The American Cream Draft is a rare draft horse breed, the only such
breed developed in the United States that is still in existence. It is
recognized by its cream color, known as "gold champagne", produced by
the action of the champagne gene upon a chestnut base color, and by its
amber eyes, also characteristic of the gene; the only other color found
in the breed is chestnut. Like several other breeds of draft horses, the
American Cream is at risk for the autosomal recessive genetic disease
junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The breed was developed in Iowa during
the early 20th century, beginning with a cream-colored mare named Old
Granny. The Great Depression threatened the breed's existence, but
several breeders worked to improve the color and type of the breed, and
in 1944 a breed registry was formed. The mechanization of farming in the
mid-20th century led to a decrease in the breed's population and the
registry became inactive for several decades. It was reactivated in 1982
and population numbers have slowly grown since then. However, population
numbers are still considered critical by The Livestock Conservancy and
the Equus Survival Trust.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Cream_Draft>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
425:
Valentinian III became emperor of the Western Roman Empire at
the age of six.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentinian_III>
1812:
General Claude François de Malet began a conspiracy to
overthrow Napoleon, claiming that the Emperor died in Russia and that he
was now the commandant of Paris.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malet_coup_of_1812>
1956:
The Hungarian Revolution began as a peaceful student
demonstration which attracted thousands as it marched through central
Budapest to the Parliament building.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956>
1983:
Lebanese Civil War: Suicide bombers destroyed two barracks in
Beirut, killing 241 U.S. servicemen and 58 French paratroopers of the
international peacekeeping force.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing>
1993:
The Troubles: A Provisional Irish Republican Army's attempted
bombing of a meeting of loyalist paramilitary leaders failed, killing
one of the perpetrators, one UDA member and eight civilians.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shankill_Road_bombing>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
palatal:
1. (anatomy) Pertaining to the palate.
2. (dentistry, not comparable) Of an upper tooth, on the side facing the
palate.
3. (phonetics) Articulated at the hard palate.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/palatal>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Nothing is more curious than the almost savage hostility that
Humour excites in those who lack it.
--George Saintsbury
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Saintsbury>