Péter Balogh

Biofuels and Their Co-Products as Livestock Feed: Global Economic and Environmental Implications

This review studies biofuel expansion in terms of competition between conventional and advanced biofuels based on bioenergy potential. Production of advanced biofuels is generally more expensive than current biofuels because products are not yet cost competitive. What is overlooked in the discussion about biofuel is the contribution the industry makes to the global animal feed supply and land use for cultivation of feedstocks. The global ethanol industry produces 44 million metric tonnes of high-quality feed, however, the co-products of biodiesel production have a moderate impact on the feed market contributing to just 8–9 million tonnes of protein meal output a year. By economically displacing traditional feed ingredients co-products from biofuel production are an important and valuable component of the biofuels sector and the global feed market. The return of co-products to the feed market has agricultural land use (and GHG emissions) implications as well. The use of co-products generated from grains and oilseeds can reduce net land use by 11% to 40%. The proportion of global cropland used for biofuels is currently some 2% (30–35 million hectares). By adding co-products substituted for grains and oilseeds the land required for cultivation of feedstocks declines to 1.5% of the global crop area.

Anti-Atherogenic Properties of Allium ursinum Liophylisate: Impact on Lipoprotein Homeostasis and Cardiac Biomarkers in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits

The present investigation evaluates the capacity of Allium ursinum (wild garlic) leaf lyophilisate (WGLL; alliin content: 0.261%) to mitigate cardiovascular damage in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: (i) cholesterol-free rabbit chow (control); (ii) rabbit chow containing 2% cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic, HC); (iii) rabbit chow containing 2% cholesterol + 2% WGLL (hypercholesterolemic treated, HCT); for eight weeks. At the zero- and eight-week time points, echocardiographic measurements were made, along with the determination of basic serum parameters. Following the treatment period, after ischemia-reperfusion injury, hemodynamic parameters were measured using an isolated working heart model. Western blot analyses of heart tissue followed for evaluating protein expression and histochemical study for the atheroma status determination. WGLL treatment mediated increases in fractional shortening; right ventricular function; peak systolic velocity; tricuspidal annular systolic velocity in live animals; along with improved aortic and coronary flow. Western blot analysis revealed WGLL-associated increases in HO-1 protein and decreases in SOD-1 protein production. WGLL-associated decreases were observed in aortic atherosclerotic plaque coverage, plasma ApoB and the activity of LDH and CK (creatine kinase) in plasma. Plasma LDL was also significantly reduced. The results clearly demonstrate that WGLL has complex cardioprotective effects, suggesting future strategies for its use in prevention and therapy for atherosclerotic disorders.

Association and polymorphism study of seven candidate genes with reproductive traits in three pig breeds in Hungary

Seven genes (BF, EGF, ESR, FSHB, H2AFZ, LEP and PRLP) were studied as candidate gene influencing eleven reproduction traits (interval between litters (IBL), percent of litter (PL), number of litters (NL), number of piglets born dead (NBD), number of piglet born alive (NBA), total number born (TNB), mean of born alive (MBA), mean of born dead (MBD), mean of born total (MBT), mean of piglets at 21 days of age (M21D) and growth rate (GR) in three pig breeds (Hungarian Large White (HLW), Duroc and Pietrain) by PCR-RFLP. Based on the observed vs. expected genotypes frequencies populations across loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). In case HLW breed ESR and FSHβ genes were in disequilibrium. Association study suggested that only EGF gene showed significant influence on the trait NBA and TNB. The AA genotype are preferable for sows, associated with higher NBA and TNB. The longest IBL, and the highest NL is associated with AB and AA genotype of EGF gene. IBL is significantly shorter in case of pigs with AB and AA alleles than BB alleles of PRLP genes. Selection for these SNPs could improve the reproductivity in the studied breeds.

Co-Authorship and Co-Citation Networks in the Agricultural Economics Literature: The Case of Central and Eastern Europe

This article analyzes co-authorship and co-citation networks in the agricultural economics literature on Central and Eastern Europe written during the last twenty-five years. It highlights the principal researchers in the field, together with their authorship and citation networks, on the basis of 238 articles written between 1990 and 2013. Most of the articles were written by a small number of researchers, indicating that clusters and central authors play an important role in scientific progress. Contrary to expectations, it turns out that number of articles and central role in network are not related. Finally, clusters are found to cite themselves more than the average, thereby boosting scientific progress for their members.

The productive lifetime of sows on two farms from the aspect of reasons for culling

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of the productive lifetime (PLT) of sows kept on two farms, from the aspect of reasons for culling. The study was based on data from animals from two breeding farms in Hungary, using the data of 3493 crossbred Dutch Large White and Dutch Landrace sows (DLW × DL) between their first farrowing until the time of culling (2006 and 2012). For six years, the annual culling rate for both farms averaged 45%. The most frequent reasons for removal on both farms were reproductive problems (40%, 51%), leg problems (29%, 23%) and mortality (19%, 15%). There was a significant difference between the distributions of reasons for culling on the two farms (χ2=41.7, P≤0.001). The distributions of reasons for culling differed in three periods of sow breeding (Farm A: χ2=264.7, P≤0.001; Farm B: χ2=511.1, P≤0.001). The percentage of main removal reasons decreased, whereas the frequency of culling due to age increased. Using survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model), significant differences were identified between the PLT of sows culled due to reproductive problems (P≤0.001), leg problems (P≤0.001) and old age (P≤0.001). Reproductive problems (HR: 1.34, P≤0.001) and leg problems (HR: 1.39, P≤0.001) were higher and culling due to old age (HR: 0.44, P≤0.001) was lower on Farm A compared to Farm B. There were no significant differences between the two farms in terms of mortality (HR: 0.99, P=0.923). Overall, the results can be useful for breeders of crossbred (DLW × DL) sow populations in more accurately defining their culling systems.

