Weststeirisches Turopoljeschwein

 
Record Number: 87
 
Disclosure Date 
The first documentary evidence of Turopolje pigs is a decree of the Croatian-Hungarian king Ljudevit the Great in 1352.
In West Styria the rearing of Turopolje pigs is documented by a photo from the year 1955.
 

Photo: BM...

Title
Weststeirisches Turopoljeschwein
(West Styria Turopolje pig)
 
 
Abstract or claim
Breeding of the West Styria Turopolje pigs is the result of Traditional Knowledge on breeding and extensive livestock husbandry in the region West Styria.
Turopolje pig is one of the oldest pig breeds in Europe and is an endangered rare breed.
The robust animals are extensively reared under the organic scheme in the West Styrian hilly region. This and optimal maturing of the meat delivers pork of excellent quality.
The meat of Turopolje hogs is well suitedas fresh meat for cooking and the production of dry sausages and speck.
 
Name of product, Product class
Pork, fresh meat
 
Name of region
West Styria, Styria, Austria
 
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
 
Name of information provider
Vinzenz Krobath
 
Name of applicant for title
---
 
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Six farmers in the region of West and East Styria, a slaughterhouse in the municipality of Weiz, two butchers in the region
 
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
---
 
Descriptors
- History:
Pigs are one of the oldest animals used in husbandry.
About 8000 B.C. pigs were domesticated independently in different regions of Asia from where they were introduced into Europe.
 
Turopolje pigs evolved in the Turopolje region during the period of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The region is situated between the Kupa and Sava rivers east of Zagreb, the capital of today’s Croatia.
 
It is believed that the Turopolje pig stems from the already extinct Siska pig, a descendant of the mid-European wild boar.
 
The first documentary evidence of the Turopolje breed is the decree of the Croatian-Hungarian king Ljudevit the Great of the year 1352 which requires an investigation into the plunder of pigs in the woodlands of Turopolje.
 
During the course of history the pigs were crossed again and again in order to satisfy the demands for pork not so rich in fat.
 
It is assumed that in 1777, during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia, English Leister pigs were introduced and crossed and, later, also Berkshire pigs. Drawings indicate that there may be a relation to the Carniola pig and the extinguished bloodline Gurktaler pig.
Moreover, the curling of the fur, which sometimes appears, may be due to a blood line from Syrmian Mangalitsa pigs.
 
In the second half of the 19^th  century and the first half of the 20^th  century the present type of Turopolje evolved. During this period the breed has spread over Slavonia, Podravia and Southwest Hungary. It became very popular on the markets of Austria and Hungary.
 
In 1911 the Turopolje pig was recognized as separate breed.
 
In West Styria the rearing of Turopolje is documented by a photo from the year 1955.
 
In 1958 about 58,000 Turopolje hogs were reared in Croatia.
 
After 1991 the number of pure-bred Turopolje diminished in Croatia in the wake of the war leading to the disintegration of Yugoslavia.
 
In 1993 only 20 - 30 Turopolje pigs survived in Croatia which, for security reasons, were held in a stable by one single swineherd.
 
After the end of the war, two pairs of Turopolje pigs were brought to the zoo in Vienna (Schönbrunn); from there two pregnant sows were brought to West Styria.
 
Since 1995 the rearing of Turopolje pigs has been supported in the framework of the Austrian Agri-environmental Programme as an endangered species.
 
In 2001 the association “ARCHE AUSTRIA” (Noah’s Ark) launched the genetic identification of Turopolje pigs and the uptake in a herd book.
 
Since 2001 the Austrian Association for Rare Endangered Breeds (ÖNGENE=Österreichische Nationalvereinigung für Genreserven) is the association responsible for the Turopolje breeding programme.
 
In 2004 the association “ManTuro- Netzwerk NatURrassen” (Mangalitza and Turopolje) was established aiming at creating a network of breeders in order to re-establish and market Mangalitsa and Turopolje pigs in Styria.
 
In 2005 the word/picture trademark “MT Manturo” was registered.
 
In 2006 the product line “MANTURO” was awarded “culinary heritage of Austria” by the board of trustees of “culinary heritage Austria” together with Agrarmarketing Austria and Gault Millau.
 
Today there are about 60 breeders of Turopolje pigs in Austria. In West Styria six full-time farmers raise about 60 Turopolje hogs on each farm under the organic scheme.
 
