UNUSUAL BREEDS OF ANIMALS EXHIBITED AT 1991 SEMO FAIR

There are no two-headed snakes or five-legged calves on display at the Southeast Missouri District Fair. But there are many unusual and rare breeds of animals that are just as interesting and fascinating for fair visitors to see.

A good place to start is the poultry and rabbit exhibition building near the southeast corner of the Arena Park fairgrounds.

The animal displays are just one of the fair's attractions. Awards for 4-H and FFA exhibits were handed out Thursday, and fiddlers competed for the much-sought-after title of the area's best fiddler.

Winners of Thursday's fiddlers' contest were Bob King of Jackson, first place; Jason Strickland of Cape Girardeau, second place; and Glenn Kirchoff of Cape Girardeau, third place.

In addition to showing and explaining different types of fowl and rabbits on display, Dorothy Annis, acting supervisor of the poultry and rabbit exhibits, related an unusual and heart-

IP0,0warming story of a tiny female duck being shown at the fair.

IP1,0"Early in the week, we noticed the little dwarf call duck was acting strange," said Annis. "She had not been eating or taking any water since last Saturday, which is very unusual for a duck.

"We called in a veterinarian, who examined the little duck but could find nothing physically wrong with her. She seemed to be in an extreme form of stress and probably would not have survived another day."

Fortunately, one of the duck's caretakers happened to meet some people who knew the lady who was showing the duck. "They told us that it had never been separated from its mate, which was in a cage by itself at the other end of the building," said Annis.

Just on a chance, the female duck's mate was placed in the cage with her. Annis said the reaction was swift and nothing short of amazing.

"She rushed up to her mate, nuzzled him on his wings and beak, and started eating and drinking like there was no tomorrow. Now she's fine. The problem was, she missed her mate. She had been with him all her life until they were separated for the fair. She was just a little lovesick duck," Annis said.

Annis said dwarf call ducks are raised and kept as ornamental pets like many of the other rare breeds of fowl on display. "People like to keep them around their homes and enjoy their company," said Annis.

She said some of the rare breeds of miniature chickens originated in Japan, where they wander in the formal Japanese gardens as living ornaments.

The miniature chickens come in all colors. Some have a fur-like covering instead of feathers. One particular breed has feathers that extend out from their bodies. "They look as if they stuck their beak in a light socket and got a good shock," said Annis.

There are several breeds of turkeys at the fair. Some are raised for food but others are raised as pets for ornamental purposes. "They raise them much the same as other people like to raise peacocks and guineas," said Annis.

One of the unusual breeds of rabbits on display at the fair is the English angora rabbit. "He's about 90 percent fur and 10 percent rabbit," said Annis. "Although the fur can be clipped and woven into wool, other people raise them for pets."

Over in the livestock area don't miss the miniature mules, which are about 50 inches high.

Roger Conklin of Columbia breeds and raises the small animals. He said people like miniature mules because they are good, gentle animals that can be trained to work to miniature carts, wagons and plows.

"Many people who used to work with full-sized mules like the miniatures because they do not require as much space or food," Conklin said.

He said the miniature mule comes from a small jack and a mare pony. "They were first used in coal mines, where they were bred from small jacks and mare shetland ponies," Conklin said.

For those who would like to see the miniature mules in action, they will perform in front of the grandstand at 1 p.m., Saturday.

A final stop at the fair for unusual animals is the Neal Franke Fun Farm petting tent, which features a variety of unusual animals, among them, fainting goats.

"They originated somewhere in Europe a long time ago when sheepherders used them to protect their flocks," said Theresa Seyer, who helps Franke care for the animals at the fair.

Seyer said the small goats were used literally as "sacrificial goats." When they become excited they faint and fall over. The sheepherders would keep the goats around the edge of the flock. When a wolf or other predator threatened the sheep, the goats would become excited and faint, offering themselves as a target to the predator," Seyer explained.

Although no longer used for that purpose for humane reasons, the unusual goat still faints and falls over when it becomes excited, Seyer said.

Although intended as a place for small children to pet and feed the animals, Seyer said many adults can be seen petting and feeding the animals.