This year, the 30th National Cattleherders’ Competition and Shepherds’ Gathering was held at the Pusztai Állatpark in Hortobágy. The jubilee event aims to showcase and pass on the traditions that are still alive among the herders of Hungarian Grey cattle kept under extensive, free-range conditions, as well as the practical skills of traditional pastoralism.
Cattle herders and young apprentices representing the next generation, who travelled to the event from all over the country, competed in traditional contests based on the skills and tasks of everyday pastoral life. These included catching cattle, drawing water from a traditional well, throwing a lasso, and handling the traditional herder’s stick and whip. At the same time, visitors were given an authentic insight into one of the most important living traditions of Hungarian pastoral culture.
The programme was complemented by a competition featuring traditional herdsmen’s dishes, folk music and traditional cultural performances, as well as a fair showcasing traditional crafts and folk art. The event not only contributes to preserving the values of Hungarian pastoral culture, but also draws attention to the close relationship between pasture management and nature conservation—an increasingly important aspect of sustainable land use today.
The event provided an excellent opportunity for us to raise awareness among farmers and visitors about the importance of insect-friendly grazing and to introduce the objectives of our project. The event attracted a large number of livestock farmers, small-scale agricultural producers, local residents, and professionals, providing an excellent platform for presenting nature-friendly farming practices. The strong attendance of agricultural professionals allowed us to engage directly with farmers whose everyday management practices have a significant influence on grassland biodiversity.
At our stand, we demonstrated how nature-friendly grazing practices can contribute to the conservation of decomposer insects and grassland biodiversity. We discussed the benefits of using veterinary antiparasitic treatments responsibly, the role of insect hotels, and how sustainable grassland management and the conservation of beneficial insect species can simultaneously support both nature conservation and farming objectives. Particular emphasis was placed on providing participating farmers with practical examples of conservation measures that can help support the survival of decomposer and soil-dwelling arthropods, as well as other beneficial insect species.
We were delighted to see that many farmers showed a keen interest in nature-friendly grassland management practices, and numerous valuable professional discussions took place throughout the event. During our conversations, several farmers expressed their openness to adopting insect-friendly management practices and their willingness to try out the methods presented by our project on their own farms.
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand and contributed to the exchange of ideas through their questions, experiences, and insights!
Written by: Renáta Gál
Fotó: Gál Renáta
