Cows gave birth to calves without assistance and illness was rare. Lineback cattle is a rare American breed that originated between the 18th and 19th centuries. Also clouding the issue was the inference that Lineback was a definition of the Randall breed when in fact their color pattern was only one characteristic of an otherwise distinct and unique breed., Randall LinebacksRandall Lineback Breed Association breeders call their cattle Linebacks because thats what the Randall family called them. These cattle still know how to be cows in an efficient, functional and effective way. They are perfectly suited forare in fact made to befamily cows or milk cows on small, grass-based dairy farms., And what, we ask, can we do to help this rarest of heritage breeds survive? . 1 talking about this. They spend between 6-11 hours per day grazing in large grasslands. Randall Lineback Cattle are an all-purpose breed, meaning they originally served as dairy, meat, and draft animals.Want to see more like this? Classification Apps Due 2023 Chapel Hill Farm Randall Linebacks Powered by Shopify. The Lineback is also commonly kept as a productive pet. Through intensive breeding and meticulous management,Chapel Hill's herd now numbers over 300 cows and calves and represents over 70% of all the Randall Linebacks in the worlda remarkable story of survival! Classification is the means of measuring how close an animal comes to the ideal. Cows gave birth to calves without assistance and illness was rare. To cut the matter short, the increasing herd was so continuously bred, through the succeeding twentyfive years until now, 1882, to bulls of the same family descent no outside cross intervening some hundreds in number, many of which have been sold and dispersed in different counties of New York and other States, among dairymen. Samuel & Everett Randalls Herd, 1912 - 1985. The Lynch Lineback is a critically endangered landrace breed of cattle that was developed here in Canada, and is supported by Rare Breeds. December 1, 2021, American Lineback Cattle Registry - 2019,2020 Questions or comments, please contact us at: alcr@americanlinebacks.net, KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, AR, MO, OK, TX, CA, NV, AZ, NM, WA, OR, MT, WY, ID, UT, CO. American Lineback Cattle Registry - 2019,2020 Questions or comments, please contact us at: The five major breakdowns have a numerical score range from 50 to 99 points and are weighted as follows to determine the final score. 65 - 74 Fair. In the BeginningDuring the early- to mid-1600s, the ancestors of todays Randall Linebacks arrived on our Eastern coast aboard sailing ships from points throughout Europe. The population is not even half as much as it was a century ago. The history of this breed is the history of America, reaching back almost four hundred years into the dawn of New England. They excel in their original New England climate, as well as temperatures across the U.S.A. and Canada. The prevailing color pattern of this breed is the color sided one and this is usually black, although red, blues and pure whites with black points are acceptable and not uncommon. As a breeding tool, the breeder can look at the linear scores to see where his cow needs improvement and select matings accordingly. Bearded Dragon Quiz How Much Do You Know? The history of this breed is the history of America, reaching back almost four hundred years into the dawn of New England. The only way to save the Randall Linebacks is to find them a job. The Lineback cattle breed is named for the white line that runs down their back. Cynthia Saves the RandallsThen fortune smiled upon the breed. It should also be noted that Lineback refers not only to a breed but also to appearance. They are good mothers and can sometimes be fiercely protective of their calves. The story of the traditional Lineback is essentially the story of the American melting pot. Though initially bred as a dual-purpose cow (milk and meat), at some point, farmers began to specialize the Lineback for dairy production. Says Randall Lineback Breed Association President, Joe Henderson, Its a name that has served the breed well for a century.. These cattle are a living . The Lineback is a rare breed originating from America, in the 18 th and 19 th Century the Lineback was a dual-purpose animal, fulfilling the owners needs for both milk and meat. Efforts are being made to maintain and preserve the breed, though. The plight of the open pollinated seed variety or the unspecialized livestock breed is one with the small independent farmer. A somewhat opposite effect is occasionally found in Jerseys where a very dark, almost black, coat is accompanied by a gold stripe down the back. Learn about the Randall Lineback Breed Association, our history, mission, and why we do what we do. and Bulls 1000-1800 lbs. Efforts are in place to breed them and save this heritage breed, but their fertility issues are making it difficult to improve their numbers. Today there are several thousand Lineback dairy cows in the United States, some of them essentially Holsteins, some from Milking Shorthorn or other backgrounds and some quite unique. They good milkers with an average milk yield of 7-10 liters per day. The lined backs and white