what's your vote for the best permaculture animals?

Re: what's your vote for the best permaculture animals?

start with a few chooks then goats.

 

Re: what's your vote for the best permaculture animals?

We are trying to decide on a grazing animal (we are outside Lismore: 50 acres of paddock other than our woodlot, cabinet timbers, orchard, vegies and house!) so need an easy to handle beastie that is easy to care for organically! We have paddocks fenced off to graze sustainably. Some lower paddocks are wet in summer (potential for liver fluke, foot rot?) and plenty of dew on grass in summer (ie damp - not good for goats me thinks?). Any bright ideas out there?
cheers
Doryanthes

 

Re: what's your vote for the best permaculture animals?

i would say that a cow is the most valuable. that is why they are sacred in india, because they are so valuable that to kill them is considered like killing ones mother.

their dung is used as fuel in the form of biomass and methane, used to clean pots and pans and to make really nice floors. medicinally it draws toxins from the organs when used as a poultice, enhancing/enhanced by herbs. the ash is used as/in tooth paste/powder. it is used to heal wounds, rashes and other skin disorders, and makes pretty nice footware in the hot sun or wilderness. agriculturally it is of course known to be effective...

the urine is also adding nutrients, is also used medicinally for many purposes, internally and externally. skin disorders, eye disorders- im not sure what else you could use it for...

bulls will supply power to transportation, milling operations, power generators, etc.

cow's give milk, which can be made into a wide variety of food products.

leather can be collected from the animal at the time of death, the meat consumed by various animals, bones utilized i suppose in various ways, horns, etc*

this is all i have got for you, but it is in no way complete.



*see native peaple's