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Friend and Foe and Life on a Farm
by Tom Frantzen
To fill our desire for farm fresh eggs, we purchase laying pullets. Our last group was a set of Black Australorp birds and their beautiful feathers gave as much enjoyment as the eggs provided. This nearly came to an end when our flock of twelve was slowly decimated by some unknown virus that left just the rooster and two hens. I was distressed at the loss of the birds and I did not have the desire to kill off the remaining poultry. Black Australorps are quite an enjoyable sight. I must admit to being somewhat of a coward here as I took the easy option (I thought it was at the time) and opened the door of the small, but well constructed shed that housed the chickens and let out farm English Collie charge in to find the “prey.” I made no effort to prevent the terrified birds from fleeing their home through the open door. Out into the farmyard the three flew with the Collie (Samantha) in hot pursuit! I thought that the natural process of predator and prey would be over within a few minutes and the combination of feathers and squawking reinforced my opinions. However, the terrified trio, in a desperate attempt to avoid becoming dinner for the Collie, fled through the cattle gate and into the cow yard. Now, the calves came over to see these new visitors and for a few minutes chased the chickens, but not with the speed of our dog. The calves quickly tired of this and soon the poultry trio could stop their flight. Gazing with great interest, but at a distance, was Samantha. Her drive to eat chicken came to an abrupt end as it entailed following them into the cow yard. She is afraid of the bovines!
A year has passed and the three have managed to live quite a fine poultry life in their new home. If they transgress outside the cow yard, the dog now escorts them back. Samantha thinks that the chickens belong with the cows! Each time that I observe this relationship, I think of the many interactions between living beings. I am the predator of the cattle, yet I care for them each day. Samantha is a predator of many creatures, and she still considers having fresh poultry but other meals will do. The chickens are prey to many creatures, but they are also predators to insects and mice. The cattle are prey to some creatures, yet they have a great place on the farm as their diet of forages help keep the land covered in grasses. At times, the rooster rides on the back of some lucky calf where both warmth and a possible meal are provided. Picking through cattle waste is a natural activity for the poultry. The dog would never consider such activity. The chickens had learned to stay away from the nearby pigpen, as I had to rescue them form those porkers that would gang up and make them a fast meal, feathers and all!
I wonder about the unseen characters involved in this farm drama. What kind of relationship exists with the disease species that prey upon the livestock? I will bet that there is a lot left to discover and that these findings will propel us forward in our journey to develop sustainable agriculture.
Note: If you are interested in the subject of succession and the development of stable biological communities, you may find Allen Savory’s book Holistic Management of interest. Another excellent book is Guns and Germs and Steel by Jarod Diamond. That million copy bestseller has entire chapters on the role of domesticated livestock and human society.
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