When is a cow, not just a cow? Most people wouldn’t really think much of seeing a deep copper coloured cow out in a field, but if you’re in agriculture you’d do a double take for sure.
You’d recognize that it’s very unusual, at least in North America.
Hugh “Sandy” MacDougald, and wife Julia, raise Lincoln Red cattle on Prince Edward Island and think they’re great.
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Particular cattle breeds have lineage that is often carefully documented and monitored. The Lincoln Red is an old breed and is genetically protected as a heritage animal in both England, where the breed originates, and in Canada.
Sandy MacDougald says the breed has everything to recommend it, yet there are less than 400 head in all of Canada, spread out among only 20 farms across the country.
They are so rare that an American from Tennessee who wants to start a herd had to travel to MacDougald’s “Milrae Farm” to buy a few.
The American, Robert Latimer, told the Guardian newspaper in P.E.I, “I liked the idea of preserving a heritage breed. I like the fact that the genetics were not changed.”
Besides their many good traits MacDougald says he can walk out amongst them and they don’t get nervous at all. “They’re probably waiting to be petted” he says.
MacDougald is a member of the North American Lincoln Red Association.
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