>> 1) Is there a permaculture version of this; i.e. providing habitat for wildlife and selecting the friendliest / hungriest / least likely to get run over ones? <<
I haven't heard it mentioned in particular, but it makes sense.
>> 2) For breeding, if buying one animal, a female + stud fees may be more affordable. Also, stud males can be difficult for a variety of reasons... <<
That's the norm for cows and horses, also common with sheep and goats. People argue over whether it "counts" as a landrace if you're keeping females selected for certain traits, but always outcrossing males. But people have usually done that with cows and horses. *chuckle* In old Ireland, a "king" was anyone who could afford to keep a bull to service his neighbors' cows. :D
Thoughts
I haven't heard it mentioned in particular, but it makes sense.
>> 2) For breeding, if buying one animal, a female + stud fees may be more affordable. Also, stud males can be difficult for a variety of reasons... <<
That's the norm for cows and horses, also common with sheep and goats. People argue over whether it "counts" as a landrace if you're keeping females selected for certain traits, but always outcrossing males. But people have usually done that with cows and horses. *chuckle* In old Ireland, a "king" was anyone who could afford to keep a bull to service his neighbors' cows. :D