Pentezug – A Semi-Reserve

Pentezug is a steppe region of 2388 ha (27 ha forest, 2361 ha meadow) and lies within the national park of Hortobágy. In the past this area was used for pasture farming. Endemic old livestock breeds maintained this landscape by means of their characteristic grazing behaviour. Continuous forward movements with large distances between individuals led to an equal distribution of bite -, step - and fertilizing effect and thus contributed to biodiversity preservation. But husbandry of old livestock breeds became less beneficial and they were exchanged by modern livestock breeds, which graze stationary in close proximity to each other. This grazing behaviour results in destruction of plants, which are sensitive to trampling and in subsequent erosion, thus grazing behaviour of these breeds is incompatible with nature conservation and has caused reduction in biodiversity.

Within this combined habitat and species conservation program four goals are supposed to be achieved:

1. Long term maintenance of the characteristic landscape with its plant communities
   
2. Preservation of faunistic diversity with special concern to those endangered
   
3. Establishment of an “Auerox” population for landscape care (Back-breeding is still in process)
   
4. Establishment of a demographically stable Przewalski’s horse population in order to gain data on foraging ecology and social organisation under semi wild conditions
   

In 2006 a number of 67 horses (seven harem groups and one bachelor group) inhabit the Pentezug steppe. This area offers sufficient food and enough room to keep 200 to 300 horses.

Although humans mainly used this landscape for pasture farming, the mere presence of herdsman and shepherd’s dogs has a negative impact on species susceptible to disturbances, e.g. great bustard. To secure this area with only a minimum of human disturbance, herbivores must be integrated which can do without human care and which show grazing behaviour similar to that of old livestock breeds.