Sunflower meal (SM) is an economically important, inexpensive, and locally abundant alternative protein source in the Eurozone. The study aimed at investigating the effects of feeding two forms of SM on the production traits, carcass composition, nutrient digestibility, and some gut parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 600-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were fed five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. Besides the control diet (C), the high- and low-fibre SMs (HFSM and LFSM) were fed at 20% (HFSM20 and LFSM20) and 30% (HFSM30 and LFSM30). Compared to the C, feeding the SM-containing diets did not affect the feed intake (FI) of birds. In the finisher phase, the HFSM30 treatment resulted in significantly higher, while the LFSM30 diet in significantly lower body weight gain. All SM treatments impaired FCR, but the difference was significant only in the grower phase. In comparison with the C, the SM treatments failed to modify carcass composition. The fat digestibility and the AMEn content increased, while the starch digestibility decreased when SM was fed. Except the LFSM30 treatment in the grower phase, the Nitrogen retention of birds was not affected. The SM-containing diets reduced the urinary N excretion, and the total N excretion of growers. Furthermore, the HFSM30 reduced the jejunal viscosity during the grower and finisher phases. The treatments did not modify the short-chain fatty acid contents of the caeca. In conclusion, SM can be used even at 20 and 30% in the nutrition of broiler chickens. However, the responses are affected by the age and the fibre content of SM.

Irrigation determines the success of water-intensive beet cultivation in Hungary. Taking into account the guidelines of the circular economy; the aim of our study was to investigate the effect of high sodium effluent from fish farms on the yield and sugar content of fodder and sugar beet in two-year-lysimeter experiment and to calculate the possibility of phytoremediation and the potential to use saline effluent water to mitigate drought effects of root biomass reduction According to our results, irrigation with effluent water did not cause yield depression in the root biomass compared to irrigation with fresh water. The effect of irrigation water quality was seen in the sodium (Na) concentration values of the roots in both years, because it was the lowest in the treatments irrigated with Körös River fresh water. The highest estimated extracted sodium amount was 83.1 kg Na/ha in case of fodder beet variety ‘Rózsaszínű Beta’ in treatment irrigated with effluent water from catfish farm (EW) in 2021, which means 7.2% of the Na applied through the effluent water. All cultivars produced higher root fresh weight when irrigated with river Körös, effluent, or diluted waters compared to control crops irrigated by scarce rain water.

The effects of feeding low-protein (LP) diets and the age and genotype of fattening pigs were evaluated in an N-balance trial. Sixty weaned piglets of two genotypes were allotted to three different diets. Besides the control diets for the crossbred Topigs 20 × DanBred Duroc (TD) and Hungarian Large White (HLW) pigs, two LP diets were fed containing 1.5 (T1.5) and 3% (T3) less dietary protein than the control. The LP diets were supplemented with crystalline lysine, threonine, tryptophan, and methionine to equalize their digestible amino acid contents. Starter diets were fed between 20–30, grower I between 30–40, grower II between 40–80 and finisher between 80–110 kg live weights. Pigs were kept in floor pens, with 10 animals per pen. In all phases, six pigs with similar live weight were placed into individual balance cages and in the frame of a seven-day long balance trial, the daily N-intake, fecal and urinary N-excretion were measured. From the data N-digestibility, the total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) and N-retention were calculated. All the investigated main factors, the genotype and age of pigs and the protein content of the diets had significant effects on the N-balance of fattening pigs. The determinacy of the factors depended on the investigated parameter. Fecal N-excretion and N-digestibility were steadier compared with the urinary N-exertion and TAN percentage. N-digestibility increased and the urinary N-excretion decreased when LP diets were fed. The urinary N-decreasing effect of LP diets was not linear. Compared with the control (19.6 gN/day), T1.5 treatment resulted in 14.5, treatment T3 in 12.4 g daily urinary N-excretion. The TAN and the N-retention of HLW pigs were more favorable than those of TD pigs. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the accuracy of the nitrogen and TAN excretion values of pigs, used in the calculation of the national NH₃ inventories, could be improved if the genotype, the more detailed age categories and the different protein levels of feeds are considered.

