A frequently asked question is why botanical education is necessary for veterinary training and what justifies the existence of an independent Department of Botany, unlike most European veterinary schools.

The answer to the first question is simple: plants play an essential role in animal nutrition. Additionally, many plant species are toxic or have medicinal properties, making this knowledge indispensable for veterinarians. This was understood even at the inception of veterinary education, where botany was one of the first subjects included in the so-called ” 1st strict exam.” In the 1800s, pharmacology instructors primarily taught the subject, including Márton Galambos, Lajos Thanhoffer, and Béla Tormay. At that time, veterinary education leaned toward livestock medicine, and Kálmán Czakó introduced forage analysis practices ahead of foreign institutions.

In the early 1900s, the subject of botany focused on forage, toxic, and medicinal plants, which remains the backbone of the curriculum today. Students at that time learned about relevant species through the university’s herbarium collection. During the 1930s, Bertalan Hazslinszky’s research interests expanded to the examination of plant-based food and fodder, emphasizing botany’s role in food safety.

To modernize education, an independent Department of Botany was established in 1953 under the leadership of Vidor Modor. An interesting detail from this era is the inclusion of specialized courses reflective of the time, such as “Socialist Agricultural Production,” which were short-lived. During this period, first-year students were still required to participate in physically demanding summer botany and crop production practices, organized by the department.

Ede Haraszty took over as head of the department in 1971, focusing his research on grasslands and toxic plants, and authoring numerous professional books on the subject. In the 1980s, the department moved to its current location at 50 Rottenbiller Street.

In 1990, János Vetter became the department head and expanded the curriculum to include mycology. Even then, students used herbarium sheets to study species, but with advancing technology, digital teaching materials began to play a more prominent role. During this period, the department not only contributed to veterinary education but also provided botanical instruction for zoology and, later, biology students. It also offered numerous electives for interested students.

In 2017, the department underwent a significant transformation in personnel, and under the leadership of Dániel Cserhalmi, the modernization of botanical education began. Practical courses emphasized case-based presentations, enabling students to learn about toxic plants through scientific articles published in academic journals. During the curriculum revision, topics were designed to align more closely with upper-year courses.

The Department of Botany is a unique and vibrant part of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, offering a curriculum that not only provides foundational knowledge for other courses but also equips students with skills that are beneficial for their professional practice.