Mangalitsa pig standard apron

The Mangalitsa Pig (MON-go-leet-sa) was created in 1833 by the Hungarian Royal Archduke Jozsef. It stands out from other breeds by being woolly almost like a sheep. It is an "unimproved" breed, which means that it derivers from European wild boars and has not been mixed with pigs from Asia like many other European pig breeds. Originally the Mangalista pigs were often fed a mix of pasture, potatoes and pumpkins produced on the farm, but today they are fed like other pigs and a substantial part of their food consists of corn. The breed is known for its very marbled and tasty meat. The Mangalista fat less saturated than fat from other pig breeds, which makes it healthier to eat, it also keeps longer, due to higher levels of oleic acid.