The Tennessee settlers who crossed the mountains
from North Carolina brought with them mules, horses, cattle, sheep, swine, turkeys,
chickens, guineas. Their homestead were "open" farms where some animals were close
underfoot and others ranged freely in the woods. In time, the trees were felled
and split and rail fences were built to enclose gardens and pastures. The array
of livestock initially served domestic needs. Although surplus animals were bought
or traded, large herds for commercial purposes were not maintained until around
the 1820's. In the 1820's we begin to see throughout Middle Tennessee and lower
central Kentucky the appearance of a livestock market industry keyed upon hogs,
mules, and sheep. These animals adapted well to the rolling hill country of Middle
Tennessee and the characteristic field and edge patterns of the river valley hills
is an echo of that livestock industry from more than a hundred and fifty years
ago.
Today the Tennessee herds are smaller and more specialized. The primary industrial production areas for swine have shifted first to the mid-west and more recently eastward toward North Carolina. Cattle production shifted westward from Tennessee as did mule and sheep farming. The typical farm animals now seen in Franklin County are cattle--both beef and dairy. Less seen, but also important are swine. Both cattle and swine leave characteristic environmental signatures on the land. The places they are farmed can usually be quickly identified even if no animals are currently in the fields. The great body weight of the cattle causes them to break down the banks and edges of streams wherever they pasture. A drive through the county and close observation of the streamcourses will reveal many heavily damaged streams where cattle are allowed to water directly in the stream. The signature of swine is often a bog or swamp turned into a mudhole, but what most people encounter as the characteristic signature is the downwind scent of the hog farm. In addition, if large numbers of hogs are kept, the areas where they bed or feed are virtually bare of any vegetation. Bare soil in the barnyard is a sure sign of hogs.
Sampler: domestic livestock and associated farm areas Sampler: exotic livestock in Franklin County previous/next