What is a Mangalica Pig

Have you ever wondered about any interesting breed of pigs? Pigs are becoming popular nowadays and there is still little knowledge that the common people know about them! Here, we’ll talk about the Mangalica Pig.

What is a Mangalica pig? The Mangalica Pig is a rare Hungarian breed of domesticated pig. What makes the Mangalica pig stand out from other pigs is its thick and woolly coat similar to a sheep! Unlike most breed of pigs that have a barely visible hair in their body, the Mangalica has a coat instead.

The Mangalica pig is also known as “Mangalitsa” (US Spelling) or “Mangalitza” (UK Spelling) and you can refer to it using any of these terms. The original Hungarian spelling is “Mangalica”.

The curly haired pig that looks like a sheep is said to be a product of crossbreeding certain Hungarian breeds from Szalonta and Bakony with the European wild boar and the Serbian Šumadija breeds.

It is said that Mangalica pigs were originally bred for lard. However, because of the insufficient demand for lard, Mangalica pigs began to decline in population and began to be considered as a “rare breed”

Another reason why this breed almost turned extinct is because of the war related issues related to the country in the past.

Luckily, an animal geneticist named Peter Toth did all that he could to gather the last of the remaining Mangalica pigs in hopes of saving the breed from extinction.

An average adult Mangalica can grow from 70 cm to 90 cm. When measured from snout to their tails, the average length is 120 cm to 140 cm.

The average weight for Mangalica pigs depends on their age, from one year old they are usually 70 kg up to 80 kg and they will continuously grow. Once they are fully grown, they may reach 200 kg up to 300 kg.

So now, what are more interesting things to know about this adorably rare breed pig? Aside from its unique appearance, it still has a lot more to offer.

3 Types of Mangalica Pigs

Since these pigs are a product of crossbreeding, it resulted into three different types. They are all the same, but may differ a bit in terms of color and appearance.

A. Red Mangalica — this type of Mangalica is the product of crossbreeding the Blonde Mangalica with the Szalonta breeds. This color is described as ginger.

B. Swallow-bellied — the result of crossbreeding Blonde Mangalica with the now extinct Black Mangalica. Swallow-bellied has two colors. It is black on the back and blonde in the belly.

C. Blonde Mangalica — the common color for Mangalica breeds.

The original coloration of Mangalica breeds is all black and blonde. However, the black Mangalica is now extinct because of the previous wars.

Though it may still be possible to produce a black colored Mangalica by using selective breeding.

What do Mangalica pigs eat?

The natural diet of a Mangalica pig consists of wheat, corn and barley.

However, just like every other pig, Mangalicas are not picky eaters and still have an opportunistic mentality when it comes to food.

As long as they think it is edible, they will eat it. All pigs are omnivores and capable of eating both plants and meat.

What to feed Mangalica pigs

Just like people, pigs need a balanced and healthy diet in order to stay fit. This is an important reminder for pet pig owners because OBESITY is becoming one of the most common issues among pet pigs.

The best choice for pig feed is a real pig pellet which can be brought from poultry supply stores, pet stores and through the internet.

Pig pellets are usually made with the right vitamins and nutrients needed by an average pig. Feeding the right amount of pellets will give them the balanced diet that they need right away!

Treats enjoyed by Mangalica pigs

We want to please our pigs and reward them with the right treats especially if we are training them. So what are the known treats loved by pigs? After researching, I managed to come up with this list.

PBB Cheerios
Baked Cheese Crisps
Popcorn (think about watching a movie and sharing popcorn with your buddy!)

Bite-Size Shredded Wheat
Grapes

Source: https://potbelliedpigstlc.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/5-best-treats-for-pot-belly-pigs/

Perhaps you can rely on this list to house train your Mangalica pig if you’re looking to keep one as a pet. I’m sure they will love at least some of it.

Mangalica pigs can eat grass, roots and some insects

A normal pig will graze on grass, dig the ground to search for edible roots and “hunt” for non-poisonous insects.

Mangalica pigs will instinctively know what is dangerous for them to eat like poisonous mushrooms and will decided to avoid such things.

Letting your pig eat grass that had no contact with chemicals and search for food in grounds with fresh, natural soil is completely safe and okay.

Want more details about what to feed your pig? You can read our article solely dedicated to pig feeding here.

How much water does a Mangalica pig needs

An average pig will drink 5 to 10 liters of water on a daily basis! Aside from knowing what to feed, it’s also important to know how much water they need.

However, Mangalicas might need more than the regular amount of water due to their coat.

All pigs have a hard time staying warm or cooling off because of their inability to sweat. They do have sweat glands, but it not as functional as it should be.

Most pigs also don’t have enough hair to help them with adjusting to temperatures, but the Mangalica pigs have too much of it that keeping them under warm temperatures may be bad for them.

If the weather is too hot, make sure your Mangalica will stay dehydrated and cool.

Pregnant pigs or mothering pigs might require twice the average amount in order to produce enough nutrients for her litter (piglets) as well as enough milk.

