In the Middle Ages a significant part of any property ownership consisted of livestock which included horses, goats, cattle and poultry. Horses were highly prized and very expensive because of the many uses that came with it, being able to ride as a means of quicker transportation on land and carry heavy loads, the greatest problem with horses is that once they were wounded, whether it be from war or being overworked, they were considered completely useless and their value was lowered considerably. Thus most commonfolk used donkeys or specialized sturdy horses and ponies when it came to their day-to-day work. Nobility however prized expensive horses and sought out the finer breeds, who were either stronger, larger or more beautiful to display their status and power.
Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture that involves caring for and raising animals for their meat, fiber, milk, eggs, skin or other products that could be taken from them, depending on the animal. Animal husbandry is the work of day-to-day supervision and management, as leaving animals unsupervised would most likely yield no intended results. Pigs in the Middle Ages were left by their own devices to forage in the woods all year round to feed on beechnuts and acorns, or whatever they could find and were much like wild boars, bearing little resemblance to the modern pigs.
Sheep were used for wool and were very common to keep as a serf, however the upper class also kept sheep for their cozy wool, though commonfolk also kept goats for milk and cheese. In the coldest of winters livestock were to be kept inside one's house, commonly in the same room with people to serve as a source of heat. In some occasions livestock were kept inside the same house their owners lived in to protect them from harsh winters, though it was not a common practice as some owners could keep them in barns if the situation demanded it. Usually, all cattle grazed freely on the meadows situated around villages as a general area.
Earlier version
From the old forum. Posted by theSerpent on 17 September 2018.
Animal Husbandry
In the Middle Ages a significant part of any property ownership consisted of livestock which included horses, goats, cattle and poultry. Horses were highly prized and very expensive because of the wonders that come with it, being able to ride, carry and also ride passenger of the wonderful animal, it creates a lot of variety and access to easy transport. This field of work also participates in providing for the King's military and in return total protection from invaders, however almost every serf in the Middle Ages would prefer to own a cow than a piece of arable land, so even some landless folk had access to food by way of milk.
Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture that involves caring for and raising animals for the sake of meat, fiber, milk, eggs and other products. Animal husbandry is the work of day-to-day supervision and management, otherwise things will no doubt fall apart. Pigs in the Medieval times were left to forage in the woods all year round to feed on beechnuts and acorns, Medieval pigs were much like wild boar and only had little relevancy with today's pink animals.
Sheep were used for wool and were very common to keep as a Serf, however the upper class also kept sheep for their cozy wool, the less unfortunate ones often keep goats for milk and cheese. In the coldest of winters livestock were to be kept inside one's house, commonly in the same room with people to serve as a source of heat. All cattle grazed freely on the meadows situated around villages as a general area.
It was not too common for dairy goods to be traded as every serf and peasant in the Capital had a cow or goat of their own for a source of consumption. Animals are a good resource, however, they're even a better resource used for dragging bigger farm equipment along the soil to produce a better outcome.