'Sheep Pigs' Exist And They're Like Large Fuzzy Dogs

Aug 21, 2020 by apost team

Have you ever seen a pig that's covered in curly hair? The Hungarian sheep pig is sweet, friendly, and utterly adorable. Once you've seen a few of these smiling faces, you'll be amazed that these pigs aren't kept all over the world.

At first glance, these pigs look an awful lot like sheep. It's probably because of the curly, wool-like fur that covers their entire bodies. The fur keeps them warm in the cold environment of Hungary, where this breed of pig is typically found.

But if you interacted with one of these animals, you might start to think that they're a type of dog. Mangalica pigs are sweet and loving animals that will follow you around the yard while you get your work done. According to The Dodo, a Mangalica breeder says that "if you treat them nicely, they’ll become as tame as dogs–they’ll follow you, play with you." Still, when you look up close, it's pretty clear that these animals are actually pigs. They have the same cute snout and make the same grunting noises, but this type of pig is also coated in adorable curly fur.

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Mangalica pigs were created in 1833 by crossbreeding the Bakonyi and Szalontai breeds of Hungarian pig with the hardy and resilient European wild boar. Serbian pigs may have also been included in the mix. The result was an animal that didn't need a lot of care and was happy to forage in the forests of Hungary. Unfortunately, Mangalica pigs were a little too popular. A combination of over-hunting and under-breeding brought the species to near extinction during the 20th century. In 1950, the breed was the most popular in Hungary; by 1991, their population was reduced to as little as 200.

If it weren't for modern rebreeding efforts, there would be no more sheep pigs for people to love. Geneticist Peter Toth personally saved the Mangalica pig. He purchased the last Mangalicas after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Today, he is the president of the Mangalica Breeder's Association. Thanks to Toth's efforts, the Mangalica pig once again lives all over Hungary. The country has about 7,000 sows which produce anywhere from 20,000 to 60,000 curly little sheep piglets on a yearly basis.

According to The Pig Site, Mangalica pigs are found across Eastern Europe; the breed is also present in some parts of North America. Because the breed was driven to near-extinction, most of the breeds of Mangalica pig that once existed can no longer be found. Today's Mangalica's come in three different varieties: "blonde," "red," and "swallow-bellied." The pigs share the same ancestry, which means that the greatest differentiation is the color of their curly fur.

Hungarians are also discussing the possibility of recreating some of the old varieties of Mangalica by crossbreeding their current stalk. Some of the missing colors include "wolf," "black," and "baris." If enough pigs are born, maybe a wolf-colored Mangalica will once again walk the Hungarian countryside. In the meantime, most farmers are just glad that Peter Toth managed to rescue and repopulate this sweet and adorable breed.

Have you ever met a sheep pig? Now that you know what Mangalicas are, you can tell your friends all about them. Send this post to someone who wants to read it, and tell us your thoughts in the comments.