Magyari Márta szerk.: A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 2008-2009 (2010)

AGRÁRTÖRTÉNET - Surányi Béla: Hortobágy és a magyar szürke szarvasmarha

308 SURÁNYI BÉLA RÖVIDÍTÉSEK JEGYZÉKE KtL (1982)= Kistenyésztők Lapja. XXV1.9. Bp. Kt.(i929)= Köztelek,XXXIX. 83. Mo. Állatt. (1998)= Magyarország állattenyésztése (1851-1996). Bp. KSH. MSA (1973)= Mezőgazdasági Statisztikai Adatgyűjtemény 1870-1970. Állattenyésztés II. Megyei adatok. Szarvasmarha-tenyésztés. Bp. KSH OMKV (1996)= Az Országos Mezőgazdasági Kiállítások és Vásárok története (1881-1990). Bp. Fotó: Endes Mihály felvételei (1970—80-as évek) BélaSurányi HORTOBÁGY AND THE HUNGARIAN GREY CATTLE The Hungarian grey cattle have a special status in Debrecen's animal farming. It is because the town has played a decisive role in the birth, utilisation and preservation ofthe species. Cattle have always been present in local animal farming. At the time when the species thrived, it was looked upon as the symbol of Debrecen and Hungary by the European public. Its recent past is at least as interesting as the history of its more distant past. The origin and development ofthe species have not yet been fully revealed by science, but it is certain that a considerable period of its history is related to Debrecen. In fact, the Hungarian grey cattle were the connecting link in the relationship between Hortobágy and Debrecen for centuries. The extensive farming on the endless plains gave rise to a way of life which, on the one hand, brought the people of Debrecen prosperity and meant the preservation of traditions, but, on the other hand, hindered further development and renewal. This dichotomy has not only been present in the relationship between Debrecen and the grey cattle since their historic meeting but has also made the survival ofthe species possible. The history ofthe grey cattle has been full of struggle, which, fortunately, has not led to extinction but has become part of Hungarian agricultural past. The article treats the origin, the keeping and breeding ofthe species, its role in Hungarian animal farming, the attempts at improvement and those known and unknown people whose names, by virtue of their work, go down in the history ofthe Hungarian grey cattle.