Red Wattle Hogs

The origin and history of the Red Wattle breed is obscure, but red hogs with wattles are known to have been in North America since at least the mid 1800’s. It is believed that these ancestors were introduced through the Gulf of Mexico and spread throughout the country. The modern roots of the Red Wattle hog can be traced to 20th century descendants of these wattled pigs in Texas.

Red Wattles are a large, red hog with a fleshy wattle attached to each side of the neck. The wattles have no known function. The breed is unique to North America making them especially valuable genetically.  The Red Wattle comes in a variety of shades of red, from light blond red to an almost black red. Red Wattle hogs are known for hardiness, foraging activity, and rapid growth rate. They have a mild temperament and their gentle nature recommends them to the small-scale, independent producers.

Mature animals weigh 600 to 800 pounds but may weigh as much as 1,200 pounds. They can reach up to four feet in height and up to eight feet in length when fully grown. The sows are excellent mothers and farrow from 7 to 12 piglets. They provide good quantities of milk for their large litters.

The preferred butchering weight is around 300 pounds. One can expect a well-marbled, flavorful meat that has been described as similar to beef.