Mangalitsa (Mangalica / Mangalitza)

This file reproduces official breed standards verbatim for research. No original standard is authored here.

Spellings: Mangalica (Hungary, the breed-of-origin form), Mangalitza (British Pig Association), Mangalitsa (US usage, including MBOAR). The breed originated in Hungary. The Hungarian National Association of Mangalica Breeders (MOE / Mangalicatenyésztők Országos Egyesülete), established 1927 and re-established 1994, is the breed-of-origin society. The British Pig Association keeps the official UK herd book. The Mangalitsa Breed Organization and Registry (MBOAR) is the US non-profit registry founded 2019 to define the US breed standard and herd book.

A standalone official MOE English PDF was not located on a public URL at the time of collection. The US text below is the MBOAR standard as published by Royal-Mangalitsa, which states that the information was gathered from MBOAR.

Sources

British Pig Association. Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence — Mangalitza. Updated Spring 2024. Official PDF (2024 conservation-plan update): https://britishpigs.org.uk/images/2024%20conservation%20plan/updates%20breed%20standards%202024/MG%20Breed%20Standards.pdf. Also listed from the BPA breed-standards index as https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/documents/bpa-standards-of-excellence-mangalitza.pdf (both retrieved 19 August 2026). Index page: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breed-standards.
Mangalitsa Breed Organization and Registry (MBOAR), as published by Royal-Mangalitsa. American Mangalitsa — Breed Standards (1833–2019). https://www.royal-mangalitsa.com/mangalitsa-phenotype-breedstandarts (retrieved 19 August 2026). The page states: “The information above is gathered from the Mangalitsa Breed Organization And Registry - MBOAR.” MBOAR: https://www.mboar.com/.

1. British Pig Association — Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence

MANGALITZA

Updated Spring 2024

Section A - To be eligible for Herd Book entry a pig must (except in exceptional circumstances) be: - bred in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland - have at least 10 sound teats and a maximum of 12 - ear-marked and birth recorded with the BPA in accordance with current regulations - the offspring of parents already registered either in the Herd Book of the same breed (or in a supplementary register of the Herd Book maintained at BPA’s discretion) - Free from congenital defects (e.g. Umbilical and Scrotal Hernias , Atresia Ani (blind anus), cryptorchid boars, extra cleys, twisted, overshot or undershot jaw and rose on the back) - conform to any other such regulations as are made by the BPA Council from time to time

In exceptional circumstances a pig which does not fulfil all the criteria above may be accepted for herdbook registration following an inspection.

Breed Specific Requirements for Herdbook Registration

          None

Breed Specific Disqualifications which make the pig ineligible for Herdbook Registration

Skin : Generally spotted torso or head. Grey or yellow hooves Teats : Pink

Section B – Standard of Excellence – These are recommendations only - breeders should try to achieve these standards in their breeding programmes. Pigs will be judged against these standards of excellence at BPA shows.

Head Medium and wide with the bridge of the cylindrical nose a little dented. The face and jaws are hairy and meaty. Eyes are brown with black eyebrows and eye-lashes. Ears Generally has lop ears (in the Red variety the ears are upright rather than ‘Lop’). They are medium to large, rounded and droopy – hanging forward. Neck The neck is short. Back A fine, very robust skeleton with a straight back Hams A slight curve to the short / medium hams. Tail is usually white with black interior. If Red haired the tail is also red. Skin Grey – black pigment. The mouth, hooves and teats are black. A feature is ‘The Well-man spot’ – a bright area of skin, usually around the ear, 3-5 cm in diameter merging with the pigmented hide. Coat Dense and long, frilled in Winter whilst softer, shorter and straighter in the summer. The seasonal change is characteristic in healthy, well tended animals. Underline A minimum of 10 well placed teats and sound on both sides and a maximum of 12. Dimensions A height of 70 – 90 cm. and length (root of the tail to back of the head behind the ears) 120 – 140 cm. The weight is perhaps 70 – 80 kg after one year, 80 – 100 kg after two years and up to 300 kg when fattened and fully grown.

Breed Specific Objections – Breeders should try to avoid these in their breeding programmes

Skin Pink on the belly (and under the hair on the torso). Hair Dark brown tips and black or brown bristles Ears Too long

Breeders should note that there three common colour strains within the breed, Red, White and Swallow but due to lack of genetic diversity in the UK herd at present these strains may be interbred with each other

Pigs must comply with Section A. Breeders should aspire to breed pigs which meet the Standards of Excellence in Section B.

