Hungarian Animal Husbandry [antikvár]

In Hungary, animal breeding occupies an important position within the framework of agricultural production. This is reflected by the fact that about 40 per cent of agricultural gross production is rendered by animal husbandry; in the total protein consumption of the population, the share of animal protein amounts to about 51 per cent; approximately half of the agricultural export consists of live animals and animal products. The importance of animal breeding within the agricultural production reveals an increasing trend.1.1 Natural conditionsIn Hungary, animal breeding results are influenced by natural conditions through their effect exerted on feed production, and their direct action upon the livestock. This is characterized by the location of the country: northern latitude 45° 45'48° 35' and eastern longitude 16° 5'22° 55'. Her climate is fundamentally determined by this location in the centre of the Carpathian basin, surrounded by the Alps, the Carpathian and Dinarean mountains. As a result, an intermediate climate is characteristic thereof, manifested in the alternating effects of a continental, oceanic, and Mediterranean area, respectively. The continental effect leads to extreme weather conditions, with a temperature between 34 and -f43°c. The moderating oceanic effect is reflected by the relatively high annual mean temperature of 9 to 11 °C. The prevailing wind is of a North-Westen direction and medium velocity (2.5 to 3 m/sec). Stormy winds of 15 m/sec are rare.The sunshine period exceeds that of the western parts of Europe. The number of sunshine hours, at an annual average, is minimum 1500 and maximum 2500. Completely nebulous days seldom occur during the summer season which favours the production of crops having a high light requirement. The distribution of precipitation is rather uneven. The maximum of the annual average of 550 mm is in May and June while the summer rains so much important for the growth and maturation of the agricultural crops are often absent. The most arid area is the Great Plain where, in certain years, the annual precipitation quantity is less than 300 mm. The greatest amount of precipitation is observed in the West-Transdanubian area (Sopron town and environment) where the annual average is 900 to 1000 mm.As compared to the northern regions of Era ope, there is the unfavourable feature of frequent thunderstorms in the summer season (20 to 30-times a year) or violent showers perhaps with hail. The maximum water quantity ever measured was more