Cseri Miklós - Sári Zsolt (szerk.): Szerencsemalac, A mangalica. Skanzen füzetek 2. (Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2009)

The mangalica today Not even 1000 mangalica lived in Hungary after 1960 and the species became the most endangered pig species. This situation changed from 1990, when mangalica breeding was given an organised impulse. The National Association of Mangalica Breeders was founded again and they begun with the registration of individual hogs still to be found as well as with further breeding. It is not simple to breed mangalica. To obtain a good quality of meat, the animal has to be kept outdoors for at least one year Unlike the meat suppliers, which are slaughtered when they reach 80 kg, the mangalica has to grow first to 140 kg to ensure the meat's ideal marbled quality. The other problem is the mangalicá 50 % meat proportion compared to 70 % of meat suppliers. It is a species with slow development, fertile with 5-6 farrows, while meat suppliers produce 12-14 offspring. The man- galica, however: doesrit require any vaccination and doesrit need any artificial complementary food; the animals feed on traditional fodder Thanks to the efforts of several farmers and societies, the number of mangalica population has considerably grown up to now. The mangalica enjoyed more and more international reputation and demand. It has conquered besides the domestic market the Spanish market too: most of the mangalica reared in Hungary finish on Spanish plates as ham and other cured meat. The Parliament issued a decree in 2004 to declare national treasure those Hungarian protected autochthon or endangered species, which represent important genetic value. The attachment of the decree enlists the species referred to, among them the wellknown grey cattle, the racka sheep and the mangalica.