Hog Island sheep
Encyclopedia
Hog Island sheep are a breed of sheep that was developed from feral
animals on Virginia's Hog Island
beginning in the 17th century. During the 1930s and 1940s, storm conditions forced the island's residents to evacuate, leaving some sheep behind. These sheep adapted to the environment free of human intervention, becoming feral.
The sheep are preserved by various organizations for their relevance to American history as well as the traits they possess, which have largely been lost in more modern breeds.
breed, among others.
The sheep is relatively small but tough and hardy. Rams weigh on average 125 pounds (56.7 kg) and ewes 90 pounds (40.8 kg). Lambs are born with spotted or speckled fleece, while about 90% of adults' fleece is white and 10% black.
The Hog Island sheep was replaced as a breed by other breeds which are more suited to modern agricultural techniques, but are considered important for preservation because of their historical significance and because of the traits they have that modern sheep might lack, such as their hardiness and reproductive efficiency.
state. In the 1970s, The Nature Conservancy
bought the island, rounded up the sheep and removed them to prevent overgrazing
. The breed is extremely rare today; with fewer than 200 registered animals it is listed as "Critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
.
for study, to determine why they were relatively free of parasites; when it was discovered that they were not resistant to parasites but simply isolated from them by island life, they were sent to institutions such as George Washington's birthplace
, Mount Vernon
, and Colonial Williamsburg
for preservation. The United States Department of Agriculture
's National Animal Germplasm Program has collected semen samples from several of the sheep as part of a program that aims to preserve the genetic material of animals significant to American history. Because Hog Island sheep resemble sheep that would have been present in colonial farms, they (or a cross between them and Dorset sheep, a combination called "American Site sheep") are used in exhibits to recreate the look and feel of a historical farm.
Because the Hog Island sheep population is so small, the preservation of the breed through a pure, inbred line would threaten the breed's health by an increased risk of pairing of "bad genes". To combat this, some breeders have bred Hog Island sheep with other sheep breeds and then bred the offspring with other Hog Island sheep, producing nearly pure Hog Island sheep with some advantageous genes added from the other breeds.
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
animals on Virginia's Hog Island
Hog Island (Virginia)
Hog Island is a barrier island located in Northampton County, Virginia, and is a part of the Virginia Coast Reserve of The Nature Conservancy. Starting in the mid-19th century the town of Broadwater, Virginia was located on the southern end of the island, but had to be abandoned in the 1930s when...
beginning in the 17th century. During the 1930s and 1940s, storm conditions forced the island's residents to evacuate, leaving some sheep behind. These sheep adapted to the environment free of human intervention, becoming feral.
The sheep are preserved by various organizations for their relevance to American history as well as the traits they possess, which have largely been lost in more modern breeds.
Breed characteristics
The Hog Island sheep is a feral breed, descended from sheep that were abandoned on Hog Island in the 1930s and 1940s. It is believed that the breed was descended from the MerinoMerino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
breed, among others.
The sheep is relatively small but tough and hardy. Rams weigh on average 125 pounds (56.7 kg) and ewes 90 pounds (40.8 kg). Lambs are born with spotted or speckled fleece, while about 90% of adults' fleece is white and 10% black.
The Hog Island sheep was replaced as a breed by other breeds which are more suited to modern agricultural techniques, but are considered important for preservation because of their historical significance and because of the traits they have that modern sheep might lack, such as their hardiness and reproductive efficiency.
History
Hog Island was colonized in the 1600s. As an island, it had open space and was free of predators, so the livestock were left to roam free and were rounded up only to be marked or used for meat or wool. In 1933, a hurricane destroyed most of Hog Island, and with the inhabitants abandoning the settled areas, many sheep were left to fend for themselves and reverted to a feralFeral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
state. In the 1970s, The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
bought the island, rounded up the sheep and removed them to prevent overgrazing
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, or by overpopulations of native or non-native wild animals.Overgrazing reduces the...
. The breed is extremely rare today; with fewer than 200 registered animals it is listed as "Critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting genetic diversity among rare breeds of livestock...
.
Research and conservation (after rediscovery)
When the population was discovered on the island, they were brought to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
for study, to determine why they were relatively free of parasites; when it was discovered that they were not resistant to parasites but simply isolated from them by island life, they were sent to institutions such as George Washington's birthplace
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. Originally settled by John Washington, George Washington's great-grandfather, George Washington was born here on February 22, 1732...
, Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, and Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
for preservation. The United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
's National Animal Germplasm Program has collected semen samples from several of the sheep as part of a program that aims to preserve the genetic material of animals significant to American history. Because Hog Island sheep resemble sheep that would have been present in colonial farms, they (or a cross between them and Dorset sheep, a combination called "American Site sheep") are used in exhibits to recreate the look and feel of a historical farm.
Because the Hog Island sheep population is so small, the preservation of the breed through a pure, inbred line would threaten the breed's health by an increased risk of pairing of "bad genes". To combat this, some breeders have bred Hog Island sheep with other sheep breeds and then bred the offspring with other Hog Island sheep, producing nearly pure Hog Island sheep with some advantageous genes added from the other breeds.
External links
- Hog Island Sheep Association
- Hog Island Sheep at George Washington's Mt. Vernon