Barn & Soul Podcast: Episode 9 - The Role of Farm Animals in Human History, Are We Forgetting It?
🎙️ Barn & Soul – Where farming meets heart, history, and a mission to preserve the past for a more sustainable future. Episode 9 - The Role of Farm Animals in Human History, Are We Forgetting It?
For thousands of years, animals weren't just companions—they were our partners in survival. But as technology surged forward, did we lose sight of the role they played?
In this episode, we explore:
🔹 Oxen, plows, and power — how draft animals revolutionized early agriculture
🔹 Chickens in war zones?! — the surprising military history of poultry
🔹 Spiritual symbolism — pigs, goats, and sheep in ancient cultures
🔹 How rare heritage breeds preserve our past
🔹 Real-life stories from our own animals at Dalby Farm, including:
🐐 Arapawa Island Goats — island survivalists with a wild legacy
🐖 Ossabaw Island Hogs — descended from Spanish explorer pigs
🐇 American Blue & Chinchilla Rabbits — bred for utility, now endangered
🐓 Australorp Chickens — record-setting egg layers with Australian roots
🦃 Royal Palm Turkeys — prized for their beauty and calm nature
🐑 Shetland Sheep — tough, tiny sheep with a Scottish soul
We also talk about why teaching the next generation about rare breeds matters more than ever—because a compassionate future starts with understanding the past 🧡
🎙️ Whether you're a fellow farm soul or just curious about the hidden history behind the animals we love, this one's for you.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a question for a future episode!
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📚 References & Sources:
🔹 Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand – Arapawa Island Goat
https://www.rarebreeds.co.nz/arapawa.html
🔹 The Livestock Conservancy – Arapawa Goat
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/arapawa-goat/
🔹 University of Georgia Marine Institute – Ossabaw Island
https://ugami.uga.edu/ossabaw-island/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Ossabaw Island Hog
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/ossabaw-island-hog/
🔹American Rabbit Breeders Association
https://arba.net/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – American Blue Rabbit
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/american-blue-rabbit/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – American Chinchilla Rabbit
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/american-chinchilla-rabbit/
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Australorp
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/australorp/
🔹Oklahoma State University Breeds Archive – Royal Palm Turkey
https://breeds.okstate.edu/poultry/turkeys/royal-palm/index.html
🔹The Livestock Conservancy – Royal Palm Turkey
https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/royal-palm-turkey/
🔹Shetland Sheep Society (UK)
https://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/
🔹North American Shetland Sheep Association
https://www.nassasheep.org/
FAO DAD-IS Breed Database
https://www.fao.org/dad-is/
🔹 Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Animals as Domesticates: A World View. University of California Press, 2012.
🔹Serpell, James. The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
🔹 McNeill, J.R. & McNeill, William H. The Human Web: A Bird's-Eye View of World History. W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
🔹 Smithsonian Magazine – “How Animals Have Shaped Human History”
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/
🔹 National WWII Museum – “Animals in War”
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/animals-war
Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-🔹 Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books, 2005.
🔹Children & Nature Network
https://www.childrenandnature.org/
🔹National Wildlife Federation – “Why Kids Need Nature”
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Understanding-Conservation/Why-Kids-Need-Nature
🔔 Subscribe for more farm life insights, rare breed conservation, and the behind-the-scenes of running a small farm! Remember, all the animals on our farm our PETS! They live out their days as educational ambassadors to our community far & wide! Please follow us here on Youtube!
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