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Modoc Country Living - Raising Thoroughbred Livestock
Raising thoroughbred livestock like the alpaca, Hereford cattle, palomino horses and other large livestock is one of the more obvious methods of enjoying Modoc Country Living! If you love animals and enjoy peace and quiet in a rural environment, country living is for you.
Thoroughbred livestock generally refers to larger animals whose breeding is controlled in order to maintain certain favorable characteristics. Although the term livestock can be defined narrowly or broadly, and can include different animals in different cultures around the world. In the United States livestock usually refers to domesticated animals raised on a farm or ranch either for subsistence or profit by sale, breeding or show. 
Common types of animals included as livestock include cattle, horses, alpaca, sheep, llama, hogs and goats. Selective breeding can be used to maintain purity of a particular bloodline such as is found in certain lines of racehorses. It can also be used to practice artificial selection of certain traits, or combinations of traits, over others. Polled Hereford cattle have had the ability to grow horns bred out of the strain. As horns on cattle are capable of damaging other herd members, Polled Herefords are an example of beneficial artificial selective breeding. Therefore, thoroughbred livestock are animals that are bred to maintain certain favorable traits throughout the strain.
Some folks relocating to the country dive into raising livestock as a full-time for-profit business. This requires a sizeable investment both in money and time. Also, it usually takes a long time, often many years before an appreciable return on that investment is seen. Many people, however, are satisfied to combine semi or full retirement with their love of a certain breed of animal as a hobby they hope may make enough money to pay the overhead. These folks are the typical hobby farmers. Whether you're raising thoroughbreds for fun or for profit, a farm or ranch in the country is the only place you can do it effectively. Whether raising prize-winning polled Herefords or non-registered alpacas, the country environment offers more freedom, less congestion and adequate distance from friendly neighbors to raise your livestock.
More Thoroughbred Livestock - Alpacas
More Thoroughbreds - Hereford Cattle
More Thoroughbreds - Palomino Horses
More Modoc Country Living...
Modoc Country Living - Hobby Farm
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