Barnyard Exhibit
The Zoo’s Barnyard exhibit has been renovated and now features breeds that played an important role in California’s ranching history: San Clemente Island goats, Navajo-Churro sheep, and Guinea hogs.
San Clemente Island Goat
Habitat/Range: Goats were left on San Clemente Island in the late 1800s and became a part of ranching on the Channel Islands. They later became feral and destructive and grew in population until the U.S. Navy initiated a goat removal program in the 1980s to save native endangered wildlife.
Description: Fine-boned, deer-like, and very graceful; only slightly taller than dwarf goats. Most show a dark “buckskin” pattern; however, they display a wide variety of color variations ranging from all-brown to all-white. Impressive horns on the bucks sweep back and twist out; spreads can be over three feet wide.
Breeding: On the island, they had several breeding seasons per year. Does usually had twins, but often had single or triplet births. The size of the island goat population affected the birthrate. When goats were fewer, the birth rates increased and more births were triplets.
Diet: They were able to thrive on the plants available on the island. As there are no freshwater streams on the island, they relied on watershed seeps and pools that formed in canyons.
Status: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) lists this breed of goat as “critical,” with fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000 – “a heritage breed on the brink of extinction.” There are some large commercial breeders, though is the mostly breeders with smaller herds who are essential in saving this breed.
Fun Fact: These goats have excellent temperaments, are gentle, hardy and easily tamed.
The Zoo’s San Clemente Island Goats: The Zoo has four males: three that are “weathers,” (gelded); and, one buck that is a potential breeder. They arrived in March from a private breeder near Valencia, California.
Navajo-Churro Sheep
Habitat/Range: Descendants of Churro sheep were the first domesticated sheep in the New World, as the Spanish brought them to the Southwest U.S. more than 400 years ago. Due to a need for more wool during the Civil War, flocks of this breed were crossed with fine wool sheep, dramatically decreasing the number of purebred Churro sheep. They are found mostly on farms scattered throughout the United States and Canada.
Description: Coat varies widely, but generally white, light tan, brown, black, or grey. Females weigh 100-120 lbs., while males weigh 160-200 lbs. This sheep has a long tail, no wool on its legs, and little or no wool on its belly.
Breeding: Mothers have strong herding instincts and tend to have twins.
Diet: Hay or grasses.
Status: Though rare, true purebred flocks can be found in some parts of northern New Mexico and remote areas of Navajo reservations. American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) lists them as “threatened,” meaning there are fewer than 1,000 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 5,000.
Fun Fact: Navajo-Churros are famous for their long, lustrous “double-coated” fleece which grows about an inch a month and weighs four to six pounds.
The Zoo’s Navajo-Churro Sheep: The Zoo’s new sheep came from a private breeder in Northern California late last year. The two pregnant females gave birth on January 11 and 12, 2009, to three female lambs, bringing the Zoo’s total number of sheep to five.
Guinea Hogs
Habitat/Range: Originated in Guinea (western Africa) and has been domesticated and is now found in many areas. They can survive in a wide variety of environments, from deserts to mountainous terrain, and were a mainstay in early California ranching.
Description: Usually weigh between 90 to 100 pounds but can weigh much more, and are 15 to 20 inches tall. They have 44 teeth and use their snouts to dig in soil to find food.
Breeding: A guinea hog’s gestation period is about 115 days; litters contain one-to-ten young and are weaned at three to four months of age.
Diet: In the wild, they will eat weeds, bird eggs, snakes, grasshoppers, and even manure. At the Zoo, they eat grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Status: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) classifies this breed as “critical” on the Conservation Priority List.
Fun Fact: Because of their incredible sense of smell, pigs have been used to sniff out everything from drugs and bombs.
The Zoo’s Guinea Hogs: The Zoo’s two hogs are brothers that came from a breeder located near Redding, California. Keepers expect the pair to possibly reach about 200 pounds as they are hearty eaters.
Photo credit: Sheri Horiszny