American Guinea Hogs

Wickham farm has been raising red wattle hogs since 2009. We currently have 6 red wattle sows/gilts, 2 red wattle boars and 5 piglets. We really love the red wattles, but are always open to something new and different. I had heard about a farm in Dell Rapids, South Dakota that specialized in preserving rare breed hogs (isn't the internet great!). After exchanging a couple of emails and phone calls, Jane and I made the long drive to Maveric Heritage Ranch in Dell Rapids, South Dakota to add American Guinea Hogs to our farm. I thought we would come home with 3 gilts and a boar. Silly me! Maveric Ranch has several lines of Guinea Hogs so choosing just a couple was very difficult. Jane picked out 8 girls and 2 boys, but Arie McFarlan, owner of Maveric Ranch made sure that the long drive was well worthwhile. Five more girls were added to the trailer so as to have a full load. We came home with 13 girls and 2 boys. An instant Guinea herd. Thanks Arie!

Our son Nick saying hello to one of our new Guinea Hogs.

 So why Guinea Hogs? The American Guinea Hog is a small black pig that is unique to the United States. The breed was popular in the United States for many years, but became nearly extinct. They are now listed as critically endangered by the ALBC. Thomas Jefferson was among those who documented early imports of the breed to the U.S. The hogs were imported to the U.S. from West Africa in conjunction with the slave trade. More info on the Guinea Hog is available at the American Livestock Breed Conservancy's website.

We feel that Guinea Hogs are ideal for the small homestead. Guinea hogs were expected to forage for their own food, eat rodents and other small animals, grass, roots and nuts, and clean out garden beds. What more could you ask for from a pig? Oh yea, what about taste? Although we haven't eaten any yet, we are also told that they taste great! Arie has entered her Guineas in many taste tests and won! Her hogs are featured on the menus of many fine restaurants across America. We hope that Wickham Farm Guineas will do so well.