. According to the Rare Breeds Program website, traditional (rare) breeds of livestock tend to be “resistant to diseases and parasites, tolerant of heat, capable of thriving in poor pasturage or to excel in mothering capabilities.” Basically-they’re a genetic treasure!

The parade was to start at the Visitor Center and end at the 1627 English Village. Before the parade began, we all enjoyed a casual meet-n-greet with the cows, goats, chickens and some interpreters before they went into character.

We met a beautiful Kerry Cow named Bean, seen here with Beth Leminen. Beth said that Bean was a healthy 14 yr old sweetheart! “A Cow with Horns?” I asked. She shared that in the 17th Century male and female cows had horns. Kerry Cattle are described as a small, fine boned dairy breed that are hardy and long-lived. However, they are considered Critical by the (ALBC).

The parade also had Arapawa Island Goats, also listed as Critical on the (ALBC) list. The baby goats, which drew the attention of almost everyone because were so cute-are San Clemente Island Goats, again-also listed as Critical on the (ALBC) list.

These goats are described as uncommonly fine boned and Deer like-I can kind of see the resemblance! The staff was helpful. You can tell, by the way they talk about the animals, and the program, that they really care about the work they’re doing for these wonderful breeds of livestock.

While we waited for the parade to begin, we went to the village to learn what more we could about the animals from the perspective of the villagers. Two “characters” we met were Barbara and her husband Standish. While sitting by a nice warm fire in one of the homes, we asked them how important the animals were to the lives of the people in the village. Barbara said, “Can you imagine tilling and digging up the land without strong cattle?” She said. “This land has never been tamed.”

What an eye opener that was for me. Without modern garden tools, and gasoline-powered machines, it’s very difficult to even mow a lawn let alone chop down trees, dig up stumps, and tear up the earth. In fact-the animals in the English village were vital for labor, milk and meat production, hides, fat for burning little lamps, and more. And the Pilgrims only had a few cows with them when they arrived. The Pilgrims highly valued them. Records show they listed the cost of them as more than twice as much as the homes were in money, and they kept meticulous records of each animal in their care-well at least the cattle from what I overheard.

After a half an hour or so, we finally heard a little flute in the air, leading the parade as it entered the village. Along came the cows, the goats, the cute baby goats held in the arms of a caretaker, and the chickens!

I was so impressed with the program, that I want to go back and spend some time at the Nye Barn, even if it’s just to visit with the animals, and look at them for a while. If one of these animals becomes extinct in the future, (I hope that never happens) I can at least say that I was lucky enough to spend the day with some of them at the Rare Breed Parade.

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Rare Breed Program -Learn More
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) -Learn More
Adopt A Rare breed -Learn More

Did you attended the parade?-please post a comment.