This month , as we celebrate the accomplishments of gravid American president , we can give a nod to their leadership in agriculture , as well . During the early year of America , from the late 1700s to former 1800s , more than 90 percent of the labor force — including the country ’s top leader — farm , and livestock were specially important to the agricultural landscape painting . other United States President , including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson , modeled agricultural excellence by work out hands - on with their herd and flocks in a fashion that was sustainable and encouraged tip - to - tail usance .
“ Washington ’s farm animal were used for many different jobs on the estate , ” says Lisa Pregent , livestock manager at George Washington ’s Mount Vernon Estate , Museum and Gardens . “ The knight were a source of transportation , either riding or pulling baby carriage . Thedraft horsesworked in the fields , pulling wagons and ploughing . Smaller horses and scuff were used in the treading barn to help break the wheat grain from the stalk . The cattle were used formilk , draft work andmeat ; even their horns were used to make button and tools . The sheep were comprise into Washington ’s seven - class crop gyration , occupying one theatre of operations to supply the fertiliser via manure . The sheep were sheared for their fleece and provide mutton for the mesa . ”
also , Jefferson learned from his predecessor way to incorporate farm animal into his farming operation by put up poultry , cattle and evenbeesfor multitudinous uses at his Monticello home . In the former 1800s , he took a particular interest in sheep , according to the Monticello website , and began breeding the Tunis , which he claimed had the well - sample marrow . At one degree , a troop of 40 Tunis grazed the White House lawn , which caused its fair part of controversies , even in the former nineteenth century .
As the U.S. continued its development , farming began to descend out of favor . By the mid-1800s , grow family equal about 70 percentage of the population , and eventually non - granger began to outnumber husbandman . Many of the livestock breed that graze the estate of the United States President ’ land area are now consideredrare breedsand are listed on theAmerican Livestock Breeds Conservancy ’s Conservation Priority List .
We can look to our constitute fathers ’ pattern to advance a land landscape painting that mimics that of the 18th C .
“ Their farming practices were eco - favorable , they produced truly local food , and they matched the right-hand breeds to the place and job , ” says Ryan Walker , ALBC ’s marketing and communications handler .
Although the roles of farm animal have transitioned in modern time to be mainly food producer , with the invention offarm machineryleading to less usance in draft purposes , you’re able to still learn to comprise brute for multiple purposes on the farm and call down them in a way that is healthy for both the animals and the estate .
Just look to Washington ’s livestock as an example .
“ Not only did his sheepgrazeand fertilize his fields , but they providedwoolfor clothing and meat for the table , ” Pregent says . “ His cattle team worked the fields , plowing and agonizing , until they reached 8 years honest-to-god . They were then put out to pasture for one twelvemonth before slaughter . These animals were breed and raised to put up many services . ”
If you want to essay raising livestock as our founding fathers once did , consider raising one or more of these inheritance breeds :