What NOT to feed a Mangalica

Even though they are NOT picky eaters and have what we call a “stomach of steel”, doesn’t mean we can feed them almost anything. There are still things we must watch out for.

FEEDING MEAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED

Although pigs are omnivores, most domesticated pigs have a specific restriction on what not to eat. Pigs should not eat meat, it’s not advisable and owners should be prohibited from feeding their pig with meat.

It is not limited to just meat. Meat products and other food that had contact with meat should be avoided at all costs.

This also includes food scraps, bakery waste, waste from restaurants and untreated used cooking oils and fats.

WHY PIGS MUST NOT CONSUME MEAT

The easiest way for pigs to get sick or infected is to eat meat.

Terrible virus outbreaks that happened in the past began in pigs. Pigs are capable of getting infected by zoonotic diseases.

Zoonotic diseases are viruses that can be transmitted to humans.

For some areas or states, it might already be considered illegal to irresponsibly allow your pig to eat meat.

Notoriously known viruses that made their way to global news after taking hundreds or more innocent lives will be listed below.

Swine Influenza (H1N1 virus)

This virus is deadly to all ages. It may be similar to a typical fever, but once it gets bad, it can be fatal to the point of death.

Foot-and-mouth disease

Causes severe fever, inflammation, appetite loss, sore throat, depression, and pain in the tongue or gums, red rashes on palms and soles and irritability in infants or toddlers.

Almost anyone knows or has heard about these viruses and should keep in mind how risky it can be. A huge threat can be eliminated just by following a simple advice.

Do not feed meat to your pig.

AVOID LEFTOVERS OR SPOILED FOOD

Even when pigs are known to have a “stomach of steel” (meaning they can eat nearly anything and ingest them without getting sick or feeling sick), it’s still safer to stick to proper food.

We must not rely too much on their natural ability to tolerate any type of food. Just because they CAN eat anything, doesn’t mean we SHOULD feed them literally just anything.

What a pig consumes affects their growth, reproduction, health, behavior and their entire lifespan.

Please do not feed leftovers or spoiled food to your pig.

AVOID FEEDING PIGLETS WITH SEEDY FRUITS/FOODS

For adult or matured pigs, eating almost any kind of fruit is safe and won’t be a threat. However, young pigs or piglets might be put at risk when they swallow seeds.

It may not cause a critical condition, but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.

Don’t risk too much when it comes to health as anything can dangerous can turn fatal any moment.

There are incidents where piglets choked to death and some had a problem when the seed was large enough to hinder several body functions that resulted in various issues.

AVOID MUSHROOMS

Most pigs will instinctively know if a food is poisonous or not. However, it becomes a different story when the food is handed to them by their caretakers or trusted persons.

Since they are comfortable with anything their caretaker or trusted people will give them, they might not even think twice when eating the food that will be placed in front of them.

If you happen to see some mushrooms nearby and decided you want to give them to your pig as a treat, we highly advise you to avoid wild mushrooms as there are many kinds of poisonous mushrooms.

AVOID OTHER PET FOODS

There are reported cases of pig owners feeding pigs with dog food, cat food and other food not suitable for pigs.

Every living animal will have different body types, functions and needs.

This is why it’s highly recommended to feed your pig with the right and appropriate food to avoid getting sick!

Pigs will still eat the food and can survive even with the lack of proper nutrients, but can result with a weaker body and a less stable immune system.

How much is a Mangalica pig?

A Mangalica pig costs $75 to $300. Prices may change and vary depending on your country or area.

You can also check with reputable local breeders around your area! The easiest place to find or buy pigs is over the internet.

How much does it cost to raise a pig?

An estimated total could take up to $600 and more. It’s natural to wonder about the total costs after finding out about their needs, so here’s a helpful page that can explain all the costs in full detail for you.

Link: https://lovelivegrow.com/cost-to-raise-a-pig/

To explain further with more detail, the feed alone could get expensive. You must also consider the amount of water supply for drinking.

Housing or bedding if they are indoor pets is necessary for comfort too. Medications and treatments should be added to your calculations and lastly, if it’s required, licensing may cost some money as well.

Please be reminded that prices may differ depending on your country or area therefore we can only provide an estimated amount.

Is it legal to own or raise a pig?

The Mangalica breed is known to be a heritage breed of pig. They are now making a comeback and is easily being accepted because of their unique appearance.

The answer about legalizing depends on where you live. Laws differ on every country especially regarding animal welfare. It’s highly recommended to check with your local officers to verify first before you adopt a pig.

If it requires a license, please register your pig for its safety and yours too. It might also come with various benefits, so it’s worth the cost.

We have a helpful guide on how to get a license for your pet pig. Read it here.

Can you keep a Mangalica as a pet?

Yes, but as mentioned above, you may be required to register and get a license for any breed of pet pig first.

Can Mangalicas be good pets?

Yes, they can be good pets! They are becoming one of the most wanted pet pigs. Mangalica pigs are known to be the “pig that looks like a sheep but behaves like a dog”.

They are naturally gentle, clean, playful, smart, positive and social creatures.

There are more positive traits for pigs. They are not dangerous and almost the opposite of the negative image the world has put up for them.