Possibilities of breeding of beef cattle breeds in Republic of Croatia

Cilj ovoga rada bio je opisati karakteristike i definirati mogućnosti uzgoja pasmina za proizvodnju mesa, te brojno stanje mesnih pasmina u Republici Hrvatskoj. Republika Hrvatska sa svojim prirodnim resursima (poljoprivredno zemljište, voda), stručnim kadrom, te dugom tradicijom stočarske, a osobito govedarske proizvodnje uistinu ima mogućnosti kvalitetnog razvoja mesnoga govedarstva, te značajnog povećanja i ukupnog broja životinja i proizvodnosti. Sukladno podacima Hrvatske poljoprivredne agencije evidentan je maleni udio mesnih pasmina u ukupnom broju goveda. Prema udjelu plotkinja i rasplodnih bikova, značajnije su zastupljene pasmine charolais, angus, hereford i limousine, dok su pasmine blonde d'aquitaine, salers, aubrac i škotsko visinsko govedo manje zastupljene u našem uzgoju. Deficit svih domaćih stočarskih proizvoda, pa tako i goveđeg mesa indikator je već duže vrijeme narušenih odnosa u resoru poljoprivrede, te stavljanja ovoga vrlo bitnog gospodarskog sektora u drugi plan. Obzirom na navedeno, pred nama je razdoblje aktivnog djelovanja u smjeru unaprjeđenja resora primjenom najnovijih znanja i tehnologija u primarnoj proizvodnji, te neizostavno i u smjeru edukacije potrošača ka preferenciji domaćih proizvoda osiguravajući na taj način opstojnost hrvatske poljoprivrede te kvalitetnog života u ruralnim područjima.The aim of this paper was to define the characteristics and to define the possibilities of breeding breeds for meat production, as well as the number of meat breeds in the Republic of Croatia. The Republic of Croatia with its natural resources (agricultural land, water), professional staff, and a long tradition of livestock, especially cattle production really has possibilities of development of quality meat cattle breeding, as well as a significant increase in the total number of animals and productivity. According to Croatian Agricultural Agency data, a small share of meat breeds in the total number of cattle is evident. According to the proportion of cows and breeding bulls, significantly represented breed Charolais, Angus, Hereford and limousine, while breeds Blonde d'Aquitaine, Salers, Aubrac and Scottish cattle height less represented in our cattle population. The deficit of all domestic livestock products, including beef meat, has been the indicator of the disruption of agricultural relations for a long time, and of putting this very important economic sector in the background. Given the above, we have the period of active work in the direction of improving the cattle sector using the latest knowledge and technology in primary production, and inevitably in the direction of educating consumers to the preference for domestic products ensuring the survival of the Croatian agriculture and quality of life in rural areas