Wiltshire Horns are an “easy care” breed. As a hair sheep, not a wool producer, they do not require shearing and therefore do not have any of the problems associated with wool production, but their hair is thick enough to insulate against Canadian winters.

The Wiltshire Horn is an ancient breed whose population has ranged from “incredible” numbers on the Wiltshire Downs in the 1700s to a few thousand when the UK all but abandoned meat breeds in favour of big profits from wool.

Now that most wool has so little value that sheep farming for wool does not cover the cost of shearing, the Wiltshire Horn has re-emerged as a popular breed.

Tamworth pigs are one of the oldest breeds of pigs and a natural choice for a pasture-raised system due to their hardiness, good mothering ability, plentiful milk, natural disease resistance and red hair, which helps to protect them from sunburn. These pigs produce lean, flavourful meat year-round. The Tamworth pig originated on Sir Robert Peel’s Estate in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England after his existing herd was interbred in 1812 with pigs from Ireland known as 'Irish Grazers'.

The most salient feature of the Tamworth is its significant hardiness with respect to adverse climates. The breed does well in more northerly settings such as those found in Scotland and Canada, where winters can be severe and winds can reach high speeds. The animal is not only durable and rugged but is also extremely well suited for forest grazing, being able to thrive on bracken.

The characteristics of the modern Hereford were implanted by a group of breeders in Herefordshire more than 200 years ago. Their objective was to fix in one strain of animal the desirable traits of hardiness, early maturity, fertility and the swift, efficient conversion of grass into red meat so firmly that the transmission of these qualities to the next generation could always be relied upon. Their success was spectacular and the Hereford became the cornerstone of the beef economy in all the cattle raising countries in the world. New opportunities now exist for the breed in the era of sustainable farming where ease of management in close harmony with the environment is a major consideration.