National Colonial Farm | Animals | Museum Garden | Museum Theater Interns

The Animals

Animals are part of the Accokeek Foundation's stewardship of Piscataway Park. Many visitors appreciate the beauty of the farm animals without realizing their important role in farming systems. Over the centuries, domesticated animals have lived here with humans and have contributed to shaping this land as we see it today. At the Accokeek Foundation, we care for our farm animals in a way that enhances the health and stability of the natural and agricultural ecosystems of this special place.

As we manage animals, we maintain open lands in an ecologically sound manner.

• We prevent erosion. A key aspect of our management plan is to feed animals a grass-based diet. Perennial grasslands are not plowed each year.
• We save fuel. When grass is cut and baled for hay, we use less fossil fuels and fewer scarce resources than when we maintain a lawn, and we produce feed for the animals as well. Grazed grass is harvested directly by the animals, and of course, no fossil fuels are used in the process.
• We return nutrients to the soil. The problem of manure disposal is eliminated in a grazing situation because the animals fertilize the pasture as they move across the field. Manure is a resource because it adds nutrients to the soil.
• We protect water resources. Animals are fenced out of the pond and away from the river banks to prevent bank erosion and water pollution.
• We preserve genetic diversity. As part of our historical mission, we are preserving heritage breeds of domesticated animals. Many of these breeds are known for characteristics such as strong feet, good maternal instincts, the ability to survive on a wide range of grasses, parasite resistance and general overall hardiness. Today, these characteristics are increasingly important in ecologically-sound farming systems. The heritage breeds of animals carry valuable genetic diversity that would be lost without a wide range of preservation efforts. The unique gene pool of these animals has global significance.

Selected Breeds From The Accokeek Foundation's Conservancy Program

Hog Island Sheep
There are fewer than 200 registered Hog Island sheep in all of North America. Their status (i.e., their continued existence as a breed) is considered critical. The breed originated on a barrier island off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The flock was started by settlers almost 200 years ago with sheep which are believed to be of British origin. The sheep roamed wild on the island and were well known for their hardiness and ability to adapt and survive on local forage. Most of the Accokeek Foundation's sheep have been registered as foundation stock for the breed, and the Foundation is playing a key role in protecting these valuable animals.

Milking Red Devon Cattle
Devons were valuable in the American colonies primarily for draft power, milk and occasionally meat. The Devons that are raised at the Accokeek Foundation nearly became extinct in the 1950s when the majority of Devon breeders began to select cattle for meat productivity. Working with a small group of farmers and conservation organizations such as the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, we participate in the preservation of genetic biodiversity of multi-purpose Devon cattle.

Ossabaw Hog
The status of the Ossabaw hog is also considered critical. Ossabaw hogs originated on a barrier island off the coast of Georgia where they roamed wild for almost 400 years. They are known for their toughness and extremely aggressive nature, although it is not very noticeable in the friendly nature of the hogs here at the Foundation. They are unusual because they develop extensive fat reserves, which help them to survive periods of food scarcity.

Dominique Chickens
Many call the Dominique the first American breed of chicken. This black and white chicken was developed from English breeds which were introduced with the European settlement of New England. The Dominique chickens were known as a multi-purpose breed. They could provide meat and eggs, as well as feathers for pillows, and could help to control insect pests in orchards. Until the late 1800s, Dominiques were very popular in Southern Maryland and throughout the East Coast. The 1862 USDA Yearbook called them "one of the best varieties for common use." However, as other modern breeds were introduced and fewer families raised their own chickens, the population steadily declined. In 1970, there were only 4 small flocks of Dominique chickens left in the U.S. The efforts of many dedicated individuals and the formation of an active breed club have helped to protect the breed from extinction, but the status of the Dominique is still considered critical.

Black Spanish Turkeys
Black Spanish turkeys were selected to be added to the Accokeek Foundation's conservancy program because of their extreme rarity, and because of their value for multicultural education programs. Turkeys are native to the Americas, and were first domesticated in Mexico. Spanish explorers brought the turkeys back to Europe in the 1500s, where they were raised for over a hundred years for meat production. The Black Spanish turkey variety was then reintroduced to the Americas with the early colonists. In the mid-Atlantic region, the colonists used turkeys to help control insects which would eat tobacco, their main cash crop. A 1998 census found that in the U.S. there were only 200 Black Spanish turkeys, which were being raised by only 15 different breeders. The Accokeek Foundation has helped to reintroduce this bird to the tidewater Potomac region by sharing breeding stock with other historical museums and local farmers.

For information about helping to preserve heritage breeds by purchasing Hog Island Sheep, Milking Devon Cattle, or Black Spanish Turkeys, please contact Lee Kelly at 301-283-2113 or by email at lkelly@accokeek.org.

Artists and Craftspersons interested in purchasing Hog Island fleeces and participating in partnerships with regional farmers, please e-mail lkelly@accokeek.org