Colonial spanish sheep, goats, hogs, and asses in the United States (Ovejas, cabras, cerdos y asnos criollos en los Estados Unidos)

Sponenberg D.P.

Description

Resumen
The remaining spanish colonial influence on sheep, goats, hogs, and asses in the United States is less than what remains for horses and cattle. Part of the reason for this is that these species have never been as economically important as horses and cattle, nor have they ever held the same societal prestige as horses and cattle.
Abstract
La influencia remanente de la era colonial española sobre ovejas, cabras, cerdos y asnos en los Estados Unidos es menor que en caballos y vacunos. Parte fue debido a que esas especies nunca han sido tan importantes económicamente como caballos y vacas, y tampoco han tenido el mismo prestigio social.

Sujets

• Domesticación
• List of domesticated animals

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1992
• Nombre de lectures: 10
• Langue: English

Extrait

COLONIAL SPANISH SHEEP, GOATS, HOGS, AND ASSES IN USA
COLONIAL SPANISH SHEEP, GOATS, HOGS, AND ASSES
IN THE UNITED STATES
OVEJAS, CABRAS, CERDOS Y ASNOS CRIOLLOS EN LOS
ESTADOS UNIDOS
Sponenberg, D.P.
Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA 28061. USA
Palabras clave adicionalesAdditional Keywords
Spanish livestock. Poscolumbian epoch. Domes-Ganado español.Epoca procolombina. Animales
tic animals.domésticos.
SUMMARY
The remaining spanish colonial influence on colonial sheep was greater historicall
sheep, goats, hogs, and asses in the United States than it is currently, and consisted
is less than what remains for horses and cattle. mainly of two populations of churro
Part of the reason for this is that these species type sheep. These populations were
have never been as economically important as centered in New Mexico and in the
horses and cattle, nor have they ever held the southeast.
same societal prestige as horses and cattle. The New Mexico Churro Popu-
lation was the basis of the subsistence
sheep industry that characterized both
RESUMEN Navajo and Hispanic economies for
centuries (Blunn, 1983). These sheep
La influencia remanente de la era colonial were valued mostly for their
española sobre ovejas, cabras, cerdos y asnos en production of carpet wool and meat.
los Estados Unidos es menor que en caballos y Milk production was not characteristic
vacunos. Parte fue debido a que esas especies of these systems of use. The churro
nunca han sido tan importantes económicamente type sheep were hardy and durable,
como caballos y vacas, y tampoco han tenido el and adapted well to the harsh desert
mismo prestigio social. environment of New Mexico. Th
Churro Type was the predominant
sheep type in this region until well
SHEEP into the 1800s.
During the late 1800s and earl
The spanish colonial influence on 1900s the pattern of settlement and
sheep populations in the United States livestock exploitation changed from
is minimal at present (Olson, 1988). the Navajo and Hispanic ethnic groups
The original influence of spanish to an Anglo dominated culture. With
yey
Arch. Zootec. 41 (extra): 415-419. 1992. Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 415.SPONENBERG
this shift the Churro Type became a large sheep industry, and wer
less desirable, and was nearly bred exploited as a local subsistenc
out of existence by the use of finewool, commodity for consumption locall
Merino type sheep. This finewool or on the farm of origin. The breeding
type, itself of spanish origin, was of was haphazard and these flocks show
less use to the Navajo and Hispanic the influence of a wide variety of non
cultures in this area since it is less spanish genetic material. Detailed
hardy. The Merino wool is also ill studies are not finished on thes
suited for use in local textile production sheep, but they are phenotypicall
that is so important to both of these variable.
cultures. In the late 1980s the trend Included within the general classifi-
away from the Churro Type wa cation of Gulf Coast Native are man
reversed with more value placed on fairly distinctive flocks from various
the original sheep type in an attempt farms in the area. They have scant
to regain it as a common sheep type wool, which is usually fairly coarse.
in the Navajo and Hispanic flocks. The main breed characteristic is a
The Navajo Churro sheep is a resistance to gastrointestinal parasites,
smallish sheep and is adapted to the and it may be this trait that is the most
harsh desert environment of th useful of this otherwise very nonstan-
Southwest USA. It has a typical carpet dardized genetic stock. This resistance
wool fleece. Rams are typically heavily may also have kept the sheep relativel
horned, and in some instances have uncontaminated from outside genetic
multiple (8 or 6) horns. influences, since few other sheep
Ewes are either horned or polled. breeds can thrive in this humi
Colors vary widely, although most are subtropical environment.
white. Various greys, browns, and The general pattern of shee
blacks also occur, as do spotted animals. breeding in the United States includes
