TREASURE - MANGALITSA LOCAL PIG BREED IN SERBIA

The main objective of this paper is to present the results of the research of the Swallow belly Mangalitsa genotype in the last six decades. According to the research, females reach the full maturity the age of 9-10 months, but they are mated at the age of 1-1.5 years. Average age at first farrowing is 556 days. Reproductive ability is poorly expressed, with a strong maternal instinct. Fertility of the Mangalitsa is relatively poor because it gives birth to 1-12 piglets, on average 4 to 5 piglets, with an average body weight of 1.25 kg with a variation of 0.8 to 1.8 kg. The suckling period is about 50 days (from 47 to 53 days). At lactation duration of 60 days, the piglet weight at the weaning ranges from 6-13 kg (average 9.61 kg) for piglets born in the spring, and from 7-15 kg (average 9.50 kg) for piglets born in fall. Depending on the rearing system, the start of fattening and final body weight, gains range 268 g to 830 g. The fat thickness (average measurements) at the ridge was 10.2 cm, the middle of the back 7.9 cm and the rump 8.1 cm, in previous studies, while in recent studies these values of fat thickness are somewhat lower, with the pre-slaughter body weight also being lower (the ridge 6.18 cm, the middle of the back 4.38 cm and at the rump 5.19 cm). The recent research of the Longissimus dorsi muscle shows an intramuscular fat content of 13.5%, protein content of 21.1% with specific qualitative properties pH45=6.11; pH24=5.50; CIE L*=40.13; a*=11.77; b*=3.73). In the musculus longissimus lumborum and thoracis, Mangalitsa (Swallow-bellied) pigs show higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA 55.1%) and lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA 35.3%) in comparison with Swedish Landrace pigs.