05/25/2023
It is International Heritage Breeds Week, sponsored by the The Livestock Conservancy, which works to preserve various breeds of livestock that would have been found on small farms before large scale agriculture became commonplace. Florida has several breeds of livestock that were bred for their ability to survive well in our hot and humid climate. Florida Cracker Horses, Florida Cracker Sheep, and Florida Cracker Cattle can all trace their ancestry to Spanish breeds that were brought to Florida in the 1500s.
Florida Cracker Horses –They are a small saddle horse and helped early Florida cowmen to herd and drive the free roaming cracker cattle. Thanks to the dedication of a few families, this breed still continues to this day through the work of the Florida Cracker Horse Association.
Florida Cracker Sheep – For centuries they free-ranged in pastures, palmettos and pineywoods until the end of open range in 1949. They are a smaller sheep with an average weight range of 90-180 pounds. They have a strong parasite resistance, heat tolerance, and high lamb survivability. They can be raised for both meat and wool and thanks to the Florida Cracker Sheep Association there has been renewed interest in the breed.
Florida Cracker Cattle – This well-known breed was largely shaped by natural selection and became the heat-tolerant, parasite and disease resistant breed that has excellent productivity on the rough pasture and swamp forage found in Florida. Smaller than average, these cattle can be raised for both meat, milk, and can even be used as oxen. The State of Florida as well as the Florida Cracker Cattle Association has been a leader in the conservation and promotion of the breed with herds maintained in several state parks and forests.
