Post by rvm45 on Sept 14, 2011 10:50:38 GMT -6
Someone told me that there were more horses now, than there were back in the 1880's.
That may very well be so, however there are also far more people too.....
And if something Wipes out three-fourths of Humanity--it may very well wipe out 75% of our horses too. A bad virus might only effect people--leaving a relative abundance of horses.
A nuclear conflict--and the subsequent radiation, could kill half of our horses--or more.
And a certain number of animals will have their caretakers die--and in all the confusion--their animals may starve to death before anyone comes looking. I think that a mare has to be three or four years old, before she's bred. They race three year olds in the Triple Crown--But those horses are not as tough as they would be at four, or five.
Point being--It takes a long time to increase the number of riding horses to any significant degree.
Some unprepared folks will eat their horses early on.
Now if anyone has read "Calderas"--one of the ways that they built de facto Survival Compounds, was for several families to form a Syndicate to own a reasonable size Dairy Farm jointly.
One of the Retreaters managed the farm; or they hired a professional to live there and farm it.....
But they maintained food storage and separate living accommodations for each family at the farm. This can be as simple as putting bunk beds and partitions into an old barn--or building several three-car sized concrete block buildings.....
at least they look like out-buildings, or garages from the outside.....
And every Garage has a basement--and there's tunnels linking the basements--and inside, they're pleasant little bungalows.
Anyway--a cow has to be bred every year, to keep her lactating. Some of the Female Calves are used as Dairy Cow Replacements; some are sold as Veal; most end up being killed as Heifers for beef.
The Bull Calves? A very few will be kept as herd sires, a few sold for Veal--Most castrated and slaughtered as feedlot Steers.
Okay, milk and protein is all well and good--especially after major SHTF.....
Your Dairy will definitely want to start making Cheese--lots of Cheese.
However, in a World without refrigeration, a typical Dairy will probably have more milk than they can easily process.
So what if your Dairy has refrigeration? Are people gonna walk five miles in the hot sun to pick up your milk--then walk it home--where they can only keep it a day, or two?
Anyway, that leaves some Cows, and a large number of Bull Calves and Heifer Calves to be turned into Draft Animals--pull plows, pull wagons, turn mills, and run pumps.....
And with the Proper Saddle, you can Ride Cows and Steers even Bulls can be ridden--not trying desperately to hang on for Eight Seconds--I mead "Ride".
Think about Writing Saddle Cattle into your PAW Fiction. Check out this Website--And tell them that RVM45 sent you!
ridingsteers.freeforums.org/index.php
.....RVM45
That may very well be so, however there are also far more people too.....
And if something Wipes out three-fourths of Humanity--it may very well wipe out 75% of our horses too. A bad virus might only effect people--leaving a relative abundance of horses.
A nuclear conflict--and the subsequent radiation, could kill half of our horses--or more.
And a certain number of animals will have their caretakers die--and in all the confusion--their animals may starve to death before anyone comes looking. I think that a mare has to be three or four years old, before she's bred. They race three year olds in the Triple Crown--But those horses are not as tough as they would be at four, or five.
Point being--It takes a long time to increase the number of riding horses to any significant degree.
Some unprepared folks will eat their horses early on.
Now if anyone has read "Calderas"--one of the ways that they built de facto Survival Compounds, was for several families to form a Syndicate to own a reasonable size Dairy Farm jointly.
One of the Retreaters managed the farm; or they hired a professional to live there and farm it.....
But they maintained food storage and separate living accommodations for each family at the farm. This can be as simple as putting bunk beds and partitions into an old barn--or building several three-car sized concrete block buildings.....
at least they look like out-buildings, or garages from the outside.....
And every Garage has a basement--and there's tunnels linking the basements--and inside, they're pleasant little bungalows.
Anyway--a cow has to be bred every year, to keep her lactating. Some of the Female Calves are used as Dairy Cow Replacements; some are sold as Veal; most end up being killed as Heifers for beef.
The Bull Calves? A very few will be kept as herd sires, a few sold for Veal--Most castrated and slaughtered as feedlot Steers.
Okay, milk and protein is all well and good--especially after major SHTF.....
Your Dairy will definitely want to start making Cheese--lots of Cheese.
However, in a World without refrigeration, a typical Dairy will probably have more milk than they can easily process.
So what if your Dairy has refrigeration? Are people gonna walk five miles in the hot sun to pick up your milk--then walk it home--where they can only keep it a day, or two?
Anyway, that leaves some Cows, and a large number of Bull Calves and Heifer Calves to be turned into Draft Animals--pull plows, pull wagons, turn mills, and run pumps.....
And with the Proper Saddle, you can Ride Cows and Steers even Bulls can be ridden--not trying desperately to hang on for Eight Seconds--I mead "Ride".
Think about Writing Saddle Cattle into your PAW Fiction. Check out this Website--And tell them that RVM45 sent you!
ridingsteers.freeforums.org/index.php
.....RVM45
