Contents
Pigs of the Mangal breed attract the eye with their unusual appearance. They have a thick, curly coat that allows them to winter outdoors. In Our Country, the breed is very rare and highly valued among farmers.
What is this breed “Mangal”
As you can see in the photo, Mangal pigs are distinguished by an unusual appearance, however, the main feature of the breed is considered to be high productivity and a thin greasy layer, which makes pig products especially expensive. Pigs of the Mangal breed belong to the meat direction.
The history of the creation and preservation of the breed
The Mangal pig breed appeared in 1830 in Hungary. One of the Hungarian nobles, Duke Josef, decided to cross domestic pigs with wild ones living in the Carpathians. Based on Mediterranean Sumadia pigs.
The duke wanted to create a breed of pigs that was maximally adapted to the climatic conditions of the area. The attempt was successful, and breeders bred a new breed of curly pigs that are immune to a variety of diseases that affect domestic individuals. These pigs could live on the street at any time of the year and in any weather, they did not need a full-fledged pigsty. As for nutrition, simple pasture was enough for the pigs.
Thanks to such significant advantages, the breed quickly became popular throughout the Austrian Empire and Ukrainian Transcarpathia. Often it was bred in the farms of churches and monasteries. The breed was so highly appreciated and recognized that in 1833 a law was passed that prohibited the crossing of Mangal pigs with other breeds.
When the Second World War ended, Mangal pigs were on the verge of extinction. The authorities of Hungary and Ukraine considered the breed useless, and almost all pigs were put under the knife. By the beginning of the 1970s of the XX century. there are only about 200 Mangal pigs left. However, already in the 80s of the same century, the Hungarian authorities launched a program to restore this valuable breed, to which at the beginning of the XNUMXst century. Austria, America and Britain joined. Somewhat later, Our Country and Ukraine began to import these pigs.
What kind of meat do pigs of the Mangal breed
“Marble” pig meat Mangal is juicy and tasty. It is many times more tender than the meat of pigs of other breeds and has practically no fatty layers. The carcass contains about 70 – 80% of meat. That is why Mangal meat is characterized by high consumer value.
Characteristics of pigs of the Mangal breed
As can be seen from the photo, Mangal pigs are distinguished by long, thick hair, curling into small rings. Wool somewhat reminiscent of sheep, is soft and pleasant to the touch. In Hungary, a pig of this breed is also called a “curly-haired pig”, in England – a “sheep-pig” (sheep-pig), and in Our Country – a “Hungarian downy pig mangalitsa”.
Mangals have the thickest wool in winter, this protects them from severe frosts. In the spring, the hairline of animals becomes more sparse, and black stripes appear on the back of pigs, characteristic of the wild ancestors of wild boars. Piglets are also born with stripes on their backs. If you constantly keep Mangal pigs in a warm pigsty, the wool necessary to adapt to frost will practically disappear.
There are 4 varieties of color of Mangal pigs: swallow, white, red and black. White pigs are about 80% of the total population. Red pigs are characterized by the highest productivity, they were bred by crossing white pigs with the Szalontai breed. Swallow-colored pigs were bred by crossing white pigs with the Sirius breed, the distinguishing characteristic of which is a larger physique.
Description and photo of the Mangal pig breed:
- animals have ears of medium size, strong, thin limbs;
- differ in thick, curly hairline;
- the live weight of a sow can reach 160 – 200 kg;
- wild boars, as a rule, weigh about 200 – 300 kg;
- have a strong constitution and a strong skeleton.
Photo of Mangal pigs:
Photo of piglets Mangalov:
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of the Mangal pig breed:
- lack of care;
- early onset of puberty;
- high percentage of meat content (70 – 80%);
- excellent taste qualities of meat products;
- inexpensive feed;
- resistance to low temperatures;
- immunity to many diseases.
Disadvantages of the Mangal pig breed:
- a rare breed for Our Country;
- high cost of pigs and piglets;
- the need for keeping in semi-wild conditions (walking);
- when overfeeding, animals are prone to obesity, which reduces the quality of the resulting meat products;
The cost of Mongolian pigs and piglets
Since Mongolian pigs are considered rare animals in Our Country, their price is quite high. On average, Mongolian piglets are sold for 12-20 thousand rubles. That is why the breeding of Hungarian downy pigs is an extremely profitable business.
How to determine the authenticity of Mangal piglets
When buying piglets, it is important to pay attention to the purity of the breed. To verify the authenticity of the animal, you can ask the seller for a certificate that is a confirmation of the pedigree.
