Birthing season has begun in Hortobagi. Calves of gray cattle and merino sheep are born these days, and in the first days of February also, foals begin – the Hortobágy Nature Conservation and Gene Nonprofit Kft informs. MTI on Tuesday.
According to their information, the company keeps pets of high genetic value on the pastures of the Hortobágy National Park (HNP), thus ensuring that the area is managed for nature conservation purposes.
Reproductions of Hungarian gray cattle, Hortobágy Racka sheep, Hungarian merino sheep and non-village horses ensure the preservation of the genetic stock of local breeds and the preservation of the species-rich state of the Hortobágy pastures through the expert activities of company employees and sponsors, they noted.
The calving season for Hungarian Gray cattle has begun after the calves are raised to their winter quarters in November. About 300 calves have already been born, and the total number is expected to reach 750 calves.
In order to increase the genetic distance between animals, Hortobágyi Nonprofit Kft. and Magyar Szürke Szarvasmarhát Tenyésztók Egyeszülete also involved the geneticist in creating the mating plan and in the process of selecting suitable breeding animals
– they wrote.
According to their advertisement, the mating of Hungarian Merino sheep and Hortobágy Racka sheep took place for six weeks at the beginning of August. Lambs are born in about 150 days, so the lambing season for sheep has begun in a matter of days. So far, including the twin lambs, 42 animals have been born, and by the end of the gestation season, the number is expected to increase to 850.
In the stables of Mátai Ménes, the calving period is expected at the beginning of February, and the fillies and jockeys are expecting the birth of 50 foals of Nonius and 5 fillies of sporthorses.
Calves, lambs and foals are born in the winter quarters. During the calving season, the shepherds are constantly present with the cattle and assist in childbirth if necessary. After the grazing season begins, they said, the young will be raised with their mother in the desert pastures.
