Features breeding pigs breed Hungarian mangalitsa

To see a pig on Ukrainian farms with a luxurious curly hair like a sheep’s - rare opportunity. We know little about the rare breed of pigs that have long conquered the whole of Europe. What attracted Hungarian mangalica farmers of progressive countries, what are its features and disadvantages, how to raise such a pig - we will tell about all this later in the article, you will also find photos of pedigree pigs and recommendations of their care professionals.

Breeding history

This amazing breed can be safely considered one of the most unusual. Long hair coils, resembling astrakhan, can not leave indifferent lovers pig pig "beauty." From a distance they are easily confused with a sheep herd, probably, therefore, the pigs had the parallel name “sheep pigs”.

It all started from the distant 1833, when, on the orders of the Hungarian Archduke Joseph, attempts were made crossbreeding domestic and wild pigs. The experiment was a success. The resulting brood of half-savages could easily hibernate in the bitter cold, was highly immune and took care of his own food.

New breed interested in monasteries. Over time, this interest has grown into a mass breeding. Often in the forest glades and meadows of Hungary one could see whole herds of monastic wards.

By the end of the century, the demand for shaggy mangalicans crossed the borders of the country. The owners of large lands had more profits from pig farming than from logging and growing cereals. Around 1900, this breed learned residents of Ukrainian Transcarpathiawhere native Hungarians brought the animals. They bred whole herds of curly, grazing them in the forests and valleys. A little later, the Hungarian mangalica came to Britain. But since local farmers switched from grease to meat, its breeding was not successful.

Very soon, the meat pigs ousted mangalica from the agricultural market. The number of pigs on farms rapidly fell and in general barely reached 7 hundred. If the farmers had not realized themselves in time, the breed would have gone into oblivion. Rescue livestock began on the initiative of the Hungarian pig breeders in 1994. Then the National Association of pigs was created. Over time, the idea was picked up by the British company "Big Paradise" and farmers from the United States of America. Today, woolly purebred pigs around the globe, there are about 7 thousand individuals.

Breed description

It is impossible to confuse Hungarian mangalitsa with another breed of pigs. These unique artiodactyls have many striking differences.

The first thing that strikes you - this long curly woolthat thickly covers the whole body and even the ears. But if you keep the animals in a warm room and feed well, then the sheep's hair falls out. It is a natural defense against colds and insects.Thanks to such a fur coat, animals can be kept outside all year round.

The second important feature in the description of the Hungarian mangalica breed is pronounced dark spot on the bottom edge of the ears. The label among farmers is called the "Wellman spot." It can vary in size from 3 to 5 cm and is a sure sign of pedigree. This is also indicated by the black skin around the eyes, stigma, hooves, nipples and on the inside of the tail. Representatives of the Hungarian selection have a powerful, but light bones, have a body and head of medium size. Their ears are directed forward, and the profile is slightly curved.

The breed is ranked as greasy group. Adult boars weigh up to 300 kg, with more than half they gain in the first 12 months of fattening. By this time the females mature. Their annual weight is 160 kg with an increase of about 75 cm.

Hungarian piglets are distinguished from wild ancestors by their calm balanced temperament. They inherited endurance and the ability to memorize the way home.Sows have a good natural instinct and protect their offspring, warm it in winter.

Species of breed by type of coloring

Earlier, during the mass "procession" of the breed on European farms, shaggy pigs differed in different colors that could satisfy every taste. Among them were white, gray, black, gray-brown, red, smoky with light blueness and many others. But today, of all this diversity, there are only 4 subspecies:

1. White. It is the most popular color of modern Hungarian mangalitz. About 80 percent of the total number of such individuals.

2. The black. Unfortunately, today individuals with such hair are very rare.Some experts say that the coloring is already lost.

3. Red (sometimes called red). Also on the verge of extinction.

4. "Swallow" (or mixed color). Pigs of this subspecies are characterized by black back, snout and back of the ears, white belly and legs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Judging by the reviews of livestock breeders, the breed of pigs of the Hungarian mangalica is characterized by both positive and negative characteristics. We will understand in more detail these nuances.

pros

The main advantages of the breed are:

• economic benefits from keeping animals (they feed on pasture and do not require special conditions for breeding);
• herd social behavior;
• the quality of lard and meat, which, according to international criteria, is considered a delicacy;
• genetic immunity of piglets;
• young endurance;
• high profitability.

Minuses

It would seem that everyone dreams of such pigs: they seem to be there, but there is no hassle with them - only profit. However, along with the positive moments of breeding this species, negative:

• the difficulty to find purebred parents for breeding offspring;
• the content of these half-wilds requires a large grazing with high-quality food;
• due to the fact that demand exceeds supply, the price of pedigree pigs is not available to the average consumer;
• low productivity of females (this feature is typical for all pedigree pigs).

