Norwegian hay making. By Anne Jorunn Frøyen, Jærmuseet Livestock played a major role in Norwegian food production. Although animals on farms along the coast might have some access to pasture all year, animals were totally dependent on forage gathered for winter. Forage materials were harvested in settled, cultivated hay fields as well as unsettled, wilderness… Continue reading Heap the hay
Cradur
The History of Hay and Fodder Harvesting
– How it used to be in former times by Otto Riesinger Prenotation: “How it used to be in former times” is a series of articles written by Otto Riesinger and published in the half yearly publication of HLTOE society over several years. Most of the content is derived from Otto’s personal experience of decades… Continue reading The History of Hay and Fodder Harvesting
A 100-year-old find – witness to a turbulent time in figures
Hyperinflation – based on the original handwritten budget book in German by Xaver Haslinger. Author: Albert Kühnstetter (ÖLM) with the support of Hans Ziegler. Preliminary remarks About two years ago I was approached by Hans Ziegler, a farmer and friend from the Rotthalmünster area in Lower Bavaria. It was triggered by the discussion about inflation,… Continue reading A 100-year-old find – witness to a turbulent time in figures
Ox Ploughing at the National Agricultural Museum of Korea (NAMUK)
We recently held a cultural event on May 14th, demonstrating traditional Korean farming practices through a live oxen ploughing performance at our museum’s outdoor terraced fields. This event not only showcased the ‘Gyeori farming culture’ but also featured a hands-on rice planting experience with over 200 students from a nearby elementary school, emphasizing the importance… Continue reading Ox Ploughing at the National Agricultural Museum of Korea (NAMUK)
From Farm to Fork
An agro-industrial complex in the Eure departement, France, in the early 20th century. These Salers cattle belong to the Nassandres agro-industrial complex, made up of a sugar beet factory-distillery (in the Risle valley, between the Seine and the Eure) and six farms (Chrétienville, Les Rufflets, Bigards, Feuguerolles, Beauficel , Beaumontel), very close to the factory, representing… Continue reading From Farm to Fork
Ploughing With Oxen
The main theme of the picture is ploughing with oxen. The composition of the image is conceived diagonally. In the foreground, three pairs of oxen are laboriously pulling a plough. Behind them you can see two figures of peasants in caps, one of whom is driving the oxen with a whip and the other steering… Continue reading Ploughing With Oxen
Working Reindeer in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi
The Sámi are the indigenous peoples of Sápmi, a region stretching over the northern parts of Scandinavia (i.e. Finland, Sweden and Norway) and parts of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Reindeer herding is one of their traditional livelihoods. Reindeer as cultural heritage Sámi cultural heritage relies to a large extent on the reindeer. The hunting-… Continue reading Working Reindeer in Sápmi, the Land of the Sámi
The Animal Power Behind the Vallus at Malagne
– Capucine, a jenny without equal, at Malagne, the ArcheoPark of Rochefort (Belgium). In the heart of the Rochefort countryside in the Province of Namur in Belgium, there is a little gem of nature and heritage interwoven: the site of the Malagne Gallo-Roman Villa, nestled in a green setting, where our visitors discover the remains and… Continue reading The Animal Power Behind the Vallus at Malagne
A Visit From The Veterinarian
In 1880, when cattle were commonly part of communities, most people seeing this image would probably have understood the story it tells. Today, since few people have exposure to cattle in any way, the details of the scene are easy to overlook without a little interpretation. There are two cattle in the picture, and one… Continue reading A Visit From The Veterinarian
The Political Symbolism of the Triple Yoke in Castile in the 15th-16th Century
Many agricultural implements have been elevated to the status of symbols, either as representatives of a social class or, as with a special type of yoke, as a symbol of an idea of political domination. Ferdinand II of Aragon (reign 1472-1516) chose a yoke for three animals as his personal emblem and, although it appeared… Continue reading The Political Symbolism of the Triple Yoke in Castile in the 15th-16th Century
The Most Historic Chicken You Never Heard Of
The Crèvecoeur chicken is among the oldest of the standard-bred fowls of France and the longest known French breed in the United Kingdom. The breed gets its name from the village of Crèvecœur en Auge in Normandy, France. “Crève Cœur” translates literally as “broken heart.” Editor’s Note: Jeannette is a connaisseur of the Crèvecoeur chicken… Continue reading The Most Historic Chicken You Never Heard Of
What a Difference a Decade Can Make
How bulls are getting shorter. When I started my role as the Director of the Canada Agriculture Museum (since renamed) in 2009, the definitive “rock star” in our bovine herd was Goody – a massive Hereford Bull. He was a mild-mannered giant that quietly amazed visitors with his impressive size in all aspects. Standing beside… Continue reading What a Difference a Decade Can Make
Childcare on Farms in the First Half of the 20th Century
Until the middle of the 20th century, children were an integral part of the farming economy from an early age. Their care by adults (parents, family members, farm labourers) and their learning and work were closely interlinked and could hardly be separated from each other in everyday life. The animals working on the farms, especially… Continue reading Childcare on Farms in the First Half of the 20th Century
A Hames Inquiry: Location? The Clues are in the Images
After nearly 70 years of “playing” with working horse material and non-material culture especially from the UK and Ireland, I like to think that I am reasonably experienced in identifying where photographs without a given provenance have been taken. For example, in the following photograph. The above photograph shows a three-horse team drawing a Ransomes… Continue reading A Hames Inquiry: Location? The Clues are in the Images
Dairy processes on a micro-farm in 21st-century Pennsylvania
For the past 40 years or so, a “house cow” has been a valued part of our family. We have had a series of seven cows of different breeds, including two Jerseys, three milking shorthorns, a shorthorn/ Holstein cross, and our current cow: a Jersey/ brown Swiss cross. Thanks to these marvelous animals, our family… Continue reading Dairy processes on a micro-farm in 21st-century Pennsylvania