All good things

Pepper - brother of Ginger, founding sow of the herd

Wurzel - brother of Mangal, founding boar of the herd

Back in April 2007 two curly coated pigs came 'back' to Lincolnshire to live with us at Rectory Reserve. Mangal and Wurzel were swallowbelly brothers from the first Mangalitza
litter to be born in England from the Austrian 'herd' of 16 or so imported at the tail end of the previous year by Tony York in Wiltshire.
Initially intended as 'weaners for fattening' it was only  a matter of weeks before someone was heard to mutter something about it being a shame to do that to such rare pigs and why didn't we "breed a litter".. Thus it was that not long after, Pepper and his sister Ginger came to stay. Ginger & Mangal became the founders of our herd whilst Pepper and Wurzel eventually fulfilled our original plan and joined the great pigherd in the sky.
Mangal was joined by Samson, Clyde and Black Banana, whilst Ginger's sow band grew to include Delila, Precious, Andromeda, Aster, Truffle, Victoria and Mrs Merkel.
All bearing 2 litters each per year.
A Lot of Pigs.
Whose history over the past 8 years is well documented through the backpages of this blog.

Ginger's 3rd litter

In 2007 the Mangalitza was largely unknown in the UK although the older generations of Lincolnshire 'natives' remember the county's extinct Curly Coat. Local and national media coverage plus our selling pork provisions across a broad range of markets and food events brought the previously unknown 'foreigner' into many people's consciousness.

Carefree piglets

By the beginning of last year it became clear that the herd needed to grow much bigger if their meat was to move to anything like a prominent position on the national menu. Equally obvious was the fact our mature years mitigated against our having the time or energy to invest in that growth!
With animals as in business there can be no half measures. We debated and explored the various options but in the end realised that the only way was 'out'.
For the past year we have been running down the herd and by end 2015/early 2016 we shall have just a small select group of 'pets' left.

Delila & family April 2011

Saying farewell to our breeding pigs was not a happy experience and already this year we are missing having bands of cheeky piglets running all over the place. However, the experience of living and working with these singularly charismatic pigs will stay with us. The indelible impression they have made may only become clear with the benefit of hindsight.
Hopefully though their numbers will continue to grow through the efforts of other breeders and we will be able to think fondly of the part we played in bringing the Curly Coat pig back to Lincolnshire..........................
Meanwhile, whether you're already a customer or have not had the pleasure of becoming familiar with our Mangalitza pork provisions make the most of the next 6 months.....