Guinea Hog
The Guinea Hog is an American breed of small black domestic pig originating in the south-eastern United States. It was formerly known by many names, including Acorn Eater, Guinea Forest Hog, Pineywoods Guinea and Yard Pig; it has since 2006 officially been named the American Guinea Hog. Its origins are unknown; a connection to the Essex pigs of eastern England has been suggested. It is unconnected to an older type of large red pig, also known as the Guinea Hog or as the Red Guinea, which was distributed in the north-eastern United States and disappeared in the late nineteenth century. It is an endangered breed with a black coat, sturdy body, curly tail and upright ears. There are two sub-types within the breed, a small-boned and a large-boned type, the latter having longer legs.
| Life Span | 15-20 years |
| Weight | 50-350 kg |
What to Know Before Buying a Guinea Hog
Finding a responsible Guinea Hog breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells pigs commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Guinea Hog. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Guinea Hogs appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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