Ossabaw Island Hogs

I've been raising Berkshire on pasture for the last 5 years, but I've been increasingly curious about some of the smaller 'less improved' breeds available. Had an opportunity to pick up a breeding pair of Ossabaws and decided to give them a shot - picking them up Friday.

Does anyone have experience with these? Information on carcass size / slaughter age seems hard to come by and at times conflicting.

Any thoughts on trying to use the boar to breed my Berkshire sows?

Thanks!

I'm looking at the Ossabaw breed too. I know they put on weight slower and their dressed weight is less than standard breeds. The two primary farms that I am aware of that have a large web presence that keep these hogs are LittleSeed Farm in TN (http://littleseedfarm.com/to-be-a-farmer-blog/ossabaw-more-like-lostabaw-part-one.html) and Nature's Harmony Farm in GA (http://nhf.squarespace.com/ossabaw-pork/) and might respond to you if you email them.

Perfect Pig by Peter Kaminsky (http://www.amazon.com/Pig-Perfect-Encounters-Remarkable-Swine/dp/1401300367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377549779&sr=8-1&keywords=perfect+pig) has a chapter devoted to them.

J D Horn wrote:I'm looking at the Ossabaw breed too. I know they put on weight slower and their dressed weight is less than standard breeds. The two primary farms that I am aware of that have a large web presence that keep these hogs are LittleSeed Farm in TN (http://littleseedfarm.com/to-be-a-farmer-blog/ossabaw-more-like-lostabaw-part-one.html) and Nature's Harmony Farm in GA (http://nhf.squarespace.com/ossabaw-pork/) and might respond to you if you email them.

Perfect Pig by Peter Kaminsky (http://www.amazon.com/Pig-Perfect-Encounters-Remarkable-Swine/dp/1401300367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377549779&sr=8-1&keywords=perfect+pig) has a chapter devoted to them.

I've talked to LittleSeed and got some good information from them - sent an email to Nature's Harmony but I don't expect to hear back from them, they have one of those 'we don't answer questions' things on their website.

I'll check out the book - thanks!

Update -

We brought home Bonnie and Clyde. Very interesting animals. Easygoing disposition, very vocal, trained to the fence in about 2 minutes.

If anyone else comes across this in the future, the lady who bred my two hogs has started a facebook group for Ossabaw producers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ossabawislandhogs/

Any updates on raising the ossabaw breed. Looking for a good breed to raise and i understand they are easy to raise and good at forging on their own. I have also heard they have a great taste, dont know if that is the pig or the feed they eat or maybe both

I don't have any specific updates - so far I like them, but I've only had them for a few weeks. Apart from what you can find here, I can recommend this facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/pasturedpigs/ we've got producers with just about every breed I've heard of being raised on small farms including the more rare ones like Ossabaw or KuneKune.

FWIW my wife and I were out at Mount Vernon last weekend. They have some Ossabaws (in addition to Hog Island Sheep and Red Devons).

Any interesting observations about them? I've noticed mine are very curious and vocal. I'll be moving them to a more wooded paddock soon now that I've got them trained to the electric - I'm excited to see their behavior in a more natural setting than the all grass pasture I've got them in now.

Nothing too interesting. They were penned up - 2 side by side, in what I would call colonial era pig pens (dug pits surrounded by buried saplings). They could touch noses through the fence. They looked bigger than I expected. I'd bet their dressed weight would push 150 lbs.

Hey all!

I'm picking up a breeding pair of these hogs myself later this week....my first venture into pigs Im getting mine from www.vernalvibrise.com and after speaking with them I'm hoping they will be the perfect smaller breed for my farm.

Also, Vernal Vib has 5 seperate genetic lines on site, so if you decide to expand your breeding program they're a great and very knowledgeable resource.