Ossabaw Island Hog
Encyclopedia
The Ossabaw Island Hog or Ossabaw Island is a breed
of pig
derived from a population of feral pigs on Ossabaw Island
, Georgia
. The original Ossabaw Hogs are descended from swine released on the island in the 16th century by Spanish explorers
. A breeding population has been established on American farms off the island, but they remain a critically endangered variety of pig.
, barrier islands off the Georgia coast, and there was very little introduction of other domestic breeds. Since 1978 the island has been owned by the State and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) as a preserve.
The human population of the island was never high, and the pigs generally ranged freely over its entire acreage. Like feral pigs elsewhere in the world, those on Ossabaw have had an adverse effect on native habitat and species. The pigs are highly omnivorous
, and will consume everything from roots and tubers to small reptiles and mammals. Ossabaw Hogs have even been observed feeding on White-tailed deer
entrails.
Ossabaw Island Hogs have been documented as having a negative impact on endangered species such as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle
and Snowy Plover
, disturbing nests and eating eggs. This, plus the varied other impacts they have on the ecosystem, have convinced the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
to recommend the eradication of all feral swine via trapping, shooting and hunting by the public.
Aside from the environmental concerns posed by Ossabaw Island Hogs, they are also recognized as a unique genetic resource by scientists and breed conservationists. They are thought to be the only U.S. breed which is descended from the Iberian-type pigs brought to North America by the Spanish. A very small breeding population of Ossabaw Hogs are kept off the island by farmers who market them as a form of heritage pork, and there are also herds at several zoos, at Mount Vernon
and at Colonial Williamsburg
. Captive breeding populations were also previously kept by a few American universities for scientific study and conservation, but these herds were dissolved and have not contributed to the current bloodlines of Ossabaw Hogs on the mainland today.
Both the island and mainland populations continue to be considered vulnerable by the ALBC, Slow Food, and others. The breed is listed as "critical" on the priority list of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
, and is also included in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste
, a catalog of heritage foods in danger of extinction.
The population on the island is currently controlled by the methods advised by the DNR, and it is unclear how much longer the population will avoid eradication entirely. Due to the presence of porcine vesicular stomatitis
and pseudorabies
on the island, no more live pigs may be removed from the island. The mainland U.S. population kept by farmers is preserved because of interest from the sustainable agriculture
movement.
and genotype
have been shaped by the pressures of feral life in an island habitat. They are small swine, less than 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall and weighing less than 200 pounds (90.7 kg) at maturity. This size is partly due to the phenomenon of insular dwarfism
, and individuals kept in off-island farms may grow slightly larger in successive generations. They are also hardy and very good foragers, making them useful in extensive farming
(as opposed to intensive pig farming
).
Ossabaw Hogs appear in a wide range of colors, with the most common being black and a spotted variety. Ossabaw piglets do not show the striping that Wild Boars do, and because of their isolation on the island they are not hybridized, as the Razorback
may be. They additionally have long snouts, upright ears, and a heavy coat of bristles compared to other pig breeds. Ossabaws are noted to be intelligent and friendly swine in terms of temperament.
As a result of life on an island where the abundance and scarcity of food is seasonally variable, Ossabaw Hogs store fat in a different manner than most domestic pigs and have a "thrifty gene
". In conditions with constant supplies of food (such as on farms and in the laboratory) they accrue more fat than other pigs and may develop a "prediabetes" condition. Because this trait makes them useful as a model organism
, scientific studies on metabolic syndrome
and Type II diabetes
have been conducted on the Ossabaw Hog. Ossabaw Hogs also have adapted to the high salt diets and minimal availability of fresh water on the island.
The meat of Ossabaws is dark, with a unique texture, and is prized for resembling the jamón ibérico
of the Black Iberian pig
. It is considered to be artisanal, heritage product especially well-suited to use in pork
, cured meats, and whole pig roast
s.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of pig
Domestic pig
The domestic pig is a domesticated animal that traces its ancestry to the wild boar, and is considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species in its own right. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin...
derived from a population of feral pigs on Ossabaw Island
Ossabaw Island
Ossabaw Island is one of the Sea Islands located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia approximately twenty miles by water south from the historic downtown of the city of Savannah. One of the largest of Georgia's barrier islands, Ossabaw contains of wooded uplands with...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The original Ossabaw Hogs are descended from swine released on the island in the 16th century by Spanish explorers
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
. A breeding population has been established on American farms off the island, but they remain a critically endangered variety of pig.
History
As the Spanish explored the coast of the Americas in the 16th century, livestock such as pigs were often left on islands as a future food source. This was the origin of the pigs that would become the Ossabaw breed. Over the following hundreds of years, the population of these feral pigs remained isolated on Ossabaw, which is one of the Sea IslandsSea Islands
The Sea Islands are a chain of tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. They number over 100, and are located between the mouths of the Santee and St. Johns Rivers along the coast of the U.S...
, barrier islands off the Georgia coast, and there was very little introduction of other domestic breeds. Since 1978 the island has been owned by the State and managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is an administrative agency of the U.S. state of Georgia. The agency has statewide responsibilities for managing and conserving Georgia’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, and is divided into six divisions:...
(DNR) as a preserve.
The human population of the island was never high, and the pigs generally ranged freely over its entire acreage. Like feral pigs elsewhere in the world, those on Ossabaw have had an adverse effect on native habitat and species. The pigs are highly omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, and will consume everything from roots and tubers to small reptiles and mammals. Ossabaw Hogs have even been observed feeding on White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
entrails.
Ossabaw Island Hogs have been documented as having a negative impact on endangered species such as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle , or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to have been discovered...
and Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover
The Snowy Plover is a small wader in the plover bird family. It breeds in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the southern and western USA and the Caribbean...