Migráció megítélése a felsőoktatásban részt vevő hallgatók véleménye alapján

A szerzők kutatasi celkitűzese, hogy megvizsgaljak a napjainkban megfigyelhető nagyaranyu nepessegvandorlassal kapcsolatos esemenyeket, azok kivalto okat es prediktiv hatasat a felsőoktatasban tanulo egyetemi hallgatok, doktoranduszok altal felallitott es kepviselt attitűdjein keresztul. A megkerdezettek csoportjat, azaz a mintat, 425 fő a magyar felsőoktatasi intezmenyekben nappali tagozatos alapszakon, mesterszakon es doktori kepzesben reszt vevő hallgato kepezte. A megkerdezett mintan belul faktoranalizis segitsegevel kimutathato volt, hogy minel magasabb szintű kepzesen tanulnak az egyes hallgatok, azaz minel magasabb a legnagyobb iskolai vegzettseguk, annal nagyobb lesz korukben azok szama, akik toleransan viselkednek a migracios jelenseggel kapcsolatban. Meglepő lehet, hogy a nemzetkozi elettapasztalattal is rendelkező valaszadok kevesbe befogadoak a hasonlo tapasztalatokkal nem rendelkező tarsaikhoz kepest. Azt is megallapitottak, hogy a valaszadok munkatapasztalata jelentősen befolyasolja a befogado attitűd megletet vagy hianyat. A sikeres munkaerő-piaci integracio egyik kulcsa a megfelelő iskolai vegzettseg. A valaszadok is jelentőseget tulajdonitanak a migransok legnagyobb iskolai vegzettsegenek. A masik fontos szempont ugyanakkor a nyelvismeret: altalanos velekedes, hogy legalabb tarsalgasi szintű magyar nyelvismeret hianyaban aligha erhetnek el munkavallaloi sikereket a migransok. Mindez azert is erdemel kiemelest, mert a migracio tarsadalmi megiteleset befolyasolja a valaszadok gazdasagi helyzete: a jobb korulmenyek kozott elő valaszadok kevesbe latjak veszelyesnek a migraciot, mint a rosszabb gazdasagi helyzetben elő tarsaik. Vegzetul a migracio mediareprezentaciojaval kapcsolatban egyertelműen megallapithato, hogy a migracio belfoldi megiteleseben a hazai media szerepe kiemelt jelentősegű.

The GM-regulation game – the case of Hungary

Hungary, this small and open economy with limited natural resources, tries to build its future on creativity and innovation. At the same time, the country has declared in its basic law a categorical prohibition on the application of genetically modified organisms. The aim of this study is to explain the causes of this obvious contradiction. The collection of expert estimations regarding the relative positions and attitudes of different actors has been carried out in the form of face-to-face interviews with 67 stakeholders in the agri-food sector, following a strictly neutral approach, not taking into consideration whether the respondents have taken positions for or against the application of genetically modified crops. In order to define the key actors in the GM regulation debate, their mutual influences and their goals. Based on this information, a quantitative model has been developed to determine the system of interests of different actors and the coalition(s) which develop among them around different ...

Correction: Popp, J., et al. Biofuels and Their Co-Products as Livestock Feed: Global Economic and Environmental Implications. Molecules 2016, 21, 285.

Jozsef Popp 1,†, Monika Harangi-Rakos 1,†, Zoltan Gabnai 2,†, Peter Balogh 1,†, Gabriella Antal 1,*,† and Attila Bai 2,† 1 Institute of Sectoral Economics and Methodology, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4032, Hungary; popp.jozsef@econ.unideb.hu (J.P.); rakos.monika@econ.unideb.hu (M.H.-R.); balogh.peter@econ.unideb.hu (P.B.) 2 Institute of Business Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4032, Hungary; zoltangabnai@gmail.com (Z.G.); bai.attila@econ.unideb.hu (A.B.) * Correspondence: antal.gabriella@econ.unideb.hu; Tel.: +36-20-496-1008 † These authors contributed equally to this work.

Correlation of carcass meat content with development of the reproductive system in sexually immature gilts

This study evaluated the correlation of carcass meat content with the development of the reproductive system in sexually immature gilts of Polish Large White (PLW) and Polish Landrace (PL) breeds. The results, obtained from three groups (I, II, III) of gilts differing in lean meat percentage, indicate an effect on fattening and slaughtering traits as well as on the morphometric characteristics of the uterus. There were statistically significant differences in the values of fattening and slaughtering traits in the groups of gilts tested. Studies on the relationship between morphometric characteristics of the reproductive system and carcass meat content showed that there was a correlation between the weight of the uterus with and without the broad ligament and the meat content of the carcass. The weight of the uterus was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in gilts with lower meat content. The negative influence of high gilt meatiness on development of the reproductive system was more pronounced in PLW gilts.