British Pig Association, PO Box 1542, Cambridge, CB1 0JS Tel: 01223 845096 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.britishpigs.org Updated Spring 2024

2. MBOAR / American Mangalitsa — Breed Standards

Source: Royal-Mangalitsa, “Breedstandards & Phenotype,” stating the text is gathered from MBOAR. https://www.royal-mangalitsa.com/mangalitsa-phenotype-breedstandarts

THE MANGALITSA AN OLD LARD BREED

The Mangalitsa pig is an old lard type breed of medium body size. It is distinguished by its rich and curly coat which is most prominent during the colder season. The 3 basic breed colorations are:

Blonde, Red and Swallow Belly (black with a white belly). A combination of these 3 colors yields a wide variety of colors, but they all should have the typical Mangalitsa breed characteristics in common.

Only pure breed Mangalitsa are allowed to enter the register. Breed crosses should not be called, sold nor labeled as Mangalitsa, but clearly marked as Mangalitsa crosses.

Breed characteristics

The Mangalitsa has a short, deep body with a fine but very strong skeleton/bone structure
The back is straight, or slightly curved. The groin (ham) is flat, not rounded as it is with meat breeds
The head is medium long, the ears are large and tip forward at older age. The ears are 2/3 of the length of the nose and form a straight line with the snout

Ears of the piglets are mostly short and often upright
The eyes are brown
The eyelashes, eyebrow, nose, claws, all natural body-openings and the nipples are always black
The root of the tail is characteristically thick and the tip of tail-tassel is also always black
The skin under the fur is greyish-black. Young piglets or animals that are kept inside often show a lighter skin on the belly. When kept outside the skin color should turn darker
The number of nipples is 10 to max 12. Max 6 on each side
On the lower edge of the ear is a bright spot (an inch in diameter), the so-called „Wellmann spot“ which is typical for all Mangalitsa pigs
The piglets of the breed are mostly striped (Some piglets will not show stripes or only a slight coloration. The stripes disappear mostly in-between 1 – 12 weeks)
Seasonal molting of the hair in summer is typical for the breed

Undesirable traits in the Mangalitsa Breed

Light or pink color of the belly (when older than 16 weeks and kept outside)
Too fine or to rough bristles /hair
Too long, straight hair that is dark colored on the back (Razorback) of the pure blonde color and pure red color Mangalitsa
Too small upright or to large hanging ears of animals older than 12 month
Too flat feet, x shaped front legs and too short front legs

Not allowed traits in the Mangalitsa Breed

Pink spots on the belly, legs, nose
Black or brown spots
Un-pigmented body openings
Yellow or yellow striped claws
Pink nipples
More than 12 nipples
Pure white tails, without the black end tassel
Pink/white eyelashes or eyebrows

Desired body measurements

As the Mangalitsa breed is a very old breed, it does not show a uniform appearance as modern pig breeds. Because of that, the shape of the ears, snout and body can vary in the phenotype appearance of the breed. The breed is of medium body size.

PIGLETS

Newborn piglets have a weight between 1,32 - 2,2 lbs (600 - 1,000 grams), reaching 13,2 – 17,6 lbs (6-8 kg) in 7-8 weeks when on a good diet (16 - 18% protein), they develop more slowly than modern pig species thus it is very important to provide feed for them that fits their needs.

BOARS & SOWS

Boars and gilts reach maturity at 12-14 months. BUT, be forewarned that they can reproduce and get pregnant at 4 months. Thus, it is vital that you separate the gilts from all intact males at 14 weeks of age to prevent teenage pregnancy!

Lean Mangalitsa at 12 months weigh 154 – 176 lbs (70 – 80 kg), at age of 24 months 176 – 220 lbs (80 – 100 kg), Fattened Mangalitsa at 12 months weigh 330 lbs (150 kg), at older age the Mangalitsa can reach a weight of 440 – 661 lbs (200 – 300 kg.) Reference: Arche Austria - Austrian Mangalitsa Herdbook

Pigs that weigh 330 lbs have an average of 60% fat / 40% meat. When they gain more weight, the % of fat increases up to 70%. The Mangalitsa pig is the best lard producing pig breed there is. This is what made it famous in the early 1900. Older intact males (boars) of 4 years or older, can easily reach 500 lbs. Reference: Mangalica an indigenous swine breed from Hungary (Review)

Wither height boars at least: 31,5 – 43,3 inch ( 80 - 110 cm) Wither height sows at least: 29,1 – 35,4 inch (74 - 90 cm)

Body length (behind ear till tail) boar at least: 47,2 inch (120 cm) Body length (behind ear till tail) sow at least: 45,3 inch (115 cm)

Boar weight 330,7 – 485 lbs (150 – 220 kg) Sow weight 308,6 – 396,8 lbs (140 – 180 kg)

Measurements are from a 3 year old animal. Average size and weight of Mangalitsa that are not extremely fattened up!

FINAL SELECTION

Desirable body structure in breeding pigs (yellow) and undesirable body structures. Good breed selection is needed when a animal is 12 month or older. Certain body structures appear only when the pig reaches maturity, so the final selection of breeders should be after 18 months of age.