The domestication and domestication of pigs began more than 7 thousand years BC. The first domestic pigs were not much different from wild pigs. Centuries-old selection has led to the fact that modern pig farmers raise more than 100 breeds of these animals. For various reasons, some of them are on the verge of complete extinction. These endangered species include the Danish protest pig or its revived variant, the Husum red-and-white protest pig.
Description and characteristics of the breed
The breed is distinguished from others by its bright red color.A white stripe runs along the shoulder blades, which covers the forelimbs, descending to the very hooves. The hair is thick, the bristles are soft, straight, without curl. It evenly covers the animal's body.
Exterior features:
- the body is long;
- the shoulder blades are light;
- the sacrum is wide;
- hams are full and in good shape;
- muzzle is straight;
- floppy ears.
Adult animals that have reached 18 months are characterized by the following parameters:
- height at withers – up to 85-95 cm;
- boar weight from 400 to 500 kg;
- sow weight – 300-350 kg;
- body length – 160-190 cm;
Females piglet 2 times a year. The average number of piglets in one litter is 10-12 at birth, and 8-10 at weaning. Slaughter is carried out at the age of 180 days, when the young animals reach a weight of 90 kg and a body length of 92 cm. The maximum age for the use of valuable breeding sows is 10-11 years, for stud boars - 7-8 years.
Features of Danish pigs
Danish pigs are a bacon breed. Their fat is distributed not only under the skin, but also between the fibers of muscle meat. This occurs in the ridge area and on the ventral side. The meat is quite lean, soft and juicy. Compared to other breeds, Danish pigs are quite resistant to most diseases and are unpretentious in keeping. Animals give good weight gain when freely grazing.
Breeding history
The history of the appearance of the breed is closely connected with historical events. In the summer of 1219, during the period of Christianization of the population of Denmark, its king Valdemar II was preparing for an important battle with the pagans. In the evening, the monarch looked into the sky and saw a white cross in the crimson reflections of the sunset. This is how the flag of Denmark appeared, called the Dannebrog. On its red cloth was a Scandinavian cross.
In 1864, after the signing of a peace treaty, Denmark renounced its claims to Schleswig, Lauenburg, and Holstein. The lands went to Prussia and Austria. Danish patriots living on the annexed lands could not come to terms with this state of affairs and hung the national flag on their houses. For which they were subject to heavy fines.
To save money and protest to the authorities, local pig farmers, by the beginning of the 20th century, bred a breed of pigs that resembled the Dannebrog in color.
The true origin of Danish pigs is unknown. According to scientific research, the following breeds were used in breeding:
- Jutland marsh;
- Tamvrotskaya;
- marching Danish;
- red varieties of Engeln Saddelback.
The peak of breeding occurred in the first half of the twentieth century, but the Prussian authorities refused to register the breed. Its recognition took place only after the Second World War, in 1954. However, after 15 years, interest faded, and after 1968 there are no reliable cases of the birth of piglets of this breed.
History of conservation of the species
The beginning of the revival of the breed is considered to be 1984, when red-and-white piglets were exhibited at the international exhibition in Berlin “Green Week”. All animals were purchased by the Berlin Zoo. They formed the basis of selection work to revive the extinct breed. Communities involved in breeding unusual pigs began to appear.
Since 1996, the process of breeding and pedigree registration has been controlled by the association of fans of red-and-white Husum pigs, which, although not representatives of the Danish protest breed, are very close to it in phenotype. Now they can be seen in several zoos in Germany:
- Berlin;
- Hannover;
- Hamburg.
Today the population is 140 individuals.The difficulty in selection is the selection of pairs in such a way that only healthy piglets with a set of certain characteristics appear as a result of crossing.
