Cattle, sheep and pig breeding strategy in Hungary - I. Sandor

I. Sandor
Ministry of Agriculture, Budapest, Hungary

Changes in the Hungarian Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

During the 1990- 1995 period significant changes have taken place in the Hungarian agriculture and animal husbandry. In 1990 Hungary began to base the market economy based on private ownership. This process has not been easy because the productivity of agriculture is determined by the still ongoing changes in agricultural proprietorship.

During this time, accelerated decrease of the number of farm animals, production, domestic consumption and export, have been observed. One of the main reasons for this decrease was the declining profitability in agriculture and animal husbandry.

Changes are reflected by the data for the 199 l-l 995 period. In some cases the data for 1986-1990 are also shown to give a better comparison. Based on these data, it can be ascertained that the number of cattle, sheep and pigs has decreased almost by 50 %, while the animals for slaughter decreased by about 45 %, cow milk production by 33 %, main export of livestock and of animal food products in some cases went down by 80 - 90 %.

When evaluating these data objectively one must take into account that the structure, the subsidy system, the external relations etc. of the agriculture and food industry differed fundamentally.

The rate of decrease slowed down in 1994 and increase in the population and in production may be expected.

The profitability of animal husbandry was the worst in 1991 and 1992. Since then the profitability has increased but in the most cases it does not cover the expenses of farm technological development.

Breeding policy for the future

Taking into consideration the process of the changing proprietorship as well as the economic and genetic improvement tendencies of animal husbandry, a new breeding strategy was formed in 1992 with the aim to facilitate Hungary’s joining the European Union. The main principles of this strategy were as follow:

- save and maintain the most important endangered herds and breeding organizations;
- complete the legislation of animal breeding;
- form an efficient animal breeding structure;
- develop a modern information system;
- establish an animal breeding Levy Fund.

Save and maintain the elite herds and breeding organizations

Based on government decision 24 former state farms having the most valuable breeding stocks of cattle, sheep and pigs stayed in state property to promote the genetic improvement, education, research and extension. These state farms were transformed into state owned share companies.

Furthermore, the former six animal breeding companies which were responsible for performance tests, herdbook keeping and A.I. activity were also transformed into two independent companies, one for milk recording (Animal Performance Testing Ltd. Company) and the other for artificial insemination (National A.I. Share Company) to help implementing the breeding programs of the breed associations based on mutual contracts determined by a ministerial order.

Legislation of animal breeding

The claim to develop an efficient breeding structure and join the EU necessitated a comprehensive regulation of animal breeding.

The completed Animal Breeding Act was passed by the Hungarian Parliament in 1993.

Furthermore the decisions of the EU Commission, the German Animal Breeding Act and Hungarian conditions were also to be considered.

The Hungarian Animal Breeding Act and related ministerial orders regulate in particular the following topics:

- Numbering and identification of farm animals;

- Collection, evaluation and publication of breeding data;

- carrying out performance test and estimation of breeding value;

- Protection of indigenous and endangered breeds;

- Breeding structure;

- Tasks and relationship of organizations related to animal breeding;

- Recognition of breeding organizations and breeds;

- Licensing A.I., embryo transfer-, Queen Bee Rearing Stations, Poultry and Fish Hatcheries etc;

- Permission of importing and exporting breeding animals, semen and embryos;

- Supervision and control of recognized breeding organizations;

- Sanctions, penalties etc..

Performing performance tests of different breeds and types of farm animals is regulated by the Performance Test Codex based on the Animal Breeding Act and ministerial orders.

Breeding Structure

The new animal breeding structure is determined by the Animal Breeding Act. There are three levels in this structure.

The Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry is responsible for the supervision and the organization of animal breeding, it determines the breeding policy, specifies the breeding structure, issues orders and creates subsidy systems to promote the implementation of the breeding policy. It recognizes breeding organizations, breeds etc.

The Animal Breeding Authority

The Animal Breeding Authority is the Institute for Agricultural Quality Control in Hungary.

