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MGE
S&T (TÉT)
Scientific and Technological Co-operation projects (S&T)

Hungarian-Vietnamese S&T (2008-2009)
Development of alternative poultry breeding and production in Vietnam, by the use of old Hungarian poultry breeds.
(ongoing project)

Hungarian-Chinese S&T (2007-2008; 2009-2010)
Adaptation studies of Hungarian goose genetic stocks and development of common breeding methods among Chinese conditions.
(ongoing project)
NEFE (ODA) Vietnam (2006-2007)
ADAPTATION OF HUNGARIAN POULTRY BREEDS IN VIETNAM, DEVELOPMENT OF POOR REGIONS, WITH REGARD TO AGRARIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GENE CONSERVATION. Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, CIDA, Canada
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FINAL REPORT OF THE PROJECT >>>

PROJECT SUMMARY

PRELIMINARIES AND THE AIM OF THE PROJECT

Within animal husbandry, poultry husbandry is the second most important source of income for smallholdings in Vietnam. In poor regions it is practical to develop environmentally friendly poultry husbandry, which can function on low costs. For this purpose, resistant breeds that can tolerate local conditions and the extreme climate are needed. MGE (Association of Hungarian Small Animal Breeders for Gene Conservation), as official breeding organization of old Hungarian poultry breeds, together with its breeding partners have been carrying out research for adaptation as a continuation of the traditions of the Hungarian-Vietnamese small animal breeding since the end of the 1990s. In the frame of this research, Institute for Small Animal Research (KÁTKI) in Godollo has sent old Hungarian poultry breeds to the National Institute for Animal Husbandry in Hanoi, Vietnam. In 2006, the research has been extended to the adaptation studies of Hungarian turkey breeds as well in the frames of a NEFE (ODA-type) project. The project aimed at the organization of the adaptation, rural propagation and breeding background of the old Hungarian turkey breeds in Vietnam, with special respect to the local aspects of gene conservation and traditional family mixed farming. Financial support for the project was provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary and CIDA, Canada.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE ADAPTATION OF HUNGARIAN TURKEY BREEDS IN VIETNAM

Rearing and reproduction

Based on the results of rearing and reproduction periods of adaptation experiments of Hungarian turkey breeds and their crosses, it can be concluded that turkey genotypes studied can be reared in Vietnam with real success. Hatching results of breeding eggs shipped to Vietnam indicate that good (maybe somewhat better) results can be obtained in Vietnam than in Hungary. It was confirmed by hatching results of eggs produced in Vietnam in 2007. As regards body weight gain and livability till 20 weeks of age, better results can be obtained in Vietnam, than in Hungary. Crossings of turkey breeds showed heterosis for body weight and feed conversion in Hungary, but did not in Vietnam. In Vietnamese conditions purebred Hungarian Bronze turkey gives the best results in this respect. Livability was found much better in Vietnam in all genotypes studied, but no mortality was observed after 8 weeks of age in either environments. It also means that 100% of birds survived during egg production too. As regards reproduction characteristics, turkeys start egg production more than 100 days earlier in Vietnam, and produce more but – due to early start of laying and longer production – somewhat smaller eggs.
Data obtained so far on the adaptation of Hungarian turkey breeds and crosses demonstrate well the excellent adaptability of these breeds in Vietnamese environment, however, crosses do not show heterosis for certain traits, as Copper male x Bronze female do in Hungary, consequently crossing of breeds for commercial production is not necessary..

Future possibilities of turkey breeding in Vietnam

According to a governmental directive, Vietnam decided to double its poultry production by 2015. Programs for development also stress the importance of the supply of local consumers and the conservation of local domestic animal breeds. Leading institution to fulfill the program is the Poultry Research Centre (POREC) of NIAH.
Farmers are getting acquainted with turkey species through POREC as turkey keeping is very rare in Vietnam. Family farms invited to test the breeds in rural conditions managed well with Hungarian turkey breeds. POREC is planning to organize a consultation day for farmers in early 2008, to demonstrate the practice and realizable income of turkey breeding for a wide audience of farmers.
There is no turkey meat on the Vietnamese market, consumers are not familiar with it, and sporadic occurrence of the species in certain villages is not enough for any type of commercial production. On the other hand, dramatic increase of tourism will mean a great market for turkey meat even in the near future. Our studies during the project demonstrated, that Hungarian turkey breeds can be reared and reproduced with real success in Vietnam, providing a premium quality products for consumers, and therefore they are highly marketable. (In some regions of Laos, for example, turkey production is still the practice, and turkey meat is a very precious and expensive product in that country.) To develop high quality turkey meat production in Vietnam, organization of breeding and reproductive centers, and propagation of turkey in the poor rural areas are needed. This type of development, however, should consider conservation of local breeds and maintenance of sustainable ways of production.

