Danish protest pig: description and features of the breed, breeding history

The domestication and domestication of pigs began more than 7 thousand years before our era. The first domestic pigs were not much different from wild pigs. Centuries-old selection has led to the fact that modern pig farmers grow more than 100 breeds of these animals. For various reasons, some of them are on the verge of extinction. Such endangered species include the Danish protest pig or its revived variant, the Husum protest red-and-white pig.

Description and characteristics of the breed

The breed differs from the rest in its bright red color. A white stripe runs along the shoulder blades, which captures the forelimbs, descending to the very hooves. The hairline is thick, the bristles are soft, straight, without curlyness. It evenly covers the body of the animal.

Exterior features:

• body is long;
• shoulder blades are light;
• sacrum wide;
• hams full, good shape;
• muzzle straight;
• hanging ears.

Adult animals over 18 months old are characterized by the following parameters:

• height at the withers - up to 85-95 cm;
• weight of boars from 400 to 500 kg;
• weight of sows - 300-350 kg;
• body length - 160-190cm;

Females farrow 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 stock reaches a weight of 90 kg and a body length of 92 cm.

Features of Danish pigs

Danish pigs are bacon breeds. Their fat is distributed not only under the skin, but also between the fibers of muscle meat. This occurs in the region of the ridge and from the ventral side. The meat is quite lean, soft and juicy. Compared to other breeds, Danish pigs are quite resistant to most diseases and unpretentious in maintenance. Animals give good weight gain when free-range.

History of breeding

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, called the Dannebrog, appeared. The Scandinavian cross was depicted on its red flag.

In 1864, after the signing of the peace treaty, Denmark renounced its claims to Schleswig, Lauenburg, Holstein.The lands were ceded to Prussia and Austria. Danish patriots living in the annexed lands could not accept this state of affairs and hung the national flag on their houses. For which they were subjected to heavy fines.

To save money and protest against the authorities, local pig breeders bred a breed of pig that resembled the Dannebrog by the beginning of the 20th century.

The true origin of Danish pigs is unknown. According to scientific studies, the following breeds were used in breeding:

• Jutland Swamp;
• Tamvrotskaya;
• marching Danish;
• red varieties of angeln saddleback.

The peak of breeding occurred in the first half of the twentieth century, but the Prussian authorities refused to register the breed. Her recognition took place only after the Second World War, in 1954. However, after 15 years, interest faded, and after 1968 there were no reliable cases of the birth of piglets of this breed.

View save history

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 breeding work to revive the extinct breed. Communities breeding unusual pigs began to appear.

Since 1996, the process of breeding and pedigree registration has been controlled by the association of lovers of red-and-white Husum pigs, which, although they are 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;
• Hanover;
• Hamburg.

Today, the livestock is 140 individuals. Difficulties in breeding are the selection of pairs in such a way that only he althy piglets with a set of certain traits appear as a result of crossing.

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