In accordance with general trends in agricultural and natureőconservation practice in Europe, grassland restoration and traditional grassland management has gained increased importance in Hungary. In grassland restoration using of low rates of seed (less than 30kg/ha) and hay cover is suggested. In the present paper the effect of hay cover combined with low rate of seed (25 kg/ha) is studied in early grassland recovery. We aimed at to answer the question whether or not the speed of grassland recovery can be increased with a combined use of seed sowing and hay cover. The establishment of Festuca species was favoured by hay cover combined whit seed sowing. The emergence of shortlived weeds was significantly lower on most of the fields treated with hay cover and seed sowing. The species richness and diversity of early weeds did not differ significantly in fields sown only and fields treated both with seed sowing and hay cover. Our results suggest that the combination of seed sowing and hay cover is successful in fields, where high rate of weed invasion is possible, thus intensive post-restoration management is necessary.

The lawn – following the forest – is the best manner of land use. 10.75 percent of Hungarian territory is grassland. 90-95 percent of the grass’s root system can be found in the upper 10 cm layer of the soil therefore and because of the large evaporating surface the grasses have a great water demand and weather sensitivity. Beside the nutritional ability and some extreme properties of soil (for ex. great salinity) there is an influence on formation of the grass-type and the yield. In our experiments the sites were utilised 2, 3 and 4 times yearly. At two sites for four years (2006-2009) and at one site for two years (2009-2010) the quantity and the distribution of the yield as well as other parameters were examined, which are not reported in this paper. This experiment is a part of a climate research project run at 27 sites in Austria. The laboratory analyses were carried out uniformly in the LFZ Raumberg- Gumpenstein Research Institute. The most important results of this study are the following: The productivity of the grass type formed on the Little Cumania lowland is very limited. In case of drought there was the highest yield decrease and at the same time in case of good precipitation there was the smallest increase of yield. The effect of grass utilization by late first cut at the poorestsoil site was very unfavourable. At the grass sites of better quality, the utilization manner of 3 or 4 growth, resulted in a better adaptation to the climatic extremities. 

The effect of different N, P and K supply levels and their combinations were examined in the 33rd year of a long-term fertilization experiment on the yield and mineral element content of a 6 years old established all-grass sward in 2006, with seed mixture of eight grass species. The trial was established on a calcareous chernozem soil. The soil of the growing site contained around 3% humus, 5% CaCO3, 20-22% clay in the ploughed layer and was originally moderately well supplied with available K, Mg, Mn and Cu and poorly supplied with P and Zn. The trial included 4N×4P×4K=64 treatments in 2 replications, giving a total of 128 plots. The fertilizers applied were Ca-ammonium nitrate, super phosphate and potassium chloride. The groundwater table was at a depth of 13-15 m and the area was prone to drought. The 1st cut was made on 08th June, the 2nd one on 11th September. During the vegetation period of 8.5 months in 2006, the site had a total of 397 mm precipitation. The lay-out, method and main results of the trial were published earlier (Kádár, 2004, 2008; Kádár és Győri, 2004, 2005). Main conclusions of this study are as follows:

1. The 1st cut hay yield gave the ¾ of the total yield. Highest yields were reached with the 200 kg/ha/year N-fertilization on soil well supplied with P (Ammonium-lactate soluble P2O5: 214 mg/kg). The yield of NP control plots increased from 1.5 t/ha to about 7.5 t/ha as a function of the N×P positive interaction. The rising P supply alone was not able to enhance the yield, however the N fertilization gave 3.5 t/ha hay surplus even in the P-control treatments. N and P fertilization together resulted in 6.0-6.5 t/ha yield surpluses. The effect of K fertilization also reached 1 t/ha on the NP levels where the ammonium-lactate soluble K2O content fell below 150 mg/kg.
2. The 2nd cut hay gave 0.5 t/ha on the NP-control plots unfertilized for 33 years, and 2.5 t/ha on the 300 kg/ha/year N treatment with well P-supply. The two cuts together resulted in yield levels between 2-10 t/ha according to the extreme NPK supply. In this year, with relatively good amount of precipitation, the hay yield surpluses for 1 kg N were 47-33-23 kg for the 100-200-300 kg/ha treatments.
3. The C/N ratio of the 1st cut was narrowed (from 52 to 24) with N-supply and the concentration of N as well as most of the cations increased with the rising N fertilization. In the low yield of the 2nd cut the elements, metals were accumulated. The P, S and Sr were enriched in hay as a result of rising P supply, as superphosphate contains these elements. Antagonistic effect of P predominated in the uptake of other elements, metals (Na, Zn, Cu, Mo, Cr, Co). K content of the hay was lifting while other elements were dropping with the increasing K fertilization partly as a result of dilution effect (N, P, S) and mainly because of cation antagonism (Ca, Mg, Na, Sr). K-B antagonism also appeared.
4. The N×K interactions resulted in 2-fold Sr and 18-22 fold Na content changes while N×P caused 18-22 fold changes in Mo contents, especially at the 2nd cut. As it can be seen, fertilization can have drastical effects on soil and crops. The induced element deficiencies or oversupplies can lead to diseases, disturbances in the metabolism of animals, so the soil and fodder analyses are necessary.
5. Considering the leaf diagnostical data, the satisfactory level will be at 200 kg/ha/year N supply and 150 mg/kg ammonium-lactate soluble P2O5 and K2O level or above. The S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn supply were satisfactory even at the control plots, while the Zn, Cu and B levels showed deficiency. The P/Zn and K/B ratios became adversely wider in some treatments, as well as the narrowing of the Cu/Mo ratio denotes Cu deficiency and Mo oversupply.
6. The amount of elements uptaken by hay as a sum of the two cuts and as a function of the supply/yield varied between the following values in kg/ha: 17-163 N; 36-122 K; 9-48 Ca; 6-17 P; 4-15 S; 3-14 Mg; 0,3-8,0 Na; 0,2-1,4 Fe; 0,2-0,9 Al and Mn. The other elements showed the following uptake: Zn 33-194, Sr 28-141, Ba 5-46, Cu 5-39, B 5-26, Mo 3-6 g/ha.
7. The botanical composition was drastically modified by the aging of the grass and the nutrient supply. Only three species remained out of the eight sown species and one immigrated. Coverage of the tall fescue was between 21-70% according to the N×P supply and 44% as average; coverage of cocksfoot varied between 4-24% depending on the treatment and 18% as an average; coverage of crested wheatgrass was between 0-28% and 9% as an average; the immigrant smooth brome covered 0-24% and 9% as an average; Weed cover was 3-4% as an average at the 1st cut. Weeds thrived mainly on those areas where the grass thinned away (extreme NP-deficiency or oversupply). The total plant coverage on NP-deficient soil was about 50%, while on treatments well supplied with NP it amounted 95-97%.

