Doctoral Degree Programmes | Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management

Animal production

In Eastern Hungary keeping, breeding and utilization of ruminants, predominantly cattle and sheep extensively based on pasture and intensively, as well. Our Doctoral School is dealing with traditional breeds in another programme. Studies of the production of other beef-cattle and their crossings, as well as breeding dairy cattle producing concentrated milk (Jersey, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red), their crossing with Holstein-Friesian and complementary investigation of their production. Analysis of the milk of different genotypes and the effects of different nutrients onto the milk components are in progress. Besides traditional methods ultrasound measurements are also applied in the studies of the condition and body composition of live animals.

On our Experimental Farm beside the Tsigay and Prolific Merino breeds we keep hair (Somali and Barbados Blackbelly) and shedding wool (Dorper and White Dorper) flocks, the number of the latter two is growing making also experimental crossings with them. Our aseasonal hair- and shedding wool sheep are lambing timed for the seasonal markets (Eastern, Feragosto, Christmas), or three times in two years. The genetic limits of meat production ability of the dual purpose Cokanski Tsigay sheep is studied in purebred condition as well as in utility crossings.

The milking parlor built in 2014 is working and milk products will be manufactured in the near future. The size of the Prolific Merinos (controlled for carrying the Booroola-gene) was improved by Texel crossing. Dorper x Barbados reciprocal crossbreeds were backcrossed with Dorper and selection is carried out for the creation of the easy care „Hungarian Hairsheep" adapted to our present and changing climate. The new breed will need no docking, shearing and bath, will be resistant to gastrointestinal worms, having aseasonal reproduction, well pigmented with correct nails and legs, good proportion of twinning and rearing and polled.

We started with different woolsheep x hairsheep crossings, partly for utility goals. The hybrid lambs have better viability and in the case of aseasonal mothers they can be born round the year in planned times, or permanently, as well. The creation of hairy milksheep started by crossing British Milksheep, Tsigay and Lacaune mothers with hairy rams

Research works are going on with other ancient, dairy, prolific and mutton breeds with cooperating partners.

We take care of the quality of animal products. With external and within the University cooperations we are dealing with the improvement of human nutrition and functional food.

Nutrition

In nutrition science the Doctoral School is predominantly dealing with the up-to-date nutrition of pig and poultry applying the tools and methods of molecular genetics and proteomics. In one of the doctoral programmes nutrition based on molecular genetic parameters and the more accurate measurement of the lysine/digestible energy rate are the main goals to produce better pork for human food expectations. This programme is a part of the food science based on genetic profile.

Application of new generation food additives in poultry feeding is also important for producing better food components of animal origin for human nutrition. Another theme is the investigation of feed protein sources and their substitution for broilers based on the newest physiological and immunological knowledge. Another program starting in the near future will deal with the reduction of the harmful effects of the changing climate, especially heat stress by nutrition for producing good quality and secure human food. Beside modern feeding research the extensive (pasture utilization) and intensive forms in harmony with the type of the animal (traditional and new breeds, crossings). Beside the traditional ruminants, pig, poultry and fish our Doctoral School is dealing with wild animals (wild pig, roe deer, hare, black grouse), as well. Nutrition in harmony with the genetic abilities, the quality and ensuring the health of the animals and people consuming their products are emphasized.

Fish biology

Fish breeding is extremely important in Eastern Hungary and it is reflected in the research themes of the Doctoral School. The intensive fish biological investigations are carried out in our infrastructurally well equipped laboratory, their practical parts in the fisheries cooperating with us. In this field our most important partner is the NAIK – Fishery Research Institute, Szarvas, where also the feeding with immune-strengthening medical plants is investigated in Chinese cooperation. In another group of fish nutrition they investigate the possibilities of total or partly replacing of the fish meal and fish oil by plant materials. Beside keeping traditional carp lines, they are also dealing with putting new species (e.g. tilapia, barramundi) in production by using thermal and cooling water. The water used in fish production is passed to aquaponia system for herb and vegetable production.

Reproduction biology

In the field of reproduction biology sheep have a high priority. Spermatozoa may be collected by artificial vagina, or in the case of wild sheep by electroejaculation or from the epidydimis. We deal with sperm evaluation (motility investigation on warming plate with phase contrast microscope, i.e. viability and acrosome staining), cryopreservation, and with the sexual seasonality of rams and ewes. In cooperation with the Veterinary Faculty of the Szent István University the hormonal background of the seasonality/aseasonality of local and exotic breeds and the possibilities for influencing it were investigated. One of our students finishing in 2014 was dealing with sheep embryo transfer. We work with the improving of laparascopic intrauterin, intratubal and transcervical insemination methods. The White Dorper breed was introduced from Canada by cryopreserved embryos and insemination doses. Significant local flocks were established in the frame of Ph.D. works.

