Mangalica Hungarian (breed of pigs) - description, photos, reviews

Pig breeds now exist just a huge amount. One of the rarest and exotic is the Hungarian mangalica. Bred her mainly to get delicious dietary meat.

History of the breed

The Hungarian mangalitsa was hatched - as already can be judged by the name - in Hungary, by crossing the semi-wild Carpathian pigs Bakonyi and Szalontai from the Mediterranean Sumadia. The main distinctive feature of the breed is the presence of a fairly thick long wool, curling in the winter. The goal of crossing was the breeding of the most adapted to complex weather conditions and unpretentious in food animals.

Officially, the Hungarian mangalese breed was registered in 1830. At about the same time, it was forbidden to cross it with other kinds of pigs. Violations were even punishable by law. Unfortunately, in the middle of the last century, this wonderful breed was almost completely removed. This was due to a sharp increase in imports to Hungary of early ripening meat species of pigs. However, they did not forget about the Hungarian mangalitza. Thanks to the efforts of the VNIISK specialists, the breed was successfully restored. Hungarian breeders did not even have to cross with any other species of pigs. To restore the population, pigs of one of the half-wild flocks of mangalits were simply caught. After half a year of fattening, the live weight of the pigs reached about 350 kg. Some of the same specimens even weighted up to 500 kg. With all this, the animals completely preserved the genes of the old original breed. Activities were held to revive in the 80 years of the last century.

In Hungary, a breed of pigs Hungarian mangalica was imported immediately in large quantities. Originally it was bred in the Moscow region and the North Caucasus. Now this breed in our country is becoming more popular. As for foreign countries, it has spread in Spain, England, Hungary and Ukraine.

Characteristic features of the breed

As already mentioned, the main distinguishing feature of the exteriors of these pigs is the presence of wool. Other features include not too much fertility (4-5 piglets in the offspring), phenomenal unpretentiousness in food and the most delicious meat, in comparison with any other breeds. The latter characteristic is the main reason for the popularity of this species. Most varieties of mangalese shed. The pigs on the back clearly visible longitudinal strips, because of what they are very much like wild boar.

Adult specimens of the Hungarian mangalese breed (photos confirm this) have short legs and a large belly. The constitution and the backbone of these pigs are strong and well developed. Sexual maturity of females reach the end of the first year. The pregnancy can last 116-120 days.

Meat of mangalits

Currently, only two varieties of pigs are bred - meat and greengrocer. Hungarian mangalitsa belongs to the second group. The meat is very juicy, with fatty interlayers. Growth in young animals is quite fast. At the age of 8 months, pigs already have about 5 cm of subcutaneous fat (shpig). By 10 months this layer reaches 9 cm.

Meat of mangalits is considered a delicacy and, among other things, it is distinguished by its commercial appearance. Because of the layers of fat, it looks "marbled". In Europe, recently actively switching to natural products, it is valued very highly. Meanwhile, at the age of six months the piglets of the Hungarian mangalese weigh about 70 kg. And this is almost at the forage.

In Spain, many farmers keep these guinea pigs on a specially designed diet, one of the components of which are acorns. In the future, a very popular and expensive dish is prepared from meat - a raw hams of ham. Only one kilogram of this product costs 4 thousand rubles. The ham is poured first, and then dried in the shade in hot weather - in the hot breeze.

Features of the content

Thanks to the presence of wool, Hungarian mangalica can be kept on the ground in summer and in winter. In the warm season, the "coat" saves the animal from insects, in the cold - from frost. However, more often in winter, this pig is still kept in closed unheated barns. If you cultivate mangalits just like ordinary pigs - without walking at all, their hair does not grow. Inoculations of pigs of this breed do not.

How to feed

Omnivorous is another distinguishing feature of these animals. In the pastures of the pig, Hungarian mangalitsa eats the remains of harvested fields, reeds, acorns, grass (even very hard), algae, digs roots. You can feed animals with beets, zucchini, carrots, potatoes, etc. These corn cobs are very fond of these pigs. Experienced farmers engaged in breeding mangalits, do not advise giving them too much food. This is especially true for piglets. From overfeeding, babies can even die. And there is no sense in spending too much. With a minimal amount of food, these pigs can gain up to 700 grams of weight per day.

