Role of the International Society for Animal Hygiene in the development ofthe discipline

The International Society for Animal Hygiene was founded in Budapest in 197 0. The Society, that initially attracted animal hygienist from 10 European countries, has become since then a globalised, big scientific forum of 44 E uropean, American, Asian and Australian countries. In the 31(st) year of its history the Society has significantly and multila terally contributed to the development of the science of animal hygiene (wh ich in English speaking countries mostly referred to as preventive veterina ry medicine/herd health and in France ecopathology). The 10 congresses and 12 "in-between" symposia organised since the foundation have always recogni sed the actual challenges of animal production and found the best way to ad dress them. The subjects of the consecutive congresses duly prove this stat ement. The Society has conducted primus inter pares role in defining animal hygiene as one of the branch of veterinary/animal science and creating its independent Identity. Further to these, the Society has played directive r ole in collecting information on undergraduate teaching of animal hygiene i n different veterinary/agricultural schools and publishing them in its News letter quarterly. The paper, offered for the anniversary Of PROF. FERENC KO VACS'S 80(th) birthday, documents with data about the multilateral role of the Society in the development of animal hygiene as science and discipline.