A Woolly Pig - the Mangalitza
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (348370)
Rockingham, Australia
June 14, 2017 12:48pm CST
We free-camped for a night at the Irish farmlet of one of our son’s acquaintances. She had three acres and some interesting animals, most of which were rescue animals. We weren’t able to see the Jacob sheep which can have up to six horns but we had a close encounter with a Mangalitza-cross pig (also spelt Mangalitsa or Mangalica).
The Mangalitza is originally from Hungary. Its main claim to uniqueness is its thick, woolly coat. According to Wikimedia there are three types of the breed: blonde, swallow-bellied and red. The one we saw, whose name we've forgotten, was a swallow-bellied as she mostly had a blonde belly and feet with a black body. She wasn't a pure-bred which would account for any failings in her colouring.
19 people like this
20 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
14 Jun 17
Never seen a wooly pig but trust one to be in Ireland lol

2 people like this

@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 17
@TiarasOceanView I'd like to return the favour and comment on some of your posts but it seems you've deleted them all. 

1 person likes this

@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
15 Jun 17
Never heard of these pigs before today @JudyEv and hope not to see one in person!
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@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 17
She was quite friendly. I'll add a photo here of one I wouldn't particularly want to meet although he must be tame enough.
@DaddyEvil (143592)
• United States
18 Oct 17
What a funny looking pig, Judy!
I wonder if they use the fur? fleece? hair? for anything?
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@DaddyEvil (143592)
• United States
20 Oct 17
@JudyEv I didn't find anything the fur/wool/hair is used for, either. I was hoping either someone there mentioned something to you or you had more luck with a search for that than I did.
I guess it makes sense that they wouldn't use it for anything, though... Can you imagine how difficult it would be to clean it after the pig wallowed around in it for any length of time? Yuck and Nasty!
I meant to ask you, how is Herc doing? Nothing has happened to him and you told about it in one of the discussions I've missed, has it? (What brought him to mind was me thinking if the pig is that much like a dog, he might be good company for Herc when you and hubby are on your trips.)
You come up with a lot of really interesting tidbits everywhere you go. (I like that!)
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@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Oct 17
@DaddyEvil I have a little brush for cleaning keyboards and it has boar bristles but the hair from the Mangalitza is probably too soft for something like that.
Poor Herc had to be put down while we were away. Here's the link to the discussion you missed if you want to catch up. A pig probably would have been good company for him.

I know many of you will commiserate with me when I tell you that Herc has had to be put down. I’m sure many of my friends here will remember Hercules, our pet...
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@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
25 Jun 17
@JudyEv I've seen cute pigs, but they were hairless and little...
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@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate Little pigs are cute; big pigs not so much!
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@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 17
@amadeo @teamfreak16 I think they are the only woolly breed left. There was one in England but it is now extinct.
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@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Jun 17
@JudyEv - It certainly looks interesting.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
16 Jun 17
aw, now i wish one! how stinkin' cute's she? i confess to've ne'er seen a hairy pig, lol. most fascinatin', ms. judy.
kudo's to that gal fer doin' what she can to help those that're homeless 'n no doubt hopeless when she opens her arms to 'em.
1 person likes this

@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
21 Jun 17
@JudyEv that's great news, ms. judy! some folks 've jest such great compassion fer critters, warms my heart 's such flows o'er 'nto their dealin's with humans, too. :)
1 person likes this

@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
24 Jun 17
I've never seen one of these pigs before. How very interesting.
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@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
25 Jun 17
@JudyEv There are so many that we usually don't hear about unless they are where we live. I think there are about 800 different mammals. I've only seen a few and most of them in zoos.
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@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun 17
@IreneVincent I think I was seeing Anjou cattle today but I need to research the breed more before I can be sure.
@manasamanu (3810)
• Bangalore, India
15 Jun 17
I have never heard of these things. Its fascinating how nature gives raise to these kinds.
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@manasamanu (3810)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jun 17
@JudyEv Yes lots and lots of variety
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@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
16 Sep 17
I've seen a few pigs, but never any like that one. I guess it keeps warm. I had a friend who used to raise Jacob sheep.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
14 Jun 17
I've never seen a wooly pig before, not even in pictures.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (63839)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
14 Jun 17
That's kind of cool actually. How interesting of you to be able to camp among the livestock lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (348370)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 17
We were very close to a couple of Anglo-Nubian goats too. 

