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Experience the Life
: Animals
: Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds Program
Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds program was begun in 1986 to preserve genetic diversity in
livestock. Some of the selected breeds represent animals that could have been present in Williamsburg
during the 18th century according to historical research. The program complements Colonial
Williamsburg's living history interpretation by portraying another aspect of daily life in colonial
Virginia.
Rare is defined as having fewer than 1,000 animals registered annually in North America. The breeds
in the foundation's program – the Leicester Longwool sheep, American Cream Draft horses and
America Milking Red Devons – have fewer than 200 animals registered annually in North America.
Animals in the Rare Breeds program include:
 Leicester Longwool Sheep. A long, healthy, lustrous coat
which falls in ringlets, ease of feeding, valuable meat supply and quick maturation
are the sheep's breed traits. Leicester (pronounced "lester") Longwools
originated in Britain and were used as a pioneer breed. Their use extended
to America, Australia, New Zealand and other colonies settled by the Crown.
Today they are quite rare in Britain and North America, but they can still
be imported from Australia. Their wool is sold to hand spinners, weavers,
felters and dollmakers for hair and beards. The original herd of Colonial
Williamsburg's Leicester Longwool sheep came from Tasmania, but now the sheep
are bred here.
 American Cream Draft Horses. The only modern breed in the
program also is the rarest – just over 500 still exist in North America.
American Cream Draft horses are the only breed of draft horse originating
from the United States and are now bred here. Breed characteristics include
a medium cream-colored coat, pink skin, amber eyes, long, white mane and tail
and white markings. These horses mature late at five years old and have an
excellent temperament. Mares stand from 15 to 16 hands and weigh 1,500 to
1,600 pounds. Males stand 16 to 16.3 hands and weigh 1,800 pounds and up.
American Creams pull wagons and carriages throughout Colonial Williamsburg's
Historic Area.
 Canadian Horses. Colonial Williamsburg's most recent addition
to the Rare Breeds program, Canadian horses were developed from horses sent
from France to Quebec between 1665 and 1670. They stand 14 to 16 hands. Mares
weigh 900 to 1,300 pounds and males weigh 1,000 to 1,400 pounds. Canadians
were used for farm work, transport, riding and racing. Canadian horses are
solid and well-muscled with a well-arched neck set high on a long, sloping
shoulder. Canadians are primarily black or reddish brown with full manes and
tails. They are energetic without being nervous and are adaptable for a variety
of riding and driving disciplines. Originally imported from Canada, Canadian
horses now are bred in Colonial Williamsburg.
 American Milking Red Devons. Diversity is the trademark
of this breed. Their milk contains a high butterfat content – prized
in the 18th century for butter and cheese production. They also give quality
meat, are very intelligent and are good work animals that are easy to feed
and fatten well with minimum supplements. Their milk is used in the Historic
Area Foodways program. Descended from the Red Devon breed native to Devonshire,
England, American Milking Devons now are bred here.
 Milking Shorthorn and Randall Oxen.
Trucks, tractors and bulldozers of the 18th century; oxen are cattle trained
to work. In Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, guests will see
Milking Shorthorns, Randalls, and a Devon/Lineback cross. Milking Shorthorns
originated in England, can be red or white, and are used for milk, meat,
and work. Randalls were bred in a closed herd by a Vermont family of the
same name for 80 years. They are also called linebacks, due to the white
line that runs down their backs. The breeds are rare, classified as a watch
breed and a critical breed, respectively. Oxen Emmitt, Gage, Rusty, Red,
Timer, Tuck, Duke, Dan and Bart can be found working in Colonial Williamsburg’s
Historic Area and at Great Hopes Plantation.
 Dorking Chickens. This silver or dark poultry breed is
distinguished by its five toes. They are large, broad-breasted poultry with
an abundance of hackle feathers and are well suited to the outdoors due to
the ability to forage.
- Dominique Chickens. The Dominique chicken is one of the
first breeds of chickens developed in the United States. They are small to
medium in size with a very hardy constitution. Their heavy plumage protects
the poultry from low winter temperatures.
- Hamburg Chickens. Common characteristics of Hamburg chickens
include the ability to forage widely and produce large quantities of eggs.
Small in stature, Hamburg chickens are known for their slender legs, neat,
red combs and symmetrical form. Colonial Williamsburg breeds the silver spangled
variety of the Hamburg chicken.
- English Game Fowl. These chickens were originally bred
for cock fighting. Distinguished by their strength, agility and aggression,
English game fowl never became popular as utility fowl after cock fighting
was banned. However, English game fowl produce high quality meat and eggs.
Eggs from the poultry in the Rare Breeds program are used in the Historic
Area Foodways program.
The Rare Breeds program is recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) for
"its outstanding historical, agricultural interpretation. Colonial Williamsburg is a pioneer in
the field of not only showing the animals, but in conservancy and breeding."
Learn more:
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Historic Triangle