Category:Bazna Hog

The Bazna, also know as Porcul de Banat and Basner, is found in the central Transylvania region of Romania. They are black with a white belt. The breed originated in 1872 from crosses between Berkshire and Mangalitsa. The resulting offspring inherited the superior traits of the Mangalitsa breed, ensuring the hybrids might quickly spread around the towns of Mediash, Sigishoara, Sibiu, and Fagarash due to their superior prolificacy as compared to their native maternal breed.

In 1885, and after 1900, Berk boars were imported from England and were used to improve and homogenize the Bazna breed during its formation and development. From time to time, Yorkshire and Sattelschwein breeds were used for improvement. For 30 years, the Bazna pigs have been improved by using the Wessex and Hampshire breeds.

Bazna was officially recognized as a breed in 1958 and several selection populations were established.

Shortly after their formation, the Bazna pigs were spread around the towns of Mediash, Sibiu, and Fagarash where they presented traits superior to Mangalitsa and Stocli breeds. After the Second World War, the Bazna breed also spread in other Transylvanian areas (Cluj, Alba, Hunedoara, Muresh, and Hargita counties, especially in the hills and mountains areas) as well as in Banat during some population movements.

The Bazna pigs present medium withers height and a body structure characteristc for fat meat production. The head is medium with slightly concave profile. The ears are also medium, forward, and laterally or horizontally placed. The neck is short, wide, and deep, being strongly attached. The trunk is average wide, quite deep, and almost round. The top line of the body is slightly convex. The withers area is well built and the back and the loins are medium, as is the chest with barrel-attached ribs. The rump is quite long and wide, slightly oblique and muscular. The hams are well developed, but lacking depth. The limbs are medium and strong enough to give the pigs good mobility. The belly is large due to the feeding with rough fodders (beet-Beta vulgaris, potatoes, turnips).

Adult pigs present a 74-78 cm withers hight, the body length being 140 cm and shinbone perimeter being 18-20 cm. The body weight is 160-180 kg in sows and 180-220 kg in adults boars. The characteristic color of hair in Bazna breed is black with a white belt which surrounds the trunk at the shoulders, including the forelimbs. The width of the belt reaches 30-40 cm. As is characteristic for all black and white breeds, between these two colors there is a grey zone because of the pigmented skin and unpigmented hair. In some individuals the hindlimbs, snout, and tip of the tail are also white as in the Berk breed. The hair is quite dense, smooth, and slightly curly, with average length of 4 cm. Genetically, the white belt is dominant as compared with the black and red colors, and recessive as compared with the white color. Few individuals are entirely black, or white with black head, these individuals being excluded from reproduction.

The prolificacy of the breed is good with an average of 9.5 piglets per farrowing, weaning approximately eight piglets. The three-weeks litter weight is approximately 38-42 kg. The production longevity is 8-12 farrowings. At 2 months the piglets reach 14-15 kg and are weaned.

The young pigs are used for reproduction at the age of 10-11 months, reaching their full size at the age of three years. The body weight is as follows: 1.2 kg at birth, 5.6 kg at one month, 14 kg at two months, 60-65 kg at six months, 125-135 kg at one year. The daily weight gain during the fattening period is 550-600 g with a food conversion of 5.5 kg. The young pigs are fit for early fattening, and can be eaten when they weigh 90-110 kg. The best results are obtained at 140-160 kg, when the lean/fat ratio is 1.3-1.4.

The Bazna breed is highly adapted for natural breeding conditions. It is not very demanding and varied food sources can be successfully used: roots, pasture, potatoes, corn, and food wastes. The Bazna pigs are strong and can be raised both extensively and half-intensively.

The Bazna breed has limited perspectives, compared to lean breeds with high productivity traits. This breed is very appreciated in its native region due to its lard and lean firmness. It is also kept as a gene source.