From the very beginning cattle was linked to the pastures and countryside. Development of the animal production and limited land resources pushed producers to keep cattle in places where they would be collected together. That solution helps to run breeding and husbandry procedures more efficiently. However, even with the support of genetics and management, modern agriculture faces problems related to indoor system. There is a dilemma among farmers to keep animals indoor or outdoor. In the following material attempt will be taken to analyse factors related to grazing and cattle welfare issues. This work will not only focus on Hungarian or European agriculture issues. Experiences and animal policies related to grazing cattle from different countries and regions of the world were also collected. Actions taken in one part of the world might be not applicable in another. However, it is still interesting to see how agricultural production affects nature resources and communities. There is the same background off all stories related to grazing cattle - sustainable development and particular lobby behind. Whether there is a farmer, holding, enterprise or animal welfare organisation. There is only a question if this is going to be more economical or ethical approach. 

On the Hungarian dairy farms grazing is not a common practice presently. What are the reasons for this situation? Necessary conditions are not available for grazing, or the technical considerations about grazing are not favourable in practice. These questions were investigated on two dairy farms with methods of farm visits and technical interviews. Farm 1 still has grazing, Farm 2 used to graze its animals, presently it does not graze its animals, but it plans to establish pasture for grazing. Summarizing results of the investigations:

- Non of the farm has got enough pasture/land area to meet the requirements of grazing. This situation fits to the national situation known from literature and statistics.
- The time of substantial herbage allowance is relatively short, it is maximum 2 month in the season.
- The nutritive value of grass decreases sharply in Spring. It is the reason why only animals requiring less intensive feeding can be grazed (first of all dry cows, than heifers and perhaps low yield cows).
- Grazing can result in remarkable savings regarding inputs and costs.
- Grazing does not need specific labour, present staff of the farms. Can manage grazing at the necessary technical level.
- Asset security of outdoor animals we not considered as a real obstacle against grazing on the farms. This situation is different of that reported about the national situation. 

The first part of this review papers presents the history of tall fescue endophyte toxicosis, which used to be a real constraint on grazing beef industry in southern US. The second part reviews some up-dated scientific publications, dealing with vitamins, fats and fatty acids in grass, grass products as well as in animal products produced on these feedstuffs. The papers cited prove that inclusion of grass or conserved (hay, silage) grass in the diets for cattles (beef and dairy) pigs or poultry (broiler chicken and leying han):

- reduces the fat content of the body
- improves some vitamin contents of animal products (milk, butter, meat, eggs)
- improves the unsaturated fatty acid contents of the same animal products.

The consumption of these high quality animal products consequently may contribute to better human health status of consumers. 

Az Európai Gyepgazdálkodási Szövetség a „Gyepek a változó világban” (Grassland in a changing World) címmel rendezte 23. konferenciáját a németországi Kielben (2010. augusztus végén szeptember elején). A témaválasztást a szervezők a napjainkat meghatározó „globális változások”-kal magyarázták, melyek között nevesítésre kerültek a világpiaci változások, a nemzetközi társadalmi fejlemények, az információs társadalom jelenkori következményei, különösen pedig a klímaváltozás. A szakmai programot 5 szekcióba (ezeken belül alszekciókba) rendszerezték:
– a gyepek és a globális változás (klímaváltozás; társadalmi-gazdasági változások)
– a gyepekre alapozott mezőgazdasági termelési rendszerek jövője (gyepgazdálkodási módszerek és technológiák; a genetikai erőforrások szerepe)
– a gyepektől a hús- és tejtermelésig (takarmánytartósítás, takarmányérték és termékminőség; a termékelőállítás hitelessége és nyomonkövethetősége gyepeken)
– a gyepes ökoszisztémák haszna és szolgáltatásai (a különböző hasznok és szolgáltatások közötti egyensúly; a biodiverzitás funkciói)
– legelői és legeltetési rendszerek (a legelőkezelés és termékelőállítás; környezeti előnyök és rizikófaktorok).