Indigenous livestock breeding
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območje : Vasi Hegyhát |
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kategorija : practices concerning nature |
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The treasures from the past in the Vasi Hegyhát region are not only connected to fruit growing, but to livestock as well. It is interesting, but until some years ago there were only a few indigenous animals, but after that, a significant improvement has started.
The region's most famous places in safeguarding indigenous livestock breeding are: the ‘Varga farm’ at Alsóújlak, the 'spectacle park' in Szemenye which shows ancient animal species, a 'land park' in Rábahídvég and the gidrán-stable in Olaszfa.
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The treasures from the past in the Vasi Hegyhát region are not only connected to fruit growing, but to livestock as well. It is interesting, but until some years ago there were only a few indigenous animals, but after that, a significant improvement has started.
As a landmark, the Varga farm can be seen, in Alsóújlak, which also works as an exhibition site and a petting zoo. By these, it brings the farm-lifestyle closer to families and students.
Link: http://katonakutja.vasihegyhat.hu/cgi-bin/katonakutja/index.cgi?view=ck&tID=299&nID=4427&nyelv=
There is a 'show park' in Szemenye presenting the typical ancient (indigenous) Hungarian animal species, typical also for this area.
The famous horse-type “gidrán” is breed in Olaszfa, by the Nagy family. They not only breed the horses, but they also receive visitors regularly and provide the possibility for horse riding.
A Land Park was opened in Rábahdvég, representing the typical kind of animals of that area. But what are these animals?
'Mangalica' forks, for example, which are protected by law in Hungary. Just to illustrate the quality of its meat, for instance, it serves as the basis for the world-famous spanish 'serrano ham'. Its fat is rich in saturated fatty acids which makes it healthy and delicious.
Although the famous Hungarian grey cattle were not typical for the Hegyhát, but mostly for the Eastern part of Hungary, today they can be found in almost every petting zoo.
The ancient racka sheep with their dreadlocks were here since the Hungarians' land conquest (896), they arrived with our ancestors. They can be identified easily by their dreadlocks, and their V-style, long screwed horns.
Another ancient kind of sheep can be found in the Vasi Hegyhát region, which is called 'cigája'. They are hornless; they can be used for several purposes: their milk and meat areboth of highest quality, their fur is a good raw material for textile industry.
The beforementioned gidrán horses were originally bred in Mezőhegyes's steed. They are warm-blooded, strong and good bone-structured animals. Their colour can be only yellow with more or less white marks.
Link: http://www.olaszfa.hu/gidran.html
The Hungarian yellow chicken can be found at nearly every household in the region, fortunately, it is still very common. People like it mostly for it good winter egg-laying characteristics.
There are many Hungarian turkeys at the farms too, but their number is tiny compared to chickens. The white goose is also well-known in the area but their number is getting lower and lower every year, although they are easy to take care of and the grow fast. It is held mainly for the meat, fat, and liver. Fallow ducks are in greater number in the region, because they are unassuming, fast, healthy-type and prolific. They can be fattened easily, their meat and fat is also delicious. |
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