Presentations and papers

ADAPTATION OF HUNGARIAN POULTRY BREEDS IN VIETNAM, DEVELOPMENT OF POOR REGIONS, WITH REGARD TO AGRARIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GENE CONSERVATION
Presentation, Kisne, Do thi Dong Xuan, Canadian Embassy in Budapest, 07 March, 2007

MGE NEFE - NIAH PRC Workshop, Thuy Phuong, Ha Noi, 23 March, 2007
VAI TRO CAC GIONG GIA CAM CHAN THA HUNGARY TRONG VIEC XOA DOI GIAM NGHEO, BAO TON QUY GEN VA BAO VE SINH THAI NONG NGHIEP VIETNAM (The role of Old Hungarian Poultry Breeds in development of poor regions with regards to agrarian environmental protection and gene conservation in Vietnam) Dua tren du an Canada-Hung-Viet: MGE-NEFE 2006-2007
Presentation and paper by Kisne, Do thi Dong Xuan
OLD HUNGARIAN POULTRY BREEDS AND THEIR USE IN HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION
Presentation and paper by Istvan Szalay and Kisne, Do thi Dong Xuan

Journal article, 22. 12. 2006. about Do thi Dong Xuan (in Vietnamese)

MAGYAR BAROMFIFAJTÁK A TÁVOL-KELETEN (Hungarian poultry breeds in Far-East)
Journal article on the objectives and first results of the projekt. Source: A BAROMFI, 2007/1 (in Hungarian)

5th Vietnamese Hungarian Conference (MGE-NEFE Major Conference)
Dong Xuan, K.D.T. – Szalay, I.T.: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (ARD) – TRILATERAL HUNGARIAN-VIETNAMESE-LAO SAMPLE TO DEVELOP POULTRY BREEDING IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Paper and presentation PDF)
Szalay, I.T. – Dong Xuan, K. D. T.: SUSTAINABILITY AND GENE CONSERVATION AS GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE HUNGARIAN-VIETNAMESE POULTRY RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (Paper and presentation PDF)
Phung Duc Tien – Pham Thi Minh Thu – Kisne Do Thi Dong Xuan – Szalay Istvan, Nguyen Ngoc Dung – Bach Thi Thanh Dan – Hoang Van Loc – Nguyen Thi Lanh – Pham Thi Thu Phuong: SOME OBSERVATION ON ECO-TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF TURKEY IMPORTED FROM HUNGARY (Paper and presentation PDF)
Dong Xuan, K.D.T. – Szalay, I.T. – Duc Tien, P. – Minh Thu, P.T.: ADAPTATION EXPERIMENTS OF HUNGARIAN TURKEY BREEDS AND THEIR CROSSES IN VIETNAM (MGE-NEFE project, Hungary–Vietnam, 2006-2007) (Paper and presentation PDF)
Vo Van Su: RESULTS OF RESEARCHES ON SOFTWARE FOR POULTRY MANAGEMENT
Bodi, L. – Dong Xuan, K. D. T. – Szalay, I.T.: HU-BA PRODUCTION SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL POULTRY PRODUCTS IN HUNGARY (Paper and presentation PDF)
Phung Duc Tien – Pham Thi Minh Thu – Kisne Do Thi Dong Xuan – Szalay Istvan – Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh – Hoang Van Loc – Truong Thuy Huong: STUDY ON SELECTION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THREE GUINEA FOWL LINES’ PRODUCTION THROUGH THREE GENERATIONS (Paper and poster PDF)
NEFE (ODA) Microproject, Vietnam_Laos (2007)
Hungarian-Vietnamese-Lao trilateral co-operation on the adaptation of old Hungarian guinea fowl and turkey breeds in Laos.
NEFE Microproject, 2007.

Supported by:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary
Hungarian Embassy in Vietnam
CHANNEL EU project (2004-2006)
Opening channels of communication between the associated candidate countries and the EU in ecological farming [Kommunikációs csatornák kialakítása az EU társult tagjelölt országai között az ökológiai mezőgazdálkodás területén] (EU 6. keretprogram 2004-2006)
CHANNEL Homepage
Project summary

There are huge differences in the historical background and the level of development among the Associated Candidate Countries. Organic agriculture is an area that reached different stages of development in the different countries. The different forms of organization, the legislative and economic framework and the cultural background impose different tasks on the ACC countries in this area.
In accordance with the described situation the main objectives of this project are:
•to assess and analyse which development stages have these countries achieved in organic agriculture
•to open communication channels on different levels necessary for starting the harmonization and equalization process in organic agriculture.
The central instrument for the fulfilment of these objectives will be a complex data base with homogeneous information organized around the following 6 thematic units relevant to organic agriculture: plant protection, organic seed and propagation material, animal husbandry, agro-technology, weed management and soil fertility.
These data will be collected and processed in working groups with a responsible group leader.
Data collection will be carried out by all participating organizations in their respective area of competence (thematic or geographical) and disseminate them in leaflets and newsletters aiming at disseminating knowledge in organic agriculture and producing a multiplication effect by involving a large group of stakeholders and beneficiaries also from the circles of NGO-s, farmers, SME-s, educational, administrative, religious and other institutions.
The completed data base will be presented and discussed at an EU level conference that will provide politicians, policy-makers and players in all the relevant sectors, such as economy, education and research, with a valuable set of information on organic agriculture to be used for strategic planning and evaluation. The participants will also benefit from the project through the articulation of a core group of researcher who can afterwards apply for a new, or join an existing NoE or IP project.
Edited by Dr. Istvan SZALAY, chairman of MGE
E-mail: szalay@katki.hu
Last update: 10 February 2016.