WHAT IS A HERITAGE BREED?
Heritage breeds are any livestock breed that lived, worked beside, and sustained humans prior to the advent of industrial farming, which boomed in the post WWII era.
Heritage breeds were often localized and highly evolved to succeed in their particular landscape. As such, they were selected for a range of traits including disease and parasite resistance, ability to thrive on pasture without other inputs, natural mothering ability, and could serve dual or even triple purposes.
This well-rounded approach and adaptability in heritage livestock is in sharp contrast to the singular focus on aggressive growth that is the sole selection point for most “modern” livestock breeds.
However, the adaptations that made most heritage breeds thrive in low-input, organic, and regenerative farming systems put them at a harsh disadvantage as factory and industrial farming rose to the forefront of the American agriculture – quite simply, they didn’t grow as fast, didn’t tolerate confinement well, and were “outperformed” by modern hybrids that could. Without a widespread cultural use for these breeds, many came close to extinction.
Luckily, in addition to dedicated conservation breeders and breed associations, the Livestock Conservancy in the US and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in Britain formed to identify, promote, and ultimately save these culturally and genetically important breeds for future generations. Heritage breeds, like the Meishan that we raise at Jackstone Creek Farmstead, may be critical to remaking our food system into one that is regenerative and bountiful rather than harmful.
Although there is no regulated definition of the word “heritage,” the Livestock Conservancy defines heritage pork broadly as:
An established breed with a long history in the U.S. and/or a breed near extinction worldwide (such as the Meishan pig breed we raise at JCF)
Herds employ ongoing breed selection practices for longevity, fertility, and productivity
Herds follow management practices consistent with the history of the breed, including:
diets that allow hogs to exhibit natural omnivorous behavior.
permanent access to open, pasture or range, environments.
free from routine prophylactic antibiotics.
free from administered synthetic or natural growth promoters or growth hormones.
Check out the full Livestock Conservancy definition for more details.
Here at JCF, we could not envision our farm without heritage breeds. Although our primary focus is on the recognition and revival of the Meishan pig breed, we look forward to working with other heritage breeds as we grow into the future.