A tasty heritage

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hamthropology ossabaw island pork

WELCOME

Hamthropology is a family owned farm run by husband and wife team Marc and Lydia Mousseau, both passionate about the Ossabaw Island Pig and dedicated to the preservation and propagation of this special, heritage breed. The farm has the largest, registered conservation herd of non-hybridized Ossabaw Island Pigs recognized by the Livestock Conservancy, not only in Georgia, but in the world. Their level of care and quality is unsurpassed and evident in the taste of this unique and special animal, Georgia’s Gem. Hamthropology has received special kudos and recognition from Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and twice has been invited to have its pork presented at the James Beard House in NYC. Our animals are raised natural and free range on our farm, Island Creek Preserve, an Artisanal Hoggery, located in Milledgeville, Georgia. Our goal is to have happy pigs!

Ossabaw Island Pigs are direct descendants of the famous Iberico pigs brought from Spain, allegedly on the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. Ossabaw Island Pigs were originally introduced in what is now Georgia in the early 1500’s, 180 years before Georgia became the 13th Colony of what would become the United States of America.ham_pig

Our mission is to keep our bloodline pure which remains successful through selective breeding of purebred animals. Over the past decade there have been a small handful of Ossabaw Island Pig farmers using this selective breeding to improve the breed without hybridizing. The specific characteristics we breed for are size, meat quality, temperament and litter size. This premium bloodline produces only a few hundred animals nationwide annually. Therefore, supply is limited. We monitor our herds closely but allow this natural genetic selection, which is one of the aspects that makes them so special, to dictate future breeding stock.

Our Ossabaw Island Pigs enjoy a diet of non-GMO feed, ample natural forage and natural, non-GMO sustainable supplemental feeds, all provided in the correct ratios to ensure a balanced diet. Their natural forage consists of rootings, vegetation, soft mast (muscadines, scuppernongs, fruits) and seasonal hard mast (acorns, etc) to round out their diet.

We make our trademarked ‘Registered Ossabaw Island Pork’ available to fine restaurants and charcuteries, primarily in the Atlanta area. We also have a limited supply of restaurant quality meat, when available, to the general public. Availability is determined once our chef’s weekly requirements are determined. To get on the notification e-mail list, please Contact Us!

We invite you to take the opportunity to enjoy this scrumptious and historical pork at one of our fine Atlanta restaurants. Please visit our Hamthropology Facebook Page for updates on where our pork is being served.

 

ABOUT

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Once we were introduced to the Ossabaw Island Pigs, we knew they were very special animals. We are excited to be able to offer Authentic Registered Ossabaw Island Pork from our natural, free-range, non-GMO herd. The tender and tasty meat is sought after by select chefs and consumers seeking natural, superior quality farm-to-table foods.

These pigs are direct descendants of the famous Iberico pigs from Spain which are commonly referred to as “four legged Olive Trees” because their tasty fat is high in Oleic Acid, the same heart healthy fat found in Olive Oil.

Ossabaw Island Pigs are currently listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy. By creating a demand for this healthy and scrumptious meat we can continue to be stewards for these these very special animals found only in the United States.

Health + Wellness

We  take the health and safety of our herd seriously.  The farm’s animal husbandry practices have been applauded and praised by Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. Quarterly scheduled ‘wellness’ visits assess the health of the herd.  These wellness visits, including random samples drawn and sent to the lab, assure our woodland pasture raised herd produces thriving animals safe for food handlers and consumers.

This practice has designated our herd; “USDA and the Georgia Department of Agriculture Certified and Verified Pasture Raised Registered Ossabaw Island Pork” and is also a component in our Georgia Department of Agriculture approved bio-security plan.

Hamthropology is the only Ossabaw herd designated Validated and Qualified by the USDA and GA Dept of Agriculture.

“To become a Validated and Qualified Swine Herd by the USDA and Georgia Department of Agriculture, a herd must be tested quarterly for brucellosis and pseudorabies. This certification increases costs, but the consumer’s confidence in the product’s safety is significantly higher when the owner follows testing guidelines and knows the health of their herds. These steps are important components of the firm’s marketing strategy and I applaud their efforts.” – Gary W Black, Department of Agriculture Commissioner/
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Accolades + Testimonials

  • First Place – Golden Onion Professional Chefs Challenge – Vidalia, Georgia (Chef David Larkworthy)
  • James Beard House, New York City – Chosen to represent the state of Georgia (Georgia Grown) at this prestigious culinary event – Chef Holly Chute, Chef Savannah Haseler
  • Decatur Book Festival / Georgia Grown – Chef Kevin Gillespie (Gunshow)

knifeforkdivider  “The Ossabaw hog was one of the best pigs I have had the pleasure of working with.  The superb fat content produces roasted pork that is both impressively juicy as well as flavorful.  The crisp skin that pulled away with a thin layer of wonderfully melted pork fat is as sublime a bite as any other I have had the pleasure of tasting.  Kudos to the team at Hamthropology for producing such an amazing product.” Chef Ben Barth, Local Three

OUR PIGS

Island Creek Farms / Hamthropology Artisanal Hoggery offers our trademarked Registered Ossabaw Island Pork Farm-to-Chef.

Executive Chefs, if you have an interest in adding our exceptional Registered Ossabaw Island Pork to your menu specialties, please contact us at marc@hamthropology.com.

Ossabaw Island Pigs are very social, family oriented animals prospering in free-range conditions. Ossabaws are excellent parents with boars remaining as part of our family groups.

Using Common Sense Husbandry we have been able to breed for desired characteristics. As we continually strive to improve the quality of our herd, we always keep an eye on potential impressive young animals as future breeding stock. Through our quarterly wellness program and our natural, free-range environment we have happy, healthy Ossabaw Island Pigs!

These factors make for tasty and delicious meat! The taste profile of our meat is unique and unparalleled. The fat is high in Oleic Acid, the heart healthy fat found in olive oil.

For updates on Island Creek Farms and our family of Ossabaw Island Pigs, please connect with us on our Hamthropology Facebook Page or follow us on Twitter!

CONTACT

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297A Jule Ingram Rd
Milledgeville, GA  31061

678-520-9000
marc@hamthropology.com