- Region:
West Styria is bordered by the river Mur in the west and south, by the Province of Burgenland in the east and by mountain ranges (Grazer Bergland, Kulm, Joglland) in the north.
In the context of Region of Delight  “West Styria Turopolje pig” the hilly region encompasses the municipalities Stallhofen, Stiwoll, Sankt Bartholomä, Krottendorf-Gaisfeld, Ligist, Sankt Johann ob Hohenburg, Lannach, Mooskirchen, Kumberg, and Dechantskirchen.
The region is a hilly landscape at altitudes between 350 - 650 m.
 
Soil and climatic conditions:
Geologically the West Styria hilly country is a part of the Styrian tertiary basin. Soils consist of gneiss, schist and layers of sedimentary rock.
 
The climate is illyric. Summers are hot and dry, winters are mild and rainy.
The average annual temperature is 8 - 10°C, average precipitation is 800 - 1200 mm.
 
- West Styria Turopolje pig:

Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman

Origin of name:
The name “Turopolje pig” (in Croatian: turopoljska svinja) stems from the Turopolje region which is situated between the Kupa and Sava rivers east of Zagreb.
 
Description of breed:
Turopolje pigs are hogs of medium body size. The skin is dark pigmented, the external mucosa is pink.
The dense fur shows uncurled or slightly curly hair of average length
It is off-white with black patches on both sides of the body.
 
The head shows a concave profile, a half-long trunk and long, broad ears partly hanging down.
 
The body is long, the breast and back are broad and there is no pendulous abdomen.
 
Turopolje pigs are robust, docile, show longevity and are resistant to common pig diseases.
They are undemanding as to feeding stuff and are excellent users of roughage. 
 
They can be kept outdoors throughout the year even under extreme weather condition, as they are tolerant to harsh weather conditions. Consequently, they are well suited for extensive pasture management and organic farming.
 
Turopolje sows have 6 - 8 piglets per litter when reared under extensive conditions.
Turopolje pigs grow slower than modern breeds.
 
Method of Production:
Turopolje pigs are raised in West Styria under the organic scheme. This results in slow-growing, healthy hogs delivering pork and speck of highest quality.
 
Breeding/Fattening:
West Styria Turopolje pigs are born, raised and fattened exclusively on one and the same farm.
 
Sows and boars usually stem from the region and are bought from other Austrian areas only in case of need.
 
Turopolje hogs are kept in open stable having outlets. 
 
Sows are covered at 1 - 1.5 years and litter three times within a two years period.
The piglets are suckled for about 3 months and receive shredded crops, whey and grass or grass-silage in addition. Supplementary food is mainly from the region and complies with the guidelines for organic farming.
 
The feeding of sows with silage-fodder is permitted during winter.
During the last weeks before slaughter the hogs are fattened with grains, whey and hay from the region. Silage-fodder is not permitted for fattening purposes.
 
Preventative administration of antibiotic substances is banned. Drugs and the supplement with mineral substances are neither necessary nor permitted.
 
Transport and Slaughter:
At present about 300 hogs are transported to the EC approved slaughterhouse in Weiz, Styria, per year. There the hogs are slaughtered as stress free as possible according to the organic scheme.
 
Hogs are about 18 months old and have a living weight up to 150 kg and a slaughter weight of about 100 kg.
After slaughtering the carcasses are stored in a cold room for one day. Then the meat is processed to dry sausages and speck in the butchery Hager in Kapfenberg and in the butchery Feiertag in Weiz.
 
Description of meat:
The pork of Turopolje pigs is dark red due to the slow growing and their natural activity under outdoor conditions.
The meat is poor in fat and well suited for the production of dry sausages and of firm and tasty speck.
 
Proof or origin:
Pork stems from West Styria Turopolje hogs which are born, raised and fattened exclusively in the region and on one and the same farm. The hogs are identified by means of an official mark (ear tag) in accordance with the Austrian Animal Identification and Registration Ordinance (Tierkennzeichnungs- und Registrierungsverordnung) 2007.
 
Moreover, living hogs are registered in OPTIMATE, a programme aimed at targeted breeding and conservation of Turopolje populations.
 
- Quality control:
Living hogs and carcasses are inspected by veterinarians according to legal requirements.
 
- Marketing:
Turopolje pork is mainly marketed under the trademark “Manturo” which ensures that the hogs were born, raised, fattened and slaughtered in West Styria.
Moreover, breeders market pork to wholesale, retail and to restaurants.
Pork is available throughout the year.
 
