EnviroLink Forum

Here's a curious angle:

What about horses vs tractors?

Ok, we'd need big horses and they'd take up major space on the colony-ship. But it's still a interesting(to me, anyway) match-up.

TRACTORS:
Varying degrees of pollution: with electric keeping it to the lowest level.

Probably less 'weather dependant' then horses.

probably not a lot of local predators going to try to eat them.


HORSES:
Will have to be fed--not a show-stopper but a consideration.

While in-transit to Zeta; will require more space and care then a tractor. I have misgivings about keeping such mighty critters confined for weeks. Granted, way back when they crossed the ocean with horsies as cargo, but still....

Are capable of producing a usable 'green'product....manure.

#1 advantage over tractors.......capable of producing more horses all by themselves.

Their size is the main factor against them. Other then that; I think most everything is a plus.

Highly interesting, Supertwist!
Maybe they could work!

Horses would be best, as Supertwist says, self replicating and they can forage at least part of their own "fuel" supply.

Did you ever see the Sci-fi series Firefly or the movie made about it called Serenity? The same concepts were used there. The high tech was available but the lower tech was the basis for the initial colonies because it was more robust and required little to no outside support. A colony can provide a blacksmith, which can make a horse shoe, easier than it can provide a facility to make a tractor wheel. Materials, fuel, labor, and structures all can be more easily provided based on a lower technology level.

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With friends like Guido, you will not have enemies for long.

“Intellect is invisible to the man who has none”
Arthur Schopenhauer

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
Albert Einstein

Wayne, I loved Firefly! (I got the dvds)

the thing I liked about it was it tried to show 'real' life in the future: It wasn't all expolration and being noble. It was mostly about just trying to get ends to meet and making a living.

Finding the right balance is a challenge, isn't it? I love discussions like this, becauseeveryone comes in with a slightly different take on things!

_________________
With friends like Guido, you will not have enemies for long.

“Intellect is invisible to the man who has none”
Arthur Schopenhauer

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
Albert Einstein

Here's as I see it:

Cows= Milk, meat, hide, manure

Horses= work, manure, hide(?)


You've made some thoughtful observations, Animal Lover. Basically, it seems to come down to horse work vs. cowmilk. If we go with cattle, then there's less reason for goats. Personally; I'm leaning to replacing cattle with goats and sticking with horses.

But..... are goats more effective in turning plants into milk then cattle, mewonders?

Have you thought of studying the problems faced by the early settlers, or the sects that have distanced themselves from the 20/21st centuries ?

IMO many questions you ask may already have been answered .

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I don't know what your problem is but I bet its hard to pronounce.

What a odd battle! It's horse vs cattle vs goat! I suspose one way out, is to have some of all; certainly we need(I think) at least two of the three.

Ok. Let's hear some views on this critter match-up:

FOWL VS PIGS

Fowl= useful in small pest control(Ducks especially)
lay-eggs
meat-source

Pigs= Tough and will eat wide range of food
Meat-source

which suits better?

Sorry, Animal lover, about 'the small pest control'. lol!

What I meant, is I've heard duckies really mow down slugs and small insects. I've also heard that they're used in Asia to 'patrol' rice fields for naughty little insects. Seems a very useful ability to have on a organic farm. Why waste pesticides when ducks can get the job done?