Homestead Ranch Heirloom Farm Animals
Noah the Toggenburg Milch Goat
From the earliest periods of exploration comes this favorite of colonists, pioneers and sea captains. In their early history hardy alpine goats such as these could be deposited on islands along the way by ocean going explorers and on the return voyages, picked up again for milk and meat to make their voyage home. When the first colonists journeyed to North America, they selected milch goats for these very reasons. Captain John Smith brought milch goats to Jamestown Settlement. By 1630 these goats were listed in records as very valuable to the colony. Between the1590's to 1700 the Germanic and Spanish breeds were cross bred and produced a common American goat.
Plymouth Rock Chickens
The Plymouth Rock was first established in 1829 Boston. Later, Barred Plymouth Rocks were first exhibited in 1869 at Worcester, Massachusetts. These were a cross breed of 3-4 pre-existing breeds. The Plymouth Rock line was first recognized as a distinct breed and was admitted to the first American Standard of Excellence, in 1874. These would be very popular chickens in 1880 for meat and eggs.
White Leghorn Chickens
Named after the area of Italy where they are from, this breed arrived in the United States via Spanish sailing ships from 1835 to 1853, sold as surplus along the waterfronts. Known for there ability to produce more eggs than other chicken breeds, the White Leghorn became an American favorite very quickly. The Willamette valley hatchery which furnished our Chickens, sold its first run of chicks in the Mid 1880s, which these very birds are descended from. These chickens' primary duty for the Blairs are as egg layers.
Our Mustangs, Sundance and Sierra
Note: As of fall 2009, our mustangs are wintering on a farm where they can roam freely and forage.
Mustangs are actually feral horses. This means they are
descended from domestic animals that have escaped and
returned to a wild state of being. North America’s
indigenous horses had long been extinct around 8,000 years ago.
Our mustangs were collected off the High Desert in
south-central Oregon in Lake County. Because of the demand for
horses in both ranching and in urban areas as transportation
during the 19th century, horses such as Sundance and Sierra
were collected and shipped to markets at The Dalles and Baker
City Oregon, Boise Idaho, and the transcontinental railhead at
Winnemucca Nevada. From there, they were shipped east and
west to buyers in towns and cattle outfits. Such is the
business of the Blair Ranch.
Horses were first released in the late 17th century in what is present day New Mexico. Then over time they migrated and were traded by native tribes hand over hand as a valuable resource. By 1750 it is thought the first tribes of the High Desert received their first horses through raids and trading with other tribes.
The first explorers and pioneers traveling across the land also lost animals or abandoned horses, mules and cattle. From 1860-1890 pioneers from all over the west had come to collect theses unclaimed animals and make their living of the basin and range utilizing this wild stock a means of making a living.
One of the most famous of the Mustang breeds is the Kiger,
characterized by a tan body and dark flowing main and tail and
unusual striped back markings. Of Spanish bloodlines, these
animals can still be found today roaming in southeastern
Oregon, the Steens Mountains and the gorge that bears their
name to this day.