Connection with the geographic area and Traditional Knowledge
- Specific soil and climate conditions in the hilly region West Styria
  result in a richness of native plants which enables extensive pig keeping
  in the natural environment.
- West Styria Turopolje is an endangered breed which is perfectly adapted
  to the local climatic conditions.
- Traditional rearing systems: Extensive management of hogs under the
  organic scheme.
- Strong link to the region: The pigs graze on local pastures and are fed
  with grass and hay produced mainly on the same farm.
- This type of management produces pork with specific characteristics.
  The dark-coloured pork is well suited for the production of dry sausages
  and of firm and tasty speck.
- The production of West Styria Turopolje pork is the result of Traditional
  Knowledge passed down from generation to generation: Traditional
  Knowledge and experience of pig farmers (adapting the management of
  herd to environmental constraints, the method of organic farming, genetic
  improvement), the know-how of butchers (transport, slaughter, cutting
  carcasses, maturing pork) and the experience of the marketing organisation.
 
- Utilization:

Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman

Turopolje pig is used as fresh pork for cooking or is processed to speck, bacon, dry sausages, and spreads. Smoking of the pork with local beech wood plays an important role.
 
Traditionally speck of Turopolje pigs is cut in razor-thin slices.
A culinary speciality is roasted piglet and roast pork.
 
- Protection:
Word/picture trademark “MT MANTURO” (Austrian Patent Office Register No 225810, 05.07.05).
 
Key Words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Styria, region, West Styria, West Styria hilly country, Turopolje pork, Weststeirisches Turopoljeschwein, West Styria Turopolje pig
 
Bibliography / References
- Das Rasseportrait. Das Turopolje Schwein
  www.vieh-ev.de/Rassen/Schweine/turopolje_schwein.html  
- Das Turopolje Schwein
  http://www.oengene.at/index.jsp?catId=68  
- Das Turopolje Schwein
  www.arche-austria.at/index.php?id=604
- Das Turopolje Schwein
  www.bio-noah.at/turopolje/rasse.htm#Warum
- Das wechselhafte Schicksal der Turopolje-Schweine
  http://www.bio-noah.at/turopolje/berschicksal.pdf
- Geschichte
  http://wp1088790.wp124.webpack.hosteurope.de/index.php?id=573
- HAFELLNER J. Ein Beitrag zur Flechtenflora für die Naturräume
  Weststeirisches Hügelland, Sausal und Windische Bühel (Steiermark)
  http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/botwww/journals/fritschiana/fritschiana-43/hafellner-lich-weststeiermark.pdf - Hefte/2006-2007/Geographieheft
http://aristoteles.serveftp.org/wiki/index.php/Hefte/2006--2007/Geographieheft
- MANTURO – DAS BESTE DER SCHWEINE-URRASSEN MANGALITZA
  UND TUROPOLJE
  www.manturo.at/index.php?content=presse  
- NUTS-3 Region West- und Südsteiermark (Österreich)
  http://tirolatlas.uibk.ac.at/places/show.py/index?id=165;lang=de
- Österreichisches Patentamt
  www.patentamt.at
- Oststeirisches Hügelland
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oststeiermark  
- Projekt MANTURO – Netzwerk NatURrassen
  http://www.agrarprojektpreis.at/manturo.461.htm  
- Rettung für das Turopolje-Schwein aus Kroatien.
  In: ARCHE NOVA 1/2001. S. 9
  http://www.g-e-h.de/geh-lit/pdf_files/0101s09.pdf  
- Steiermark
  http://aeiou.iicm.tugraz.at/aeiou.encyclop.s/s798165.htm  
- Steiermark - HINWEISE
  http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/5,de,SCH1/objectId,RGN19at,adviceObjectId,ADV472210at,folder,ADVICE,season,at2,selectedEntry,hint/hint.html - Turopolje
  http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/turopolje/index.htm
- Turopolje Schwein
  http://www.vegh.at/rassen/ausgabe/ausgabe.php3?info=Turopolje%20Schwein
- Weinbau in Österreich
  http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weinbau_in_%C3%96sterreich#Weststeiermark
- Weststeiermark: Heimat des Schilchers
  http://www.weinausoesterreich.at/wein/geb_weststmk_2009.html  
- Weststeirisches Turopoljeschwein
  www.genuss-region.at
  
All internet references last accessed on 20 January 2009.
 
Language Code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at
Yes
 
Regional contact
Mayor Ök. Rat Vinzenz Krobath
Phone: 0043 664/549 53 46
Email: gde@stallhofen.steiermark.at
 
Autoren: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

02.05.2011, Lebensministerium III/4