3/1/2021 | This resource was created by Ron Dziembowski, Lauren Salvatore, Von Scully, and Kate Reilly.
“Farming is the profession of hope”
– Brett Brian, Canadian Poet/Novelist
Duke Farms is known for many incredible sights - from the rumble of the Great Falls to the stillness of the abandoned Old Foundation. But one piece of the property has always been a bit of a mystery to our visitors: the actual farm!
Although it encompasses significant acreage, the research and day-to-day work of the Agroecology Department mostly takes place in less visible areas that are not publicly accessible. These operations contribute to the overall Duke Farms mission and we invite you to learn more through these regularly occurring posts.
What is one of the most popular farm animals around? Did you think of cows? Cattle have been an important part of human society since the dawn of time, and to this day, we continue this relationship by keeping them as one of the most common farm residents. Second only to dogs, cows are most likely the oldest species to be truly domesticated by humans - this process started in the Upper Paleolithic. The "first cattle" were actually wild oxen or aurochs, which were wild and much larger than modern cattle, without many of the traits valued today, like docility. Learn more about the wild ride of how cattle were domesticated and how they are used on-site at Duke Farms today.