In this trial, the effects of different nutritional treatments on the N balance parameters of fattening pigs in the 55–65 kg live weight category were evaluated. The following diets were used: control diet (C) and low-protein (LP) diet with 2% crude protein reduction, with and without 10% sugar beet pulp (S) or 0.5% benzoic acid supplementation. Six pigs per treatment with similar live weight were used, and in the context of the balance trial, the daily N intake, fecal and urinary N excretion and the pH of urine were measured. From the data N digestibility, the TAN % and N retention were calculated. Feeding LP diets reduced the fecal, urinary and total N excretion and also the pH of urine significantly compared with the control diet. Sugar beet pulp significantly increased the fecal N excretion and urinary pH, and it also reduced significantly N digestibility and the TAN ratio. Benzoic acid failed to reduce urinary pH. The measured N excretion, retention and TAN excretion values were more favorable than those that can be found in the different guidelines or those used in the Hungarian ammonia emission inventory.

A magyar lovasturizmus a nemzeti identitás, a kulturális örökség és a vidéki fejlődés egyik meghatározó pillére. A kutatás célja annak feltárása, hogy a magyar lovas hagyományok miként járulnak hozzá a turisztikai kínálat egyediségéhez, és hogyan segítik elő a fenntartható vidéki fejlődést. A szekunder (szakirodalmi és statisztikai) elemzések, valamint a primer (kérdőíves) kutatás alapján bemutatjuk a szektor jelenlegi helyzetét, a hagyományőrzés szerepét, a szolgáltatások minőségét, a célcsoportokat, motivációkat és a fejlesztési lehetőségeket. Eredményeink szerint legnagyobb értékei a hiteles hagyományőrzés, a természetközeli élmények és a közösségi programok, amelyek jelentősen erősítik a vidéki közösségeket, élénkítik a helyi gazdaságot, és hozzájárulnak a nemzeti önazonosság megőrzéséhez. A magyar lovasturizmus nemzetközi összehasonlításban is versenyképes, miközben globális fenntarthatósági és digitális innovációs kihívásokkal néz szembe. A szektor jövője a hagyományőrzés, a magas színvonalú szolgáltatások, a fenntarthatósági beruházások, a modernizáció, a digitális innováció és a fiatal generációk aktív bevonásának összehangolt érvényesítésében rejlik.

In recent decades, the role of horses has increasingly shifted toward sport and leisure, resulting in heightened attention to their long-term health and welfare. Parallel to a broader interest in natural therapies, the application of herbal medicine in equine care has gained momentum. Commonly used medicinal plants - such as Harpagophytum procumbens (devil’s claw), Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), and Allium sativum (garlic) - are employed to support digestive, immune, and musculoskeletal functions. Although generally considered safe, some herbs may elicit side effects, necessitating professional guidance in their administration. Hungary possesses a longstanding tradition in medicinal plant cultivation, facilitated by favorable pedoclimatic conditions. The country is divided into six principal cultivation zones and remains a key European producer, particularly of chamomile. Despite its ecological benefits - such as enhancing agro-biodiversity and promoting organic agriculture - the sector faces several challenges, including labor shortages, market fluctuations, and environmental concerns such as overharvesting and climate change. Sustainable cultivation practices and increased ecological awareness are critical for the resilience and future of this field. As a supplement to our work, we prepared a questionnaire for domestic horse owners regarding the use of medicinal herbs. Our questionnaire-based study revealed that the majority of horse owners are familiar with, and actively utilize, herbal products, primarily for managing respiratory, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal conditions. The significance of using medicinal herbs in horses is also supported by the results of two of our previously published experiments. In these two controlled feeding trials, we demonstrated that specific herbal mixtures, administered in dried or fermented form, significantly improved the digestibility of crude fiber, crude protein, and dry matter. The preparations were well tolerated, with no adverse effects observed. These findings suggest that phytotherapeutic supplementation may offer a viable, natural strategy to support equine gastrointestinal health. However, further research is warranted to optimize herbal formulations and to evaluate efficacy across larger, more diverse equine populations.