Department of Animal Husbandry | Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management

The Department of Animal Science started its operation when the Academy of Economics in Pallag was founded. After 1953, when the rural agricultural academies were reopened, it started to spread. At the beginning, it used the curriculum from the closed academies. Later, as it has gained academic, university rank, within the frame of agricultural engineer education, the specializations were introduced, which reflected the labor demand.

After the structure of higher education had been changed, we switched to multistage education. In the beginning of the 2000`s, the department initiated the foundation of an accredited higher vocational education system. Then the Animal Breeding Bsc course was also launched. From the 2008/2009 semester we have Animal Breeding Msc course as well, and English language training was also accredited. In 1994, the new PhD system was started. The scientific workshop has grown into a Doctoral School, where today several PhD programs are running. The research of Animal Sciences Doctoral School is supported by thesis supervisors and accredited Professors. The young colleagues with academic degree will be the supervisors of animal sciences at this Department.

The research work of the Department on major farm animal species started from the beginning. First, the popular forage for lambs was patented, and then the technology of preserving forage with organic acid was developed. Our priority, central theme has always been: goose breeding, animal production, its complex research, breeding the prolific Merino sheep.

The Department is working on the genetic and economic evaluation of native domestic animals. Within the frame of Consortia Research the state-of-art DNA techniques (DNA markers) in national research programmes. Recently, research on cattle became more pronounced, especially on breeds producing high nutritional value milk, their products, and the whole beef chain.

Fish farming is also one of our important research areas. The research on intensive fish production systems are carried out in our laboratory, the extensive parts are done in fish farms cooperating with our department.

The Department actively takes part in the control of national breeding organizations, and in the work of academic boards.