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Once endemic across the deep South, Pineywoods (aka "Woods" or "Rakestraw") cattle are a land-race breed closely related to other “criollo" cattle such as the Florida Cracker and Texas Longhorn. Classified as a land-race, most are direct descendants of the original stock brought to America by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. Fences were scarce and resources slim, so back then Pineywoods were largely left to their own devices and allowed to roam the long-leaf pine wildernesses of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana. During their time in the woods, the more docile cattle served as milk cows and draft oxen, while feral herds served as self-sufficient beef cattle that were rounded up periodically for sale. Despite heavy disease pressure and grazing mostly coniferous silvo-pasture, Pineywoods thrived. Over 300 years of natural selection in this unforgiving subtropical environment permitted survival of only the fittest, sculpting Pineywoods into a resilient and prolific breed with unrivaled ability to thrive in the humid southeast (a region that decimated herds of modern beef breeds prior to modern veterinary medicine).
Despite centuries of feral existence Pineywoods are surprisingly docile, making them ideal homestead cattle. Before vaccinations, antibiotics, and antiparasitics allowed modern "improved" breeds to sweep the market, Pineywoods were a common sight on southern farms serving as beef cattle, milk cows, and draft oxen. They still serve those purposes well, but are far less common today in part due to the industrialization of agriculture and the popularity of modern "improved" beef breeds. In fact, it wasn't long ago that Pineywoods were on the brink of extinction, but thanks to heroic efforts by the Livestock Conservancy and many small farm families this historic breed is now well on its way to recovery.
As a land-race heritage breed that thrives under low-input management systems, Pineywoods a natural fit here at Grateful Akers. We've started our breeding program with cattle from various family strains, but our long term plan is to focus on Conway and Griffin breeding stock in conjunction with composite grass-fed beef production.
More information coming soon, but for now check out these other websites to learn more:
A deep South classic. Conway cattle are among the most plentiful when it comes to Pineywoods strains, and for good reason: they are beefy, beautiful, easy keepers
A French twist on the traditional Pineywood. Nearly lost to history, this rare strain is slowly recovering from the brink of extinction through careful rescue breeding programs
Pure Pineywoods, but a mix of family strains. Combining strains of Woods cattle has produced some of the prettiest and most vigorous cattle you've ever seen
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