HULL-O FARMS Family Farm Vacations wants you to come visit us and our friends. Here are some of our farm friends:
Cows – Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are raised as livestock for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products (milk), leather and as draft animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion cattle in the world today.
Heritage Pigs – Today’s small farmers are looking for a heritage breed of pig that produce a superior pork for a niche market. Heritage breeds, which are a specialty breed, are those that were perfected more than a hundred years ago by farmers who bred for taste, hardiness, mothering ability, and efficiency.
Pot-Bellied Pig – Potbellied pigs are clean, highly intelligent and loving creatures. In fact, pigs in general are the fourth smartest animal in the world. Pot-bellied pigs require extra patience and lots of love, but more than make up for it with their personality.
Jersey Calf – The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries. They are more tolerant of heat than the larger breeds. With an average weight of 900 pounds, the Jersey produces more pounds of milk per pound of body weight than any other breed.
Goats – Domestic goats are one of the oldest domesticated species. For thousands of years, goats have been used for their milk, meat, hair, and skins over much of the world. In the last century they have also gained some popularity as pets. Female goats are referred to as does or nannies, intact males as bucks or billies; their offspring are kids.
Lambs – Here’s some interesting facts: George Washington raised sheep on his Mount Vernon Estate. Thomas Jefferson kept sheep at Monticello. President Woodrow Wilson grazed sheep on the White House Lawn.
Turkeys – The wild turkey was first discovered in America. The turkey is native to Northern Mexico and Eastern United States. They were domesticated by the Aztecs in Mexico about 500 years ago. They were taken to Europe in the early 16th Century. The most common breeds in the United States are the Bronze, “White Holland, Narragansett, and the Bourbon Red.
Ducklings – The cutest of the cute, these baby ducks are often spotted in the spring following closely behind their mother. They grow up quickly, becoming the adult ducks seen commonly in ponds and streams. Playful and timid, vulnerable and small, ducklings are nature’s very definition of innocence.
Red Deer – The Red Deer is one of the largest deer species. The Red Deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor and parts of western and central Asia. It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages and having an even number of toes on each hoof, similar to camels, goats and cattle.
Bunnies – Rabbits are ground dwellers that live in environments ranging from desert to tropical forest and wetland. The European rabbit has been introduced to many locations around the world, and all breeds of domestic rabbit originate from the European. We love them because they are so soft and cuddly.
Kittens – Cats were domesticated in Egypt about 4,000 years ago. They are an important part of the farm, helping the farmer protect his grain and corn. They are also fun to play with!
Puppies – The dog is a domesticated subspecies of the wolf. We keep Pointers, which are dogs trained to locate and point at small game.
Horses – For centuries horses have been one of the most economically important domesticated animals, especially relied upon for farm work and for transportation. Their importance declined following the introduction of mechanization. We like to keep horses though we don’t use them for labor.