How to choose pigs when buying

If you decide to acquire young Hungarian mangalica, go for a purchase not on the market or on the Internet, but on farms with a good reputation. After all, one should not expect from mongrel piglets above the mentioned endurance and adaptation to any conditions of detention. Be prepared that the search for the right product can take a lot of time, because the breed is truly considered exotic. To avoid becoming a victim of dishonest sellers, remember main breed signs:

• "Wellman's stain" on the ear;
• black skin around the eyes, nipples, on the stigma, hoofs and the inside of the tail;
• thick coat of white, red, black color or "swallow";
• striped back, which is a genetic legacy from wild ancestors.

Half-breeds can be seen immediately by an unfriendly character. They also gain weight poorly, picky at food and have hard meat.

Buy piglets need a couple. In the company they have fun, they eat better and, accordingly, grow faster. Carefully inspect the animals you like. They, in addition to a good appetite, must have a healthy appearance. Choose a young growth with a broad sternum and a straight back, shining hooves, even and strong legs, a curved "bagel" tail, clean eyes and ears. Healthy individuals are always playful and active. When you take them in your arms, they begin to squeal loudly. The muffled and sluggish sound, or the lack of it, is indicative of poor health and weakness of the cloven-hoofed.

Conditions for content

It is said that Hungarian mangalicans don't care at all what conditions they will grow. Food and lodging will find themselves. And everything else - little things. But caring owners keep the herd in special pens with access to pasture.

To get a herd of woolly pigs, you need to take care of a large and high-quality grazing. It is desirable to protect from wild animals and dogs. This can be any field grass or a specially sown field.

Inside, be sure to build low summer canopies, where animals can hide from the scorching sun and bad weather.

It is also important to build warm pigsty for the winter. Despite the endurance and fitness of barbecues to winter in a haystack, they will be more comfortable in a good room. After all, bad conditions will necessarily affect the productivity of the herd. In the pen should be constant access to fresh water.

What care is needed

The breeders say that the Hungarian magnalitz was created for the lazy, because these hoofed animals, unlike the traditional varieties of pigs, do not require any care. They are important that there is a lot of grass, vegetables, fruits, acorns and water.

Experts in the field of animal husbandry for home cultivation advise not to test animals for strength and provide them with the same care as other pets. Caring for curly pigs is reduced to their daily grazing, cleaning pens and changing bedding. In this case, do not forget that the pigs are quite independent and do not need constant supervision. Make sure that they have access to grass and water, but do not overfeed them.

Care for shaggy facilitates their genetic resistance to common pig diseases. These piglets do not need to be vaccinated and given antibiotics. They do not get sick.Veterinarians only remind of the need to disinfect young and adults from lice and worms every six months.

Small pigs after birth, it is desirable to break off the canines, so that they do not bite the sow during feeding. The timely castration of hogs is also important.

How to feed

This breed is so specific that questions about how and how to feed the Hungarian mangalica are solved by themselves. Woolen Pigs omnivores. They will not give up feed of plant and animal origin, their processed products, food waste.

In winter, artiodactyls eat roots, acorns, chestnuts, hay, sliced ​​corn stalks, bones, wheat braga, bran and offal. Do not indulge curly babies with select delicacies, otherwise they will no longer eat properly and will require delicacies.

In the summer season, pigs are given grass (meadow, garden weeds, medicinal and any other), fruit carrion, duckweed, shoots,bark and roots of various trees (especially like oak), potatoes, corncobs, carrots, beets, squash.

Rearing

Sows after farrowing are not allowed for walking and are kept together with piglets in closed pen. It is important that up to the age of one and a half months young offspring, together with mother's milk, receive all the necessary vitamins and microelements. Therefore, special attention is paid to the nutrition of the uterus.

Some owners cost the purchase of feed. Others share their own cooking experience. This will require: hay or succulent feed (70%), head (15%), corn (20%), wheat and bran (10% each), chalk or meat and bone meal (1%), barley (40%) and premix for piglets (1%).

Feed the young can be a week after birth. The best option for them is roasted barley or a liquid chatterbox. To strengthen bones, it is advisable to offer bone meal, chalk or red clay to piglets. In no case should not be allowed to feed the maternal feed into the feeding trough of the babies.It is fraught with diarrhea, general malaise, stunting and even death. Monthly piglets feed starter feed with the addition of root crops, hay or dried herbs. At this age, they can already be weaned from sows for sale.

If you plan to leave livestock for yourself, during this period, you can teach kids to run. Up to the age of four months, piglets are given feeds from mackerel (3%), chalk (5%), premix (1%), bran (10%), wheat (29%), barley (29%) and corn (30%).

Older individuals are not limited in the selection of food. The main thing is that in the daily ration of mangalits there should be about 70% of green or root crops, 20% of chestnuts and acorns, 10% of compound feed.

As you can see, the cultivation of the Hungarian mangalitsa does not require costs, due to which it is a very profitable business. Today, the demand for individuals of this breed is growing again.