Piglets should be bought only from trusted pig farms. It is advisable to ask the seller to show the parents of the piglet before buying: in this way, the risk of acquiring a pig of a non-purebred breed can be minimized.
Features of keeping pigs Brazier
Mangal pigs are semi-wild: in summer they are able to eat pasture on their own. Feedback from farmers indicates that caring for Mangal pigs is not difficult, however, they may require a spacious walking area for their maintenance.
Despite the fact that Mangals can be kept outdoors all year round, in winter it is still desirable for them to hide from severe frosts, especially for small piglets. Therefore, in addition to the walking area, you will need to build a pigsty.
Feeding Mongolian pigs and piglets
Pigs of the Mongolian breed are unpretentious in feeding, animals are omnivores, so they do not need a large amount of feed. If enough nutrients enter the pig’s body, it will be able to increase its weight by more than 600 g per day.
To ensure an increase in muscle mass in a short time, Mangal pigs should eat a lot of greens. In summer, they regulate their own food and diet, but in winter, animal feed must necessarily contain vegetables, grains and hay. Ideally, 70% of the diet should consist of root crops, corn tops and mixed grass hay, and 30% should be acorns and chestnuts.
Piglets are taught to forage at an early age. To do this, you can send them for walking with the sow. If walking pigs in the summer is not possible, you will also have to prepare food for them.
The introduction of cereals into the diet will help to accelerate the growth of piglets. From vegetables, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, potatoes and beets can be included in the feed. In addition to vegetables, pigs can also eat fruits. Vegetables and fruits are ground on a grater and only after that they are given to animals.
Newborn piglets of the Mangal breed need complementary foods, starting from the 3rd – 5th day of life. At first, they can be fed little by little with liquid mash and roasted barley grains. It will also be useful to introduce chalk, clay and bone meal into the diet. Upon reaching three weeks of age, piglets can eat exactly the same as adult animals.
When Mangal pigs reach a weight of 150 kg, it is important to diversify their diet and monitor the balance of the diet. A lack of nutrients can completely stop the growth of a pig. It is also extremely important for pigs to have free access to fresh, clean water.
Vaccination
Pigs of the Mangal breed are famous for their strong immunity, but they can still be affected by diseases such as distemper, encephalitis, erysipelas, foot and mouth disease, ascariasis, leptospirosis.
To prevent the development of these diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate animals. Timely vaccination will ensure the health of the entire population of pigs and other inhabitants of the farm.
Caring for pigs and piglets of the Mangal breed
If Mangalov piglets are fattened for slaughter, castration of animals at the age of 1 – 1,5 months is mandatory. After such a procedure, the weight of the animals, as a rule, begins to grow.
The room for keeping pigs Brazier should be large. The area should be calculated based on the fact that one pig needs about 5 square meters for a comfortable existence. m.
If there are few pigs, when laying the floor in a pigsty, an earthen mound is usually made, which is covered with boards on top. If the population is large, the best option would be to use a concrete slotted cover. At the time of laying the floor, it is also important to think about the construction of gutters for the removal of excrement products.
The ventilation in the room must be good. Lighting is also important: if there is too much light, pigs can become restless. The organization of the water supply in the pigsty will greatly simplify cleaning.
Arrangement of a walking area
Mangal pigs are quite large, so the area for their walking should be spacious. The territory must necessarily be fenced with a strong and stable fence that can withstand the onslaught of pigs and does not allow predators to enter. If you equip a walking area under a canopy, pigs will be able to hide under it from wind and rain.
It is extremely important to clear the area for walking from poisonous plants in advance. The site needs to be planted with grass, small shrubs are also suitable. Vegetable food for animals should be enough, it is the main source of energy for pigs.
Features of breeding
Mangal sows reach sexual maturity at the age of 5-7 months. However, it is not recommended to use animals weighing less than 100 kg. During one pregnancy, a sow can give birth to 12-16 piglets. The lack of its own weight will negatively affect the offspring, it may be born weak or unviable.
The duration of pregnancy of sows is 112 – 120 days. Sows are able to cope with farrowing on their own. Piglets grow up quite quickly, by the age of one month they become independent from the sow. The sow is ready for the second mating already 5-7 days after the piglets have been weaned. This allows you to get 2 litters per year.
Conclusion
Pigs of the Mangal breed are semi-wild animals that do not require special care. Almost any, including pasture, food is suitable for them as food, and for maintenance it will be necessary to build a pigsty and a walking area. Barbecue breeding is a profitable business, as the animals are highly valued among farmers and quickly gain a large mass.
