Page 27 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 2 7

We must also distinguish our modern idea of “functional breeds” from the landraces that
have developed over a long period of time, which have either been specifically degraded
to a “meat breed” or to a “dairy breed” as in the case of cattle, for example. Or, as with the
chicken, which consists only of the chicken breast with two feet underneath. The male
animals do not grow this giant breast to the desired extent and are therefore eliminated
right from the start “because it is not economically worthwhile”. These are all phenomena
of industrial society that did not exist before Darwin, i.e. since about the middle of the

19th century. Perhaps these breeding goals of selection only existed much later, namely
from the time after the Second World War, i.e. since the middle of the 20th century?

We must remember that until well into the 20th century, domestic animals lived in the
middle of villages and towns with people. It was not until the beginning of the 20th

century that efforts were made to banish farm animals to the countryside and to
hermetically seal stables.

In Germany, the industrialisation of “functional animals” only began in the 1970s. In the
past, the farmer used to say, “The cattle first!” - and by that he meant that the animals
were to be cared for first and only then the people. This way of life based on partnership,
indeed this alliance between humans and animals, was broken up and an “industry” with

economic interests was installed. The domestic animal was transformed from a personal
co-worker into a farm animal and a commodity.

Milkman Joseph Wirtz 1975 in Düsseldorf Eller with horse Hans
with permission © Stadtarchiv Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf