The 29th Winter School of Cattle Breeders has started. This year’s theme is a holistic look at the future of cattle breeding and breeding. During the meeting, the biggest challenges facing the sector, possible solutions, as well as the consequences of ignoring them will be discussed.
The Cattle Breeders’ Winter School is an annual platform for exchanging views between the world of science and breeding practice. The conference, which takes place in Zakopane on February 26-29, 2024, is attended by approximately 150 guests, including representatives of the world of science, as well as specialists – practitioners related to cattle breeding and breeding, breeding organizations and companies operating for the cattle sector.
Intensification or sustainable development?
This year’s edition is held under the slogan “Intensification or sustainable development – a holistic view of the future of cattle breeding and breeding.” During seven scientific sessions, topics will be discussed, among others: use of modern achievements of genetics and genomics in dairy farming, challenges in milk and beef production in the face of climate change, cooperation in the chain from producer to consumer to improve product quality and profitability of production in current socio-economic realities, modern digital technologies on cattle farms as an element of Agriculture 4.0, as well as the multifunctionality of cattle use in mountain and foothill areas.
In addition to listening to interesting lectures, participants can take part in discussions on the issues discussed. A large space for questions from the floor and sometimes spontaneous exchanges of views are a characteristic feature of these meetings – so appreciated by the participants.
Contemporary challenges for animal production and the consequences of ignoring them
The conference began with a plenary session devoted to challenges for animal production. During the lecture given by Dr. hab. Zbigniew M. Karaczun, professor at SGGW, participants could learn about the most important challenges faced by Polish farmers engaged in animal production, as well as the consequences that may result from ignoring them. The speaker also presented selected recommendations on how producers can adapt to existing challenges.
He divided the challenges facing the animal sector into three groups. The first one depends on ecological and climatic factors. The speaker emphasized that, taking into account that the actions taken so far have not yet brought the expected results in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting farms to the effects of climate change will be a significant challenge for animal production. On the one hand, this will require direct investments on farms, such as the creation of shaded zones on pastures, investments in watering holes, and ultimately the introduction of air conditioning in livestock buildings or the purchase of air-conditioned cars for transporting live animals, and on the other hand, actions to reduce problems with access to feed in in the event of droughts or extreme weather events. Prof. Karaczun pointed out that the need to implement these activities will certainly affect the economic results of animal production.
Optimization of beef production and quality in Poland
In the next part of the session, prof. Ph.D. Agnieszka Wierzbicka from the Institute of Animal Genetics and Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Jastrzębiec discussed the optimization of beef production and quality in Poland in the aspect of economic, environmental and social challenges.
As she noted, there is still potential on the Polish beef market to increase production and achieve higher profitability, but this requires the fulfillment of certain conditions, including the dissemination of the QMP beef quality system and the indication of its importance in terms of certifying welfare and the use of good production practices through labeling and information about certified production method. The lack of certificates confirming production standards makes it impossible to reach specific groups of recipients and translates into…
limited sales markets and lower meat prices, as the speaker emphasized.
The event is organized by the Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, University of Agriculture. Hugo Kołłątaj in Krakow, under the patronage of the Cattle Breeders’ Professors’ Club.
The conference will last until Thursday (February 29, 2024). A report from the event will soon be available on farmer.pl and in the next issue of the monthly Farmer.
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