Meet a couple of critters who are members of a cattle breed known as the Randall Lineback. The medium sized Randall is smart, tough, and a true subsistence-farm-type cow. In addition to providing milk that makes a mean cheddar cheese, the breed is noted for its striking “colorsided lineback” pattern characterized by a white stripe down the back, dark sides, and dark eyes, muzzle and feet.

This old New England breed dates back to early colonial times, and when cannons needed to be taken to Fort Ticonderoga to win the War of Independence, it was Randall Lineback Cattle that got them there. Sadly, Randalls suffered a decline through the 1900s, and when the the last known herdsman with the old Lineback breed died, his remaining cattle were slated for slaughter because the family wasn’t interested in keeping the breed going. Quite literally, a dozen of the animals were saved at the slaughterhouse door. Farmers dedicated to conserving this historically important breed helped put the breed on better footing, and today, there are several breeders and a headcount of over 500 animals.

The Randall nearly became an example of “domestic extinction.” According to World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity, about 1,000 breeds have already been lost in the past 100 years, and one third of current farm animal breeds face extinction. We’re not sharing the Randall Lineback’s story to raise concern for farm animal breeds (though it can’t hurt). We’re sharing it because domestic extinction also threatens some of our dog breeds (Skye Terriers and Dandie Dinmonts are outnumbered by Panda Bears, and only 800 or so Otterhounds exist in the world).

Dr. Phillip Sponenberg, professor of pathology and genetics at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, profiles the issue of domestic extinction in a two minute interview you can hear here, but we underscore part of what he says: “…domesticated animals reflect their history of partnership with human owners for specific purposes, whether wool from sheep, milk from cows, companionship from dogs, or a host of other uses over millennia that have stood between humans and starvation. As breeds become extinct, so too does that rich history and relationship.”

Raising the alarm is why we created National Purebred Dog Day.

Image of Randall Lineback cattle found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.