Kőrösi Andrea: A magyar szürke marha kraniometriai jellemzése. (Mezőgazdaságtörténeti tanulmányok 11. Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum, Budapest, 2008)

Abstract

various primigenius-type cattle species there might be differences being typical of the species. The width and circumference of the pedicles are higher than the data given by Rütimeyer but they are in accordance with Rütimeyer's and Wilckens' descriptions concerning the main characteristics. It corresponds only partially with the survey of Grey cattle skulls made by C. Grigson. Several non-measurable characteristics were observed by C. Grigson during his research but several differences can be found in the skull characteristics between the Hungarian Grey cattle and the cattle species examined by C. Grigson. From the comparison of the skull forms in different epochs it can be drawn as a conclusion that the species underwent some changes. As concerns the size of Grey cattle skulls (both cow and bull) coming from the late 19th and early 20th centuries a process of growth; concerning ox skulls, especially the size of pedicles, considerable shortening, reduction can be observed. This tendency is discernible in the case of skulls from the 1960s-70s and of András K. Reményi 's skulls from the 1980s, too. On the basis of the skull sizes and characteristics the genders can be distinguished from each other. Thick, wide table-shaped horns are typical of bulls. On the pedicles bone crustation, a crown, and deep, longitudinal grooves are observable. Their frontal bone is less slim, relatively wide. The nasal bone narrows forward. The nasal bones reossify both each other and the neighbouring skull bones. These features do no appear in the case of cows or oxen. The medial ramus of the nasal bone of bulls is always long, its lateral ramus is missing or it is aborted. The cow skulls are longer and their frontal bone is slimmer. The pedicles are of different position, they can often be twisted, and the crown on them is less developed. The shape of the nasal front-extension of the nasal bone is typical of cows and oxen. While in the case of bulls the lateral ramus is rudimentary, this cannot be observed with any cow skulls. In the case of cows and oxen with the first rami of the nasal bone are mostly equally long or the lateral ramus is longer. Sometimes the medial ramus can be longer but in this case the difference between the two rami is little. A deep nasal bone-cut is typical of cow skulls. The length of the pedicles, the size of their diameter is the biggest in the case of oxen; on the basis of their size it can be definitely distinguished. The position of the horns is varied, rarely twisted. By means of the common examination of the different features, the genders can be distinguished very well. On the basis of these, the skulls with unknown gender can be defined unambiguously. The skulls with unknown gender - based on the skull sizes - belong to the category of cows. The skull with the inventory number 64.03 is ox-like in its every feature. The size and characteristics of the animal coming from the breeding experiment fell into the domain and type of cows, on the basis of the skull sizes. The frontal bone becomes shorter and wider while the nasal bone is slowly getting longer. Considering age groups it can be established in the case of all three genders that the proportion of the length of the premolars is diminished gradually with aging. The shape of the jaw bones of the Hungarian Grey cattle is not similar to the primigenius-type jaw bone described by Wilckens. It resembles far more the frontosus type mentioned at the same place.