We raise three critically endangered heritage breeds — Lynch Lineback Cattle, Large Black Hogs, and Chantecler Chickens. Each one is a living thread back to farming as it was, and a living argument for why it still matters.
Industrial agriculture changed everything after World War II. The drive for indoor production, faster growth, and standardised yields pushed hundreds of old breeds to the brink — breeds that had been perfected over centuries for hardiness, flavour, mothering ability, and resilience in exactly the kind of conditions we farm in here in Ontario.
Heritage breeds carry genetics that modern commercial breeds simply don't have. They thrive on pasture, they raise their young naturally, they adapt to seasons and climate. Once a breed is gone, that genetic history is gone with it. Our job — as we see it — is to make sure that doesn't happen on our watch.
"These animals are living history. We are their stewards, not their owners."
Landrace breed — Ontario, Canada — Triple purpose
The Lynch Lineback is a landrace heritage breed with deep roots in Ontario, its origins traced to Gloucester cattle brought to North America by early settlers. They are triple-purpose animals — valued historically for milk, beef, and draft work — and are among the most critically endangered cattle in Canada today.
The lineback colouration — black body, white stripe down the back, white belly and garters — appears in ancient cave paintings estimated to be 25,000 years old. In Ontario, the Lynch Lineback developed as a distinct landrace through generations of adaptation to local conditions. As dairy farming industrialised, these cattle were quietly pushed aside. Today fewer than 50 purebred adult females remain. Foxfire is a proud member of Lynch Lineback Canada, working to keep this breed from disappearing entirely.
We are actively growing our Lineback herd and are committed to this breed for the long term. We currently have no animals for sale, but we are always happy to speak with anyone interested in the breed, conservation efforts, or getting started with Linebacks.
Availability
White & Partridge varieties — Developed in Canada — 1908–1935
The Chantecler is Canada's only heritage chicken breed, developed in Quebec in 1908 by a Trappist monk who saw that Canada had no chicken of its own. Bred to withstand brutal Canadian winters — with an almost non-existent comb and wattles to prevent frostbite — the Chantecler is a true dual-purpose bird: productive egg layer, excellent table bird, and tough as a Canadian January.
The White Chantecler was admitted to the American Poultry Association Standard in 1921. The Partridge variety — developed in Alberta for camouflage in free-range conditions — followed in 1935. By 1979, the breed was declared virtually extinct when what was believed to be the last rooster died at the University of Saskatchewan. Dedicated breeders kept the flame alive, but today only an estimated 1,000–2,000 remain worldwide, most in Quebec. The Chantecler is listed as endangered globally.
We have raised White and Partridge Chanteclers since 2012, building our flock from genetics sourced across Canada using clan breeding to maintain strong, diverse genetics while meeting breed standards. We are proud Royal Winter Fair award winners and members of Heritage Livestock Canada and l'Association Québécoise de la Volaille Chantecler (AQVC).
Available from Foxfire
Raising heritage breeds isn't just farming — it's an act of preservation. The only way to save a breed from extinction is to give it a future worth having: good land, good stewardship, and enough breeders willing to do the work.
Our Large Black Hogs are registered breeding animals. Proper registration and pedigree tracking are essential to long-term breed survival and genetic diversity.
Our Chantecler flock is maintained using clan breeding with genetics sourced across Canada — ensuring strong, diverse genetics while maintaining true breed standards.
All our heritage breeds are raised on pasture, the way they were designed to live. This regenerative approach supports animal welfare, land health, and breed integrity.
We are proud members of Lynch Lineback Canada, Heritage Livestock Canada, and l'Association Québécoise de la Volaille Chantecler — active participants in national conservation efforts.
Our Chantecler flock has earned recognition at the Royal Winter Fair — Canada's premier agricultural showcase — a testament to the quality and breed standard of our birds.
Through farm visits, workshops, and agrotourism, we share the story of these breeds with guests, schools, and the broader community — because awareness is the first step to conservation.
Whether you want to purchase chicks, weiner pigs, or breeding stock — or simply want to learn more about these remarkable animals — we'd love to hear from you.