The piglets can be fed from 3-5 days of life with toasted barley and a liquid chatterbox. It is very good to give pigs chalk, red clay and bone meal. Of course, water should be available to animals constantly. Self-gnawing vegetables and fruits of the piglets begin at the age of three weeks. Striped in them disappears about a month after birth. At the same time they can be separated from the mother. Tails do not stop the pigs.

Hungarian mangalitsa: reviews

The opinion of this breed among our farmers is very good. In particular, the unpretentiousness of animals in food is appreciated and there is no need to equip the pigsty with heating equipment.

The business of breeding mangalits is considered profitable not only because of the rapid growth and tasty, well-divergent meat. Grow these guinea pigs for sale. Since Hungarian mangalitsa (photo of the representatives of the breed can be seen on the page) in our country is not too widespread yet, and the climatic conditions for it are not bad, they buy pigs very willingly.

Of course, experienced breeders are advised to purchase young animals only on farms that enjoy a good reputation. Standing pigs Hungarian down mangalitsa about 15 thousand rubles.

Very good response farmers and the nature of the animals we are considering. These pigs are very friendly, both in relation to their owners, and to other animals on the farmstead.

Abroad, sometimes there are not too flattering reviews about mangalitsy. However, they are associated mainly with ignorance of the characteristics of the breed and risky acquisitions of youngsters from questionable sellers. The fact is that some unscrupulous farmers are engaged in crossing wild boars with ordinary pigs, after which they give piglets for the offspring of mangalitses. These animals are very slow to gain weight, they have tough meat, and the character is aggressive.

Species of the breed

At the moment only three main varieties of mangalits are officially registered: blond (szoke), red (vurus) and swallow (fecskehasb). Farmers separate a so-called "black wolf" into a separate group. However, the origin of this species in breeders raises some doubts.

Mangalitzes are white

Blond at the moment - the most common species of the breed. The wool of these pigs can take different shades - from greyish-white to yellowish-red. These pigs are prone to seasonal molting. At this time, through heavily thinning hair, their pigmented skin is clearly visible. Hooves, mouth, rim of the nose and nipples in blondes are black. The ears and head of mangalits of this variety are of medium size, and the patch in the profile is slightly curved. Another distinctive feature is a thickened base at the base with a white tassel at the end. Eyebrows and eyelashes have szoke black. Sows of the Mangalci breed Hungarian varieties of blondes have five nipples on both sides.

There are some signs that are undesirable in terms of the purity of the breed - pink or light skin on the abdomen, white color, dark ends of hair, covered with dark stubble ears. Absolute or spotted wool, the presence of white skin on the skin and pink nipples are completely unacceptable.

Red variety

The main advantage of this group of mangalits is considered high fertility. One sow usually brings 8-10 piglets. These individuals also gain weight faster than others. Their wool is dark red, and the pigs grow very large. The species was bred in Hungary, in the east of the Great Plain.

Swallow

This group was obtained in the south of Croatia. The bristles of the swallows are black and quite short. At the bottom of the groats from the neck to the abdomen - white or silver.

Interesting about the breed

In the homeland of mangalitsy - in Hungary - an annual festival is held. Its participants present to the public the products made from the meat of these guinea pigs. These can be salami, sausages, the famous Hungarian hog and, of course, all kinds of smoked meat.

The export of pigs of this breed outside the country for breeding purposes is strictly prohibited. And yet, the Hungarian mangalica somehow quite widely spread around the surrounding countries in an incomprehensible way. However, the ban on Hungarians still affected the cost of these guinea pigs. Pay for their tender meat or young will have a lot.

As you can see, Hungarian mangalica is a very interesting breed, and its breeding, it is quite possible, will become a profitable business. Of course, the piglets are not cheap, but in the farms that are engaged in their breeding, orders are currently scheduled for a long time ahead, which indicates the growing popularity of these unpretentious exotic "sheep" pigs.