bellies, with black legs are striking characterisitics in their color, different from any other breeds in our country, and of an ancient stock. The Lineback breed is in between Holsteins and Jerseys for milk and components. The herd grew. 800 Pleasant Street In addition there are more than 200 Randalls. During these times there was an increase in importation of European and British breeds such as the Witrick, Gloucester and Welsh cattle. . Purebred Border Collies vary in size, type and coat length because theyve been selected for practical herding ability, not to meet a set of show-ring criteria. When Everett Randall died in 1985, the herd he and his father created was comprised of the last surviving landrace cattle in New England. Randall Linebacks are beautiful creatures, he tells us, smiling. CA, NV, AZ, NM, WA, OR, MT, WY, ID, UT, CO Although their exact origin is unknown, they likely first originated in the Unites States around the time of American Independence. See Also:15 Black and White Cow Breeds (With Pictures). When, at the close of the nineteenth century a breed society was organized, they arbitrarily decided that black would be the accepted color. Classification Apps Due Classification is performed by a small group of well-trained individuals who meet on a regular basis to ensure the quality and uniformity of the program. During these times there was an increase in importation of European and British breeds such as the Witrick, Gloucester and Welsh cattle. Their first stop was Chapel Hill Farm in Berryville, Va. They are a vital piece of living American agricultural history, animals whose like cannot and will never again be found in our agricultural landscape. Small-scale Peasant Farming in Transylvania. Phone: 608-365-4474 Check out our . This breed is also a hardy one, known for its longevity and durability. Perhaps the white dorsal line on our modern breeds has the same origin, accompanied by a genetic predisposition for white. Classification Apps Due You can unsubscribe at any time. This is the most critically endangered breed of cattle on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancys Watch List. Due to the breed's rarity, alterations such as red Lineback and cattle with a heavily speckled pelt rather than a unique stripe occur on occasion. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Bulls are especially unpredictable. Lineback Cattle breed has a docile temperament. By 1985, the Randall Lineback herd had dwindled to just a handful of animals. Consider the Border Collie, a landrace breed of working dogs developed in Scotland to herd sheep. The late Everett Randal had been breeding his own strain of authentic old time Linebacks from stock inherited from his father. Their main predator is humans. It is easy to spot lineback cattle due to the thick white line going down their back. agrarian@smallfarmersjournal.com Classification information has two primary purposes, breeding and marketing. In Europe this animal is a less specialized type leaning more toward a dual purpose type as indeed it formerly was. The disposition of these animals is friendly. Normally the Gloucester does not have the garters. I have been a freelance writer for the past 2 years. In addition, scavenger birds such as vultures also feed on dead lineback cattle. Today we occasionally see a Shorthorn with the Longhorns characteristic pattern. Because the Randall Linebacks have not been altered to fit industrial beef standards, their meat is free of heavy intermuscular fat, providing a fine-grained, ruby-red meat with a bright, rich, clean flavor. (Reprinted from American Cattle by Lewis F. Allen, New York: Orange Judd, 1890). When we think of cattle, we often think about the more popular breeds, like Herefords or Jerseys. [see below ed.] Undoubtedly, they owe their existence to all of the above mentioned antecedents. Randall Linebacks are medium-sized, horned cattle. Featured Image Credit: Randall Bull Andy (Image Credit: CTPhil Wikimedia Commons CC0 1.0). She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' know. Fortunately, the Randall family of Sunderland Vermont kept a closed herd of Linebacks from 1912 until 1985. The Witrick pattern, in which the cattle have striped or dark sides, a black nose, eyes, and ears, is one of two named patterns. This unique breed is rarer and can be more challenging to find than others. Lineback cattle are a distinct breed with a broad white line extending down their back. Photo and info from Wikipedia. In the early days there was no Randall authority, just Cynthia, who owned most of the animals, and ALBC represented by Phil Sponenberg who was supplying breeding advice for her fledgling herd. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. October 1, 2021, January Females guard their eggs for up to 3 months. Monitoring weight gains is only part of the picture; every Chapel Hill Randall Lineback is given a qualitative conformation rating of one to five. Bulls of this rare breed often outlive the heifers. But of the scores of landrace cattle breeds developed during her early history, only a few remain: Pineywoods and Florida Cracker cattle descended from colonial Spanish stock, and New Englands hardy Randall Lineback. The original cow was deep red on her sides, with white line on her back and under the belly. IN, MI, OH, WV Each dairy breed has established breed standards for type. However, that means if youd like one of your own, you may have trouble finding one. This disregarded the existence of native Welsh cattle of a variety of colors. The cow was next served by her Holderness bull calf, then a yearling of vigorous growth, and that produce was a heifer. