Farm Animals of Spanish Farm Animals of Spanish Colonial TexasColonial Texas

Large Livestock (Ganado Large Livestock (Ganado Mayor)Mayor) Horses

Burros/Mules

Cattle

Oxen

HorsesHorses Uses

Increased speed of communication Carried food and other goods Ranchers used horses in the cattle drives and

on the range. Vaqueros could lasso cows from horseback

Horses were of mixed quality Not of the Andalusian bloodline like Spain was famous for

http://www.spanishhorses.net/Image/frontpage2.jpg

Burros/MulesBurros/Mules Burros – Donkeys Mules – Sterile offspring of male donkey

and female horse Both used as work animals

Pulled plows for farming and carried food and goods

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/2089023448_fa1130d6c3.jpg?v=0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juancito.jpg

CattleCattle Cattle was the main protein source of

Spanish settlers Introduced three different breeds

Ganado prieto – black Ganado retinto – reddish or tan Ganado barrenda – white with black markings

http://www.retinta.es/asociacion.htm

OxenOxen Oxen are castrated male bovines, usually

over four years of age, and trained as draught animals

They were used by settlers to pull plows and haul goods

Oxen can pull harder and longer and are more durable than horses

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ySgpx9ktqPs/Rw-eXcYKkNI/AAAAAAAABI8/J1bKJGN9KN8/IMG_1795.JPG

Small Animals (Ganado Small Animals (Ganado Menor)Menor) Sheep

Goats

Hogs

Dogs

SheepSheep Eaten for protein and sheared for wool to

make clothing Sheep could survive on poorer pastures

than cattle Churra was the breed introduced by the

Spanish Lean and hardy 60-80 lbs in weight Produced 1-2.5 lbs of

coarse wool

http://www.sheep101.info/breedsC.html

Goats Goats Eaten for protein

Chivos – Adult pastured goats Cabrito – kid goats, usually less than a month

old A delicacy favored over the adults

http://medioambiente.gov.ar/archivos/web/chaco/File/ChivosGr.jpg

http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave2/images/cabo/cabrito.jpg

HogsHogs “Razorback” Hogs introduced by Spanish

settlers Served as yet another food source, though

records indicate the number of hogs was fairly low

These hogs evolved into the feral pigs that now roam much of Texas

www.pbase.com/rod_ostoski/image/53397397

Dogs were one of the few domestic animals not introduced by the Europeans

Spanish settlers discovered the Plains Indians using dogs to pull loads on wooden polescalled travois

The Spanish later utilized domesticated dogs on the farm to herd other animals and to guard their flocks

DogsDogs

http://www.texasindians.com/horse.htm

Problems EncounteredProblems Encountered The Plains Indians valued Spanish horses

and cattle and often stole livestock from their farms.

Some livestock often became wild upon neglect from the farmers. The wild mustangs that once roamed the American west and many feral pigs can be traced back to Spanish roots.

Texas Longhorn CattleTexas Longhorn Cattle A hybrid breed resulting from Spanish retinto

stock and English cattle – 1800s Best known for their extremely long horns;

but also valued for their hardiness, hybrid vigor, and easy calving

Longhorn beef is much leaner and lower in fat than other beef cattle

Quickly became a symbol of Texas culture