The other main population o an early introduction of Churro Type
spanish sheep from the colonial era Sheep. Later the Merino was introdu-
occurred in the Southeast of th ced, but this tended to occur through
United States. This churro type persists importation to the Anglo dominated
in some areas of Florida, Georgia, areas and to proceed from them to the
Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. areas more traditionally Hispanic.
These sheep were originally of churro Finally the Merino and its crosses
type, but then experienced centuries were displaced by the British breeds
of selection in a humid subtropical in all areas except the West and the
environment. This has resulted in a Southwest, but by then the original
sheep different from the southwestern Churro Type was already very rare.
sheep, and these are now called Gulf
Coast Native sheep.
The Gulf Coast Native, in contrast GOATS
to the Navajo Churro, is probabl
more removed from its churro origin. The spanish colonial influence on
These sheep were never the basis of goats was important in the USA. This
fyyyspdyeeeyee
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 416.COLONIAL SPANISH SHEEP, GOATS, HOGS, AND ASSES IN USA
is especially true of the feral goats subsistence. This is so much the trend
that occur on islands (Mcknight, 1968). for this area that any scrub goat is
These were generally introduced onto called spanish , when in fact many of
islands during the age of discovery, the goats so designated are crossbreds,
and were used as a ready food source still, the spanish type does occur in
by subsequent voyagers. The goats many flocks, and is a widespread type
descended from these colonial goats in the southwest. In the southeast
are generally small to medium sized, there are also remnants of the spanish
and very rugged and resistant. The goats, and some of these flocks are
usually have a fairly robus relatively uncontaminated. These are
conformation suitable for selection as called Scrub or Ball Field Goats,
a meat producing goat. They occur in since they are frequently used for
a variety of colors, but combinations brush control in softball playing fields.
of tan and black are very common. Finally, there are some remnants of
The horns are usually heavy in the the Spanish Type goats in the Us
bucks and curve outward and upward. Virgin Islands, where they persist
Ears are erect, or more frequentl among a larger crossbred population
horizontal. of goats.
Feral goats have recently become The pattern of distribution o
a problem for conservationists since spanish goats in the USA i
they are so effective at brush discontinuous, and in isolated groups.
utilization. They can devastate island There has never been an effort t
flora, and for this reason are generall standardize nor conserve these, and
the target of eradication schemes, they have been the frequent target of
since these feral goats descend from crossbreeding to northern european
spanish goats they are unique among dairy types and to Nubians. Th
goats in North America, and ar original Spanish type does persist,
therefore themselves a genetic resource though, and is available as a unique
worthy of conservation. This is being genetic resource for North American
amply demonstrated currently by the goat breeders. Some few breeders and
recent interest in goat meat production organizations are now beginning to
in the USA. appreciate these goats of spanish
Important populations of feral origin as an unique resource, and
colonial spanish goats are on th conservation efforts are underway.
Caribbean island of Mona, and the
California islands of San Clemente
and Santa Catalina. The populations SWINE
of the California islands are no
maintained as mainland herds since Spanish colonial swine hav
the island herds are slated for established feral populations in a
eradication. pattern similar to that for goats, and
Nonferal spanish type goats also for largely the same reason: to be an
persist throughout the southwest in island larder for subsequent visitors,
flocks that are used for loca (Mayer and Brisbin, 1991) an
yosyfdleetywee
Archivos de zootecnia, vol. 41, núm. 154 (extra), p. 417.SPONENBERG
McKnight, 1968). The swine have influence such breeds as the Mulefoot
been only poorly studied, but spanish hog and the Red Waddler, but this is
types persist on a few islands such as largely conjectural and these breeds
Mona in the Caribbean, and Santa are themselves very very rare. As hog
Rosa and San Clemente off o breeding more favors the industrial
California. One important population organization and breeding of white
is that on Ossabaw island off the hogs for lean pork production these
Geogia coast. remnants of the spanish strains that
The Caribbean and California feral were adapted for extensive systems
hogs are large, brown, and well adapted are becoming rarer and rarer.
to their environments. They ar
incompletely studied. The Ossaba
hogs are better documented. The ASSES
have adapted by different means to
an environment that is harsh, with The influence of spanish livestock
food availab