Our molecular genetic team is dealing with several species. The control of origin, and investigation of allele frequencies characteristic to individual breeds and lines may be carried out in all of the species. Knowing the typical genetic markers is extremely important for the characterization and product control of traditional breeds (e.g. Hungarian Grey Cattle, Hungarian and Transylvanian Racka and Tsigai Sheep, Bronze Turkey). Materials are also collected from moufflons and wild pigs for investigations ensuring the control of the origin.

Genes connected to milk production of cattle and with reproduction (twinning, seasonality/aseasonality) of sheep are diagnosed and their presence in homo- or heterozygotic form is followed in purebred and crossbreed individuals. Comparison of the Hungarian and Tibetan screw horned sheep is going on in Chinese and Romanian cooperation.

Cytogenetics: Comparison of cyto- and molecular genetic investigations for the early diagnosis of the goat polled intersex syndrome (PIS) is a running Ph.D. theme. In the Hortobágy National Park we investigated 117 Heck's Cattle with negative result and found the first chromosome abnormality described in wild equids: the non-hereditary XXY-syndrome in an infertile Przewalski-horse stallion.

Breeding value prediction today is a unique wildly applied method of animal improvement telling the genetic value of farm animals. In the last years more Ph.D. students joined to researches applying the best linear unbiased selection (BLUP) method. Beside the prediction of the hereditability of economical values, the evaluation of the genetic structure of home breeds registered in higher numbers and exploration of the genetical linkages were also carried out. The adaptation of the milking in day model to Hungarian conditions started, as well. Research is carried out for the prediction of genetic value also in the Hungarian Grey and Hungarian Simmental breeds. In the case of Hungarian Simmental Cattle there are models ready for practical application, especially in the dual purpose variety. The basic research is finished for the breeding value prediction of Hungarian sheep populations.

Pedigree analyses were carried out in several Ph.D. works for different farm animals, their results are important for the breeding value prediction. The heritability values of the examined characteristics were determined from the sporting horse mare's exams and the genetical/phenotypical correlations between those. Breeding value indices were made for the groups of characteristics of mare exams. The jumping results are confirmed by mathematical calculations in a running doctoral theme.

Survival analysis was carried out for exploring the genetic value of the Hungarian sporting horses based on the results in jumping competitions. The applied milking in day model of dairy cattle could be used also for jumping horses.

Preservation of genetic resources is getting more and more important world-wide. Not only the rare wild species, but also domestic animals need protection as the populations size of local, less important breeds is decreasing, some of them totally disappear. Protection of the genes of domestic animals is a „genetic environment protection" as its goal is the preservation of genetic and phenotypic polymorphisms still present in domestic animals. Its cultural importance cannot be questioned as the old breeds of domestic animals are the products of human activities of generations built on each-other and also carrying aesthetic qualities. We serve the demands of a fare invisible future and honouring the brilliant breeding works of our ancestors in the same time.

Excavation of genetical and economical values of old breeds of domestic animals is carried out in the frame of this programme. The goal is creating a data bank of great scientific pretensions able to serve the animal breeding also in the fare future. The Ph.D. students take their parts of this great work with their dissertations.

For the evaluation of the gene preservation work continued for animal generations we analyse the changes of valued characters, especially the spreads of those in the recent populations, the chance of survival of rare phenotypes and even the diversities on molecular level.

Using the possibilities offered by population genetics and computer technology we started with the population genetical and population structural analysis of some horse breeds concentrating on the characterization of genetic diversity. A Ph.D. dissertation is dealing now with the molecular genetic investigation of pedigree data, with the possibility given by the matroclin inheritance for controlling the data of the maternal side of the pedigrees. The joint knowledge of pedigree and molecular genetic data makes possible the more accurate characterization of the fundamental maternal ancestors, giving a base of the diverse preservation of historical horse breeds.

The traditional in vivo gene preservation of more species and breeds is going on in in situ and ex situ form on our experimental farm and with cooperating partners. Beside the in vivo preservation the in vitro preservation of gametes, embryos, cell cultures, cultivable cells and DNA parts, partly cryopreserved, plus the reintroduction programmes of species (wisent, black grouse) extirpated from Hungary are going on. We are dealing also with the collection of literature sources (in libri gene preservation) of the history of old breeds (Carpathian Braunvieh, screw horned sheep, Mangalica pigs, Hungarian horse breeds).

Not only the numbers but also the genetic variabilities are knowingly preserved by the possibilities offered by the doctoral programmes making possible the saving the individual characters for the future preserving genetic diversity.

Preservation of genetic reserves is a positive human activity including saving, preservation and utilization with non-decreasing yield.