The Red Wattle pig is a domestic breed of pig originating in the United States. It is also called Red Wattle Hog, and the breed is named for it’s red color and distinctive wattles and tassels.
Currently total population of the breed is very less and it is listed as ‘Threatened‘ in the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy or ALBC.
Exact earlier history of the breed is not clear, but the modern breed has descended in the late 1960s and early 1970s from the animals found in East Texas.
The Red Wattle pig breed is developed by H. C. Wengler who cross-bred two wattled red sows with a Duroc boar for staring the ‘Wengler Red Waddle’ line. Also in the same area other animals were found about 20 years later by Robert Prentice, and became the Timberline line of Red Wattle pig.
Prentice also crossed his Timberlines with Wengler’s line to make the Endow Farm Wattle pig. There was no central breed association, but there were three breed registries maintained in the 1980s.
Only 42 breeding animals were found by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy in 1999. And all these 42 breeding animals belonging to six breeders.
An association for the Red Wattle pig was started named ‘Red Wattle Hog Association‘, and since September 2012 it has maintained the pedigree book for the breed.
Currently the breed is listed by Slow Food USA in the Ark of Taste. Read more information about the breed below.
Red Wattle Pig Characteristics
Red Wattle pigs are medium to large animals. They are easily characterized by their red coat and distinctive wattles. Although their coloration can be of various shades of red, and sometimes almost black. Average height of the animals is about 120 cm.
Average live body weight of the mature Red Wattle boars is around 340 kg. And the mature sows on average weight around 249 kg. Photo and info from Wikipedia.
Special Notes
The Red Wattle pig is a very hardy animal. It is excellent forager and grow relatively fast. It is resistant to disease and is usually mild-tempered.
The breed is actually very suitable for the extensive pig farming system. The sows are very good mothers, and they generally have 10-15 piglets per litter. However, review full breed profile of the Red Wattle pig in the chart below.
| Breed Name | Red Wattle | |
| Other Name | Red Wattle Hog | |
| Special Notes | Well adapted to native climates, very hardy and usually active, grow relatively faster, good foragers, mild-tempered, resistant to diseases, very suitable for extensive management system, sows generally have 10-15 piglets per litter | |
| Breed Size | Medium to large | |
| Boars | Around 340 kg | |
| Sows | Around 249 kg | |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates | |
| Color | Red or various shades of red, and sometimes almost black | |
| Rarity | Threatened | |
| Country/Place of Origin | United States |