The main tasks of the Institute are to operate the national animal breeding data bank, the animal identification and registration system, carry out performance and control tests, evaluate breeding value, supervise the implementation of the breeding programs of breeding organizations, licensing A.I. Studs, Embryo Transfer Stations etc.

The Recognized Breeding Organizations

The Ministry has the right to recognize or to withdraw the recognition of breeding associations, societies and enterprises performing breeding activities.

The recognition refers to the breeding program including the rules for registration, performance test, herdbook keeping, sire program etc. of a given breed and legitimates carrying out of these activities.

Breeds (which have no registered breeder), genetic crossing programs and hybrids recognition can be granted only to one breeding organization. In each case, until now 39 breeding organizations for 10 species (cattle, sheep, pig, horse, poultry, rabbit, bee, fish etc.) have been recognized.

In the case of cattle six breed associations (Holstein, Simmental, Hereford, Limousin, Charolais, Hungarian Grey) have been recognized. These non-profit associations established their umbrella organization, the Cattle Breeder’s Association.

Sheep breeders established only one breeding organization, the Hungarian Sheep Breeders Society. This recognized organization jointly perform the breeding programs of the different recognized sheep breeds.

The Hungarian Pig Breeders Society was established by four regional associations and three pig breeding companies. They coordinated the implementation of the breeding programs of the pure-bred pig breeds.

In 1995 the main breed societies (cattle, horse, sheep, pig) established their umbrella organization: the Federation of Animal Breeder Societies. The tasks of this federation are to coordinate and represent the interest of its members. This Federation is open to other societies to join.

Development a new information system

Parallel with the present animal breeding information system, a new comprehensive development program started in 1994 which is based on the animal individual numbering, identification, registration and certification system for the purpose of satisfying the demand for information on animal health, animal breeding, market regulation, education, research and extension. This project started with cattle with the assistance of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture.

Experimental trials are being carried out with the cooperation of the Veterinary Service and of the Institute for Agricultural Quality Control.

Animal Breeding Levy Fund

For the purpose of carrying out the national genetic improvement programs the Levy Fund was established in 1993.

The resources of this Fund consist in a contribution of the producers based on farm products (milk, live animals, wool etc.). The range of this contribution is 0.2 - 0.6 percent of the price of commodities. The fund contributes to the financing of animal breeding activities in two ways, normatively and competitively.

The normative subsidies contribute to the implementation of:

- animal numbering, identification, registration and certification system;
- type classification;
- herd-book keeping;
- performance and progeny tests (farm and central tests);
- estimation of breeding value etc.

The competitive subsidies contribute to the:

- development of the information system;
- membership fee in international organizations;
- organization of domestic animal breeds fairs and participation in international shows;
- sire programs etc.

Breeding strategy in Hungary

Summarizing the main policy of the Hungarian animal breeding and husbandry the following subjects are of particular importance:

- to promote information and maintain an efficient breeding structure based on recognized breeding organizations for the implementation of breeding programs of the different breeds, crossings and hybrids;

- to promote the incrementation of the number of farm animals and of their production according to the domestic demand and export possibilities;

- to develop the efficiency of farm technologies in animal husbandry using genetic improvement to this effect;

- to set up an efficient market regulation and integration system to make profitability of the farmers countable,

- to strive fulfilling the imposed requirements of animal breeding and production to facilitate the joining of the European Union by Hungary.

Table 1. Livestock population as of 31 December, 1995 (in thousands)

Research and Information Institution for Agricultural Economics

(*) estimates

Table 2. Slaughter animals (in thousands), cow milk (in million liters) as of 31 December, 1995)

Research and Information Institution for Agricultural Economics
(*)estimates

Table 3. Consumption per capita (kg)

Research and Information Institution for Agricultural Economics

Table 4. Main exports of livestock and animal products (thousands tons)

Research and Information Institution for Agricultural Economics

Table 5. Profitability of the main agricultural products *

Research and Information Institution for Agricultural Economics

(*) profit based on 100 HUF production value