The Guinea Hog pig is also called piney woods Guinea, guinea pig, the acorn eater, and pig for the yard. This breed comes from the United States and is a race that is mainly domestic. Although its name maintains the name of Guinea, its origin is not in that place. Even this breed may have originated from crosses with species belonging to West Africa. The pigs were imported from West Africa and the Canary Islands to America in conjunction with the slave trade.
The original strain, although black, also had a touch of red and, consequently, they were called red guineas. That red guineas strain was well known at the beginning of the 19th century, although nowadays that strain is extinct. During the 1980s, new Guinea Hog Pig flocks were established, partly as a response to the pet pig market.
Characteristics of Guinea Hog Pig
The Guinea hog pig is a rare breed with a black coat, stout body, curly tail, and erect ears. A heritage pig breed, the American Guinea pig may be the best pig for your small farm. It is a small breed of pigs that are easy to handle, in moderate ways, that fattens well. These are the big beginners’ pigs, with sows typically reaching only 70 to 80 kilos if they are in good condition.
Boars grow up to approximately 110 kilos, although some may be a little larger. When the pigs reach a certain age to bring them to the slaughterhouse they weigh approximately between 60 and 70 kilos. You may also like to read Finnish Landrace Pig
The breed was one of the most numerous breeds of pigs found on farms in the southeast. Today there are about 200 individuals of this breed. They weigh less than 90 kilos and produce 25 to 50 kilos of meat and fat. There are two types of Guinea pigs in North America, Guinea pigs with small bones and large bones, and the latter have longer legs.
Almost there is also a type of Guinea Hog Pig in South America. This breed had erect ears, a furry coat, and a curly tail. There were likely many strains of Guinea Hogs. Since most of these are extinct, it is now impossible to unite all the threads of the history of Guinea hog pig into one neat piece.
The Guinea pig became rare as the pig’s habitat disappeared from the farm and survived only in the more isolated parts of the southeast. It is a race that is very long reaching up to one meter long, measured from a point between the ears to the base of the tail. These breeds have a straight back to slightly arched. From a side view, they should have a long, rectangular appearance.
At 2 years of age, this breed can reach up to 70 centimeters tall. In general, the males of this breed become between 5 and 10 centimeters taller than the females. You may also like to read Dutch Landrace pig
Food
The Guinea hog pigs are well-fed outdoors with free-range forage but are also at home in a pen and are reasonably balanced. This breed is suitable for use in pastures or in wooded areas where they grow in search of food. Guinea Hogs are expected to look for their food, eat rodents and other small animals, grass, roots, and nuts, and clean the garden beds. The pigs were also kept in the yard where they would eat snakes and thus create a safe area around the house.
Usage
The Guinea hog pig is a single-purpose breed since it is used for the production of meat. Although the meat of this breed has a high content of butter. Their gentle temperament and efficiency make them suitable for many smaller properties. Almost all the meats of guinea pigs have unique taste characteristics. The fat of the Guinea Hog is abundant and firm and has found interest with chefs and butchers to make charcuterie.
In addition, butter of this breed would be of particular interest to pastry chefs for use in crusts and dough. And they have a slice of exceptionally tender meat and they produce fine hams.
Special Features
The Guinea hog pig is exceptionally calm and friendly, making it an excellent choice for small sustainable family farms. The females of this breed have exceptional maternal abilities. Females with piglets are easy to handle, as are adult males. In addition, this breed can interact well with children and a wide range of farm animals. This breed is resistant so much that it can have a bad diet and still generate a good taste in the meat.
FAQ
Can you eat Guinea hogs?
The Gloucestershire Old Spots (GOS) is a heritage breed of English pig that originated in England over 300 years ago. It is known for its white coat with black spots and its docile nature. The breed was developed mainly through three traditional systems: culling, selection, and crossing with other breeds to improve certain traits.
What is a Guinea Hog Pig good for?
The Gloucestershire Old Spots (GOS) is a heritage breed of English pig that originated in England over 300 years ago. It is known for its white coat with black spots and its docile nature. The breed was developed mainly through three traditional systems: culling, selection, and crossing with other breeds to improve certain traits.
What is Guinea Hog for meat?
The Guinea Hog is a heritage breed of pig that was once found throughout the American Southeast. Its history can be traced back to the early 1700s when English settlers in the region brought their own pigs with them, including those known as “Guinea Hogs”. The Guinea Hog has distinctive characteristics, including short legs and a black coat with white stripes running along its back and sides. These hogs were primarily raised for meat production but have also been used for draught labor in some cases.
Conclusion
If you are looking to buy a Guinea Hog pig, we hope that this guide has been helpful. Please share your experience with us in the comments below and feel free to ask any questions if anything is still unclear for you!
As a reference: Wikipedia
