Our family is aiming at going vegetarian again, so no pigs this year. I had never heard of a red wattle before and did a google search and found this. Interesting that the wattles which hang down off its neck like my goats have serve no purpose. I suspect they use them much like a cat uses its whiskers, but with no control. They cant see the ground as well when lowering their head down.

Its really sad that propaganda has brainwashed us all to demand a trend of monocrops, monolivestocks, and the beauty of diversity and its gifts that offset the problems of monocultures are becoming extinct.

Iam reminded of the patatoe famine in Ireland, as told by one of my instructors in college ( I never heard it told this way anywhere else) However that there was only one species of patatoe grown in Ireland during the famine and had there been other species it would have not been the problem it was. Actually it was a mildew problem that caused the disease, a treatable one today, but still a diversity of patatoes as any diversity of plant or animal offers greater adaptability to survive.

I remember when the doodoo bird was declared extinct, it seems funny to me one because I couldnt relate (too young to understand), and because it was a silly name for an animal (IMO at the time).

Thanks for the read, interesting.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1069098,00.html?promoid=rss_top

Here is a link that might be useful: red wattle hogs

Thanks for posting this Wayne. I usually don't read Time and likely wouldn't have seen the article if you hadn't started this topic.

I'm happy to see that the farmers are doing well raising unusual breeds. Mostly, I was happy to see someone I "know" mentioned in the article. I got a bunch of Lincoln lamb fleece from Peaceful Pastures in TN for spinning, not eating. Jenny is a one of my favorite shepherdesses. (I think Farmer Sam knows her too.) Since the article didn't print their website address, I'll post it here.

Here is a link that might be useful: peaceful pastures

I too am please to see mainstream coverage of efforts to conserve rare breeds. Yes, such conservation must have some economic sustainability; thus eat the flesh and use the fleece and other byproducts. It's amazing how quickly the thousands of now rare breeds disappeared from farms/ranches/markets in the pursuit of high productivity and uniformity of a few modern breeds.

It is also amazing how quickly so many farmers disappeared beneath monoculture. Another rare breed, but not one to be conserved for their culinary value.

This is great news. Its clear that we loose so much when small farm operations and rare breeds die off. I saw a TV special on the history of wine awhile back and the same process of the global growth of corporate wine makers with their focus on consistent high-volume production through modern technology is resulting in a loss of local small specialty wines with their distinct regional tastes. Its very sad that we are sacrificing taste and variety for high yield efficiency.

http://www.nwnews.com/editions/2005/050523/front1.htm

The new ruling from the supreme court on Wine distribution laws may help to maintain some diversity in the grapes and help the little guy to compete. (fingers crossed and hoping)

Just the opposite effect is more likely because this is a further expansion of the Globalization apparati. Now a major screw-cap producers can and will come to market more widely, cheaply -- and drive many local small producers out of the marketplace. Yes, there will likely remain a few high-end varietals selling for superior prices for the elite. But for the local paisano looking for cheap but familiar grappa vino, no.

A more interesting recent California legal ruling was the one that requires wines with the appellation Napa be made from grapes grown in Napa Valley. The French some years ago won a ruling about not calling sparkling wines Champagne if made outside of the French department of Champagne. That is the way to preserve and market diversity of products made from old and traditional.

Those are all good steps, but I still think we are losing some of the old art in the craft of wine making (and other brewing) with the high-tech high-volume same-taste trends that are driving the business. Even the French are going towards American style technology. I know that brewing and distilling can be better controlled through science, but we are losing to globalization some of the unique local variety in taste that regional grapes and traditional agricultural practices once gave to the craft.

Oh, I agree with you KT but as NAFTA/WTO-type trading rules come into force, the pressure to conform to "industry standards" will continue to mirror on-going simplification and broad marketing systems so prevalent in this country.

The only meat I eat nowadays is squirrel, because there's so many being driven out into the streets by the new construction. It's not bad if you cook it with okra (homegrown, natch).