Pigs have fur like sheep

Pig breeds of Hungarian origin are often easily confused with sheep, because of the thick and ruffled coat that covers the whole body.

Mangalitsa or Mangalica is a rare breed of pig native to Hungary.The unusual feature of this pig is that it is thick, long, and rough, covering the whole body like sheep.

Thick coat can be black, red, gray, but the most common is yellow.Lincolnshire Curly Coat is a breed of pig that has been known for almost similar characteristics, but is extinct.

According to researchers, the breeding process of Mangalitsa pigs began in the 1980s.

Pigs Mangalitsa do not require special care, their main food is wheat, corn, barley, grass . Pork Mangalitsa is considered one of the best meat in the world.

From the early 19th to 1950s, this was the most popular breed in Hungary.Pig fat is used to produce soap, candles, cosmetics, and even industrial lubricants.

The demand for lard reduced gradually from the middle of the 20th century. This breed was gradually replaced by other varieties, more meaty and less fat.By the end of the 1970s, Mangalitsa pigs could only be found at the zoo and park in Austria.Meanwhile in Hungary, the number of sows is less than 200.

Mangalica almost became extinct in the 1990s, with less than 200 individuals.

In 1994, Hungary's Mangalica Pig Breeding Organization was established to protect this exotic breed.Today, there are more than 8,000 sows that are being raised here, with an average annual production of 60,000.According to researchers, this can help pigs Mangalica escape the risk of extinction.