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species. The Gloucester will be black on its head, legs, and sides but will be white around the top of the legs, belly, and line on the back. The Lineback has a very beautiful coat, it is generally black on the sides with a white line . Very few of the Randalls were actually blue, (and the word blue evoked unintended connections to the unrelated Belgian Blue breed), and the word lineback created almost universal associations with the American Lineback and other lineback patterned breeds. 34.1 Oz. A conclusion can begin to be drawn from the above discussion and that is that cattle of both the lineback and color sided patterns occur throughout the world in many places and are imposed on a variety of dairy types and breeds. These ranged from a pair of steers for pulling, to a yeung bull, a bull calf, two cows and four heifers. Cows weigh 600-1100 lbs. Use the search! Do Ferrets Need Vaccination Shots? Randall cattle have a "Colour-sided" lineback pattern, black markings on a white base . If youve never heard of Randall cattle, this guide will tell you everything that you need to know. Lineback Dairy Cattle, also recognized as Witrick, is a dual-purpose breed of cattle descended from the Holstein breed and closely related to Randall cattle. 1976 - 2023 Their meat and dairy production are suitable enough for self-sustained farming, even if it doesnt match the level of other breeds with higher yields. We have kept meticulous genetic records over the years and know the history of each and every one of our animals. Recently a society has been formed to register and encourage these animals. The baby of a lineback is known as a calf. (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023). When a year old she was bred to the same bull, her own sire, who was again bred to his mother. Currently endangered, this cattle breeds main threat is cross-breeding. Pet Keen is reader-supported. The amount of brockling varied; colors included black, blue or occasionally red. In 1994, Creech sold two heifersthe first she felt ready to part withto Dianne and Phil Lang of South Kent, Conn., who already owned three Randalls and dreamed of establishing an organic dairy operation with the breed (which they have now done). 2023 Chapel Hill Farm Randall Linebacks. This created a genetic time capsule and saved the breed from extinction. They exemplify the innate traits of cattle raised on native New England subsistence farms. January 1, 2021, April Dutch breeders have created other breeds from their basic gene pool and one of these is called the Witrik or Witrug, which in Dutch means Lineback. Many farmers incorporate nutritious grains in their diet. Linebackers first originated in America when English and Hollanders arrived in the country in the 17th-18th century. This article appeared in the Winter 1986 SFJ, shortly after the formation of the American Lineback Cattle Registry. Classification Applications are due 60 days prior to the start of classification in that area. My Lineback #521 (pic below as a calf) weighed under 1000lbs and her first calve weighed 100lbs. Although these cattle can be used for dairy, meat, and draft purposes, their low yield makes them unpopular for mass-production purposes. Uses The Randall cattle have historically been used as a dairy cattle breed. Unfortunately, that person has now decided to sell the herd and the future is uncertain. September 1, 2021, December PO Box 1627 Sisters, Oregon 97759 Landrace refers to a race of plant or animal developed in a specific locale and ideally suited for the environment where it lives. The cows have strong maternal instincts and dont often have issues with calving. The colostrum provides the calf with the antibodies it needs to fight infection. They are average-sized cattle, and their overall build makes them good draught animals. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy(919) 542-5704www.albc-usa.org/, Randall Cattle Registry and Breed Associationwww.randallcattleregistry.org/phil@randallcattleregistry.org, Randall Lineback Breed Associationwww.randalllineback.com/info@randallineback.com, Cynthias Randall Cattle Pageswww.cynthiasrandallcattle.com/, Randall Linebacks at the Chapel Hill Farmwww.randalllineback.org/, Randall Lineback Cattlewww.randall-linebacks.org/www.hamiltonrarebreeds.org/www.merckforest.org/. Search our database of over 12264 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. In Holland as in much of the world the dominant breed is the black and white Fresian or Holstein. Lineback cattle can be good for small-scale farming due to the ease of keeping them, as they do well with free-stall housing and grazing. December 1, 2020, March Lineback cattle are currently critically endangered. 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