American Guinea
Hogs
Pigs, Piglets for Sale in Nantahala
North Carolina
Rare Homestead Breed
Rural Heritage |
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Guinea
Hog
The American Guinea Hog is an old-fashioned heritage pig that was popular on small farms in the southeast United States prior to the Civil War. Now it is making a comeback due to its small size and good foraging abilities.
It is a rare black lard pig weighing 250 to 300 pounds. They are hardy and efficient with a calm personality. It is ideally suited for homesteaders trying to be self sufficient.
They eat many types of food such as grass, weeds, roots, rodents, snakes,
nuts especially acorns, garden waste, windfall fruits, leaves, corn stalks,
and comfrey along with a balanced pig feed.
Females breed twice a year with litter sizes of 6 to 10, sometimes 12 or 13. Sows live to about 14 years. Boars live to about 17 years.
The piglets in these photos are 2 months old. They are with the sow. |
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Saving the Guinea Hogs
There is a book about them: “Saving the Guinea Hogs: The Recovery of an American Homestead Breed” by Cathy Payne.
"Saving the Guinea Hogs: The Recovery of an American Homestead Breed, is the first definitive history of the Guinea Hog. It is a comprehensive overview of the people who raised Guinea Hogs from 1940 to 1995, told in their own words and colorful stories. Some recall a time when their families did not have access to electricity or indoor plumbing. The Guinea Hog was utilized head to tail, providing meat, lard, and grease to meet crucial family needs."
More information about Guinea Hogs is available at the American Guinea Hog
Association.
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