The present state and pros­pects of Hungarian goose farms after EU accession

Tóásó, Szilvia – Birkás, Endre – Vincze, Judit

Hungary has centuries-old goose-breeding traditions. Fat goose-liver takes a high-ranking place in the line of so-called „Hungaricums” (i.e. typically Hungarian products). Its meat is particularly favoured on Márton’s-day especially in the countryside. Hungary produces 1,800-1,900 tons of fat goose-liver every year. About 75% of the production is exported generating an income of 30-35 million USD per year.

Several goose-products (such as breast and thigh) represent an increasing proportion of exported poultry products in the last few years. The future production of Hungarian goose-liver will be determined by export-prices, but the Animal Protection Act in the EU will also have some influence on the operations of this sector. Typically in Europe there is a growing antagonism against forced feeding of animals. The report of the Animal Protection Scientific Committee of the EU disapproves the practise of forced feeding in goose keeping. According to „The draft recommendation to goose-keeping” the practise of the forced feeding is to be banned within 15 years. Our main objective was to develop and propose a variety of solutions to this problem to the people engaged in producing fat goose-liver. As the export market of fat goose-liver may be restricted in future, the widening of Hungarian market opportunities for the products of goose farms should be considered. In addition to stimulating domestic consumption it would be useful to promote the sale of goose-products, which have been popular in the past.

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