, disturbing nests and eating eggs. This, plus the varied other impacts they have on the ecosystem, have convinced the Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is an administrative agency of the U.S. state of Georgia. The agency has statewide responsibilities for managing and conserving Georgia’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, and is divided into six divisions:...
to recommend the eradication of all feral swine via trapping, shooting and hunting by the public.
Aside from the environmental concerns posed by Ossabaw Island Hogs, they are also recognized as a unique genetic resource by scientists and breed conservationists. They are thought to be the only U.S. breed which is descended from the Iberian-type pigs brought to North America by the Spanish. A very small breeding population of Ossabaw Hogs are kept off the island by farmers who market them as a form of heritage pork, and there are also herds at several zoos, at 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 at 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 —...
. Captive breeding populations were also previously kept by a few American universities for scientific study and conservation, but these herds were dissolved and have not contributed to the current bloodlines of Ossabaw Hogs on the mainland today.
Both the island and mainland populations continue to be considered vulnerable by the ALBC, Slow Food, and others. The breed is listed as "critical" on the priority list of 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...
, and is also included in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste
Ark of Taste
The Ark of Taste is an international catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction which is maintained by the global Slow Food movement. The Ark is designed to preserve at-risk foods that are sustainably produced, unique in taste, and part of a distinct ecoregion...
, a catalog of heritage foods in danger of extinction.
The population on the island is currently controlled by the methods advised by the DNR, and it is unclear how much longer the population will avoid eradication entirely. Due to the presence of porcine vesicular stomatitis
Vesicular stomatitis virus
Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus is a virus in the family Rhabdoviridae; the well-known Rabies virus belongs to the same family. VSIV can infect insects, cattle, horses, pigs and humans. It has particular importance to farmers in certain regions of the world where it can infect cattle...
and pseudorabies
Pseudorabies
Pseudorabies is a viral disease in swine that is endemic in most parts of the world. It is caused by Suid herpesvirus 1 , which is also called Pseudorabies virus and is also known as Aujeszky's disease, and in cattle as mad itch. PRV is considered to be the most economically important viral...
on the island, no more live pigs may be removed from the island. The mainland U.S. population kept by farmers is preserved because of interest from the sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
movement.
Characteristics
The breed characteristics of Ossabaw Island Hogs in both phenotypePhenotype
A phenotype is an organism's observable characteristics or traits: such as its morphology, development, biochemical or physiological properties, behavior, and products of behavior...
and genotype
Genotype
The genotype is the genetic makeup of a cell, an organism, or an individual usually with reference to a specific character under consideration...
have been shaped by the pressures of feral life in an island habitat. They are small swine, less than 20 inches (50.8 cm) tall and weighing less than 200 pounds (90.7 kg) at maturity. This size is partly due to the phenomenon of insular dwarfism
Insular dwarfism
Insular dwarfism, a form of phyletic dwarfism, is the process and condition of the reduction in size of large animals – typically mammals – when their population's range is limited to a small environment, primarily islands. This natural process is distinct from the intentional creation of dwarf...
, and individuals kept in off-island farms may grow slightly larger in successive generations. They are also hardy and very good foragers, making them useful in extensive farming
Extensive farming
Extensive farming or Extensive agriculture is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed....
(as opposed to intensive pig farming
Intensive pig farming
Intensive piggeries are a type of factory farm ' specialized in the raising of domestic pigs up to slaughter weight...
).
Ossabaw Hogs appear in a wide range of colors, with the most common being black and a spotted variety. Ossabaw piglets do not show the striping that Wild Boars do, and because of their isolation on the island they are not hybridized, as the Razorback
Razorback
Razorback is an Americanism, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia, to describe said animals in that country.-Introduction to the Americas:...
may be. They additionally have long snouts, upright ears, and a heavy coat of bristles compared to other pig breeds. Ossabaws are noted to be intelligent and friendly swine in terms of temperament.
As a result of life on an island where the abundance and scarcity of food is seasonally variable, Ossabaw Hogs store fat in a different manner than most domestic pigs and have a "thrifty gene
Thrifty gene hypothesis
The thrifty gene hypothesis was proposed by geneticist James V. Neel in 1962 to resolve a fundamental problem. Diabetes is clearly a very harmful medical condition. Yet it is quite common, and it was already evident to Neel that it likely had a strong genetic basis...
". In conditions with constant supplies of food (such as on farms and in the laboratory) they accrue more fat than other pigs and may develop a "prediabetes" condition. Because this trait makes them useful as a model organism
Model organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
, scientific studies on metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects one in five people in the United States and prevalence increases with age...
and Type II diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 2
Diabetes mellitus type 2formerly non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetesis a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Diabetes is often initially managed by increasing exercise and...
have been conducted on the Ossabaw Hog. Ossabaw Hogs also have adapted to the high salt diets and minimal availability of fresh water on the island.
The meat of Ossabaws is dark, with a unique texture, and is prized for resembling the jamón ibérico
Jamón ibérico
Jamón ibérico, Iberian ham, also called pata negra, is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain, but also in some Portuguese regions where it is called presunto ibérico...
of the Black Iberian pig
Black Iberian Pig
The Black Iberian pig, also known in Portugal as Alentejano, is a breed, Mediterraneus, of the domestic pig that is indigenous to the Mediterranean area...
. It is considered to be artisanal, heritage product especially well-suited to use in pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
, cured meats, and whole pig roast
Pig roast
A pig roast or hog roast is an event or gathering which involves the barbecuing of a whole hog...
s.
See also
- List of domestic pig breeds
- GriceGriceGrice may refer to:*Grice, an extinct breed of pig from Scotland and Ireland-Grice:*Allan Grice, is an Australian former racing driver.*Frank Grice, was an English professional footballer....
- an extinct pig from Shetland