Way back when, long ago, in the mists of time, the folks who homesteaded the land had hogs. Fat hogs. Hardy hogs. Hogs that didn’t need a lot of pampering and could live off the land. Even in the fall, going into winter, there were no worries about taking care of the pigs. Once it froze and the grasses finished curing and the flies disappeared, it was time to process the fat pigs and wean the little pigs for next year.
Welcome to the world of the Mangalitsa. These guys are heritage pigs that thrive on heritage living. They don’t fear the cold of winter. They can thrive on a variety of feeds. The sows take care of their young well. In fact, the whole herd watches out for the young. The other day two sows, one with piglets, gave me a hard time when I went into look at them. Then I realized the puppy had followed me in. They didn’t appreciate her presence! The Mangalitsa is the ultimate homestead hog for our farm.
You can get your own piece of heritage today! Fall is a fine time to start your Mangalitsa for next year.
- For one thing, there’s not as much competition, so prices are lower.
- Also, they grow fine on the extra veggies and other feeds you can scrounge. We feed hay, meat scraps, household scraps (the old “slop bucket”), apples, and root crops.
- Due to their heritage genetics, they don’t need you to break the ice in the waterer. If there’s snow, they are set. (That flies in the face of common thought, but we’ve proven it. Nature rarely provides running water in the winter and these guys are still adapted to survive.)
- They do need shelter and bedding, but a hut and a bale of straw will suffice. They don’t need a heaeted barn.
- In the spring they’ll grow exponentially and be ready to butcher before you know it! The yield of rich red meat and creamy lard will be worth the wait.
Check out these posts to see how the Mangalitsas have performed at Baker’s Green Acres:
Now’s the time to get your Baker’s Green Acres heritage hog for next year! Check with us for fall specials on weaner pigs, half grown feeder pigs, and breeding stock.
