The American Guinea Hog - Marty Travis, Spence Farm

[@buffalopatriot]

I'm buying 5 AGH's this week. My first hogs, so I really appreciate this video. Thank you and I'll keep you abreast as to their progress.

[@mrrs007]

As an owner/ breeder of AGH hogs for going on 5 years I found some interesting conflicts in the presentation. First the sizes quoted (160 lbs 100 lbs hanging weight) at 2 years do not represent what I,or others, see in the hogs generally when dealing with good genetics or adequate feed. And yes I am also a member of the AGHA. Your own description of Thomas Jeffersons writings on the hog on your website describe a sub 300 lb hog not a sub 200lb hog.The hog is a lard hog and a hog with a lard carcass should convert feed to fat very efficiently.And yes the hog fed like a 500lb-600 lb red wattle was obese. However while restaurant chefs,your customer base according to your website, typically are more interested in a higher meat to fat ratio a healthy adult AGH will and should carry more back fat and lard than the sizes you quote would allow. I also as a small Southeastern homesteader find the concept that you 100% pasture raise a non seasonal breeding animal in Illinois(with its winters) for two years is farfetched and incredibly inefficient. A piglet farrowed in midsummer would have to be overwintered twice before reaching your two year slaughter date.Small farm doesnt mean economically immune farm.Your own description of your tiny pen rotation system (wildly labor intensive and smacks of rolling confinement) includes significant supplemental feeds and finishing. I appreciate that you do grow all of your supplemental feeds and GRAINS but they are supplemental nonetheless. They are not free .They are an allocation of an available resource which requires intense management.And yes we have butchered at 10 months and at two years and I see no difference in flavor using the same finishing though the total yield of a 200-275 lb sow (not 160) is higher than that of a 180lb barrow.In fact we view the hogs ability to generate back fat and leaf lard efficiently as making it a dual purpose animal.One that supplies us with healthy flavorful meats and healthy flavorful fats/oils. We no longer purchase butter or cooking oils because of the fact we grow and fully utilize our AGH lard hogs. I am glad the model works for you and to each their own But I do think you misrepresent best breeding and raising practices to the uninitiated

[@ronnesler3345]

+mrrs007 I think this is a very negative comment. I bought a hog from Marty and was initially given a lot of great pointers from him. the comment above i think is out of line for a board member of the AGHA. Yes there is some labor involved in moving pins around, but this is just what Marty does for better quality meat. you can feed your hogs more, and get them fatten up faster. our hogs are on pasture and the weights are pretty close to accurate. the comment about Thomas Jefferson writings, well a lot has changed in feeding habits and nutritional facts. We don't still run things the same way as Thomas Jefferson time frame.

[@mrrs007]

+Ron Nesler To be accurate my representation of myself was as a current member of the AGHA. Which at the time of the comment (and currently)was appropriate. Any other role I assumed after I made this comment is not germane to the discussion. And in future discussions I would not offer anything further than what I offered as to do so would be in my mind an inappropriate attempt to leverage my volunteer work for the breed. However if you are going to take me to task you might want to consider your position relative to AGHA board members before entering into this particular criticism in a public discussion. As to my comments I stand by them. The author has the option to challenge,delete or refute anything I said. This is a public forum and I still appreciate those areas in American society where discourse and exchange is still prized free from political correctness . Hugs all around

[@xkitchick]

What do u do if the pigs refuse to eat grass???? Mine refuse and just scream at me.

[@l2iowacowgirl893]

I'm an Iowa girl who did you buy you first pigs from? I currently raise Guinea hogs that have no papers was told they are 100% but always wonder. We roasted a few last year for a wedding and was fantastic. I have a few more to go to the locker soon. I have mine in a past and have free choice hay and they get a 2.5 gallon bucket of grain more as treat between 10 pigs just to make it easier to get my cows out to milk. I'm working on getting a separate pin for the pigs. Loved the video