The National Research Institute of Animal Production was founded on 1 April 1950. As one of the largest scientific institutions with nationwide coverage, it implements the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the sphere of livestock production and management of the farmed environment. These activities are focused on the current and prospective needs of producing safe and high quality foods in animal- and environmentally-friendly conditions, but also on the use of farm animals for biomedical purposes.
The Institute of Animal Production has had the status of the National Research Institute since 23 November 2006.
The Institute carries out the statutory tasks assigned to it by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, specified in the regulations on the organization of breeding, reproduction of farm animals, feeds, as well as in the Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on breeding of animals.
In the years 2016–2020, the Institute carried out the multiannual programme “Protection and management of national genetic resources of farm animals under sustainable use”, which involved the activities related to the operation of animal production and breeding systems, able to compete in the European market and based on the state-of-the-art achievements of Polish and global science in the field of animal breeding and production. The aim of the programme was to ensure biological progress in livestock breeding while preserving the rich biodiversity of animals with regard to biotechnological, technological and environmental determinants of production, with consideration of the biotechnological, technological and environmental determinants of production.
Pursuant to the decision of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 28 July 2026, the National Research Institute of Animal Production was awarded the highest scientific category, A+, in the discipline of Animal Science and Fisheries. The category was awarded on the basis of the results of the evaluation of scientific activity for the years 2022–2025. The award of category A+ confirms the high quality of the Institute’s scientific activity and the significance of its achievements.
The Institute is authorised to confer the degrees of Doctor (PhD) and Doctor Habilitated in agricultural sciences in the discipline of Animal Science and Fisheries. It cooperates with numerous national and international partners, both through research projects and other forms of collaboration.
Core activity of the Institute
- conducting research (basic, applied, industrial), development work in animal production and management of agricultural landscape, and research and development activities,
- applying research findings, development work and the results of research and development activities to practice,
- implementing research findings, development work and the results of research and development activities.
Scope of research, extent of development work
- farming and breeding of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and other animals,
- agricultural crops, including cereals, legumes and oil plants,
- food quality research and analysis,
- educational and dissemination activities, including the organization of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses,
- publishing activity,
- processing, management and sharing of ICT data.
The Institute’s research programme is conducted in 10 scientific departments, which are engaged in research, research and development, implementation, dissemination, and training activities:
- Department of Cattle Breeding
- Department of Pig Breeding
- Department of Poultry Breeding
- Department of Sheep and Goat Breeding
- Department of Small Livestock Breeding
- Department of Farm Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Horse Breeding
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science
- Department of Production Systems and Environment
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology and Cryoconservation
The Institute’s organizational structure has 9 experimental stations located across the country. Most of the them operate as commercial law companies. These stations play a major role in the research activities.