A visit by farmers from the Silesian Voivodeship to a demonstration farm in the town of Kamińsko, is part of the implementation of sub-measure 1.2 “Support for demonstration projects and information activities”, under the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020, concerning modern technologies for breeding and raising beef cattle. This operation is co-financed by the European Union with funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
Its main objective is to promote modern breeding technologies for beef cattle, and the demonstration farms that take part in the programme are located in different regions of Poland and have individually tailored breeding and production objectives to meet their specific needs.
One of the priorities of the training is to demonstrate the proper management of a breeding farm, monitoring of the performance and breeding value of beef cattle herds, which is carried out by the Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers in cooperation with the National Research Institute of Animal Production.
The main topic of the demonstration, conducted at the farm in Kamińsko on 12 June 2023, was “Optimizing beef production efficiency through breed selection and monitoring the production process”. The choice of this particular farm was not coincidental, as the intention was to showcase tried-and-tested solutions and identify new technologies to improve the running of a beef farm. These activities are aimed at maximizing profits from the business. In addition, due to the adopted production model based on grazing animals on pastures, exposed to high sunlight and high temperatures, an important objective of the demonstration was to present modern methods of its management. The farm demonstrates innovative techniques for monitoring cattle body temperature and thermal conditions both during grazing on pasture and while the animals are in livestock buildings.
The farm visited is located in the village of Kamińsko, in the municipality of Przystajń, in the county of Kłobuck (Silesian Voivodeship). It is a family-run, conventional farm, which partly operates in the grounds of the “Lasy Nad Górną Liswartą” landscape park and is owned by Dżesika Grabińska. The total area of the farm is about 94 ha, of which 61 ha is arable land and 39 ha is grassland, including pastures, meadows and grass in arable fields. The owner breeds Limousin cattle, covering all age and breeding categories of cattle and based on a herd of about 140 suckler cows. There is strict pedigree control in the herd and the selection of individuals for breeding is based on bulls with high genetic value. In addition to fattening breeding, the farm also sells valuable breeding bulls. The owner frequently takes part in breeding exhibitions at both national and local level. The herd is subject to inspections for meat performance value, which are carried out by the Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers and the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Balice.
As mentioned earlier, the animals are fed almost exclusively on fodder from permanent grassland. In summer, all groups of animals are fed grass from pastures and straw. In winter, on the other hand, TMR (maize silage, lucerne silage, haylage and straw) is used. Concentrated feed (extracted rapeseed meal) is only added for older youngsters as a source of protein. Of course, whatever the season, the daily rations are supplemented with the necessary mineral and vitamin supplements, ground limestone, buffers, etc. During the summer, suckler cows with calves and in-calf heifers are grazed on a daily basis, while heifers aged between 0.5 and 1.5 years are kept in the barn in an open-sided system with unrestricted access to a separate outdoor yard. At the end of the grazing season, all the above-mentioned groups of animals are kept in an open-sided system in the barn, providing 24-hour access to a pasture located near the barn. The animals also have access to natural shelter during the grazing season, such as shrubs and trees in the pasture. These natural elements not only provide shelter from rain and wind, but also have a positive effect on the welfare and well-being of the animals during the season and counteract thermal stress.
The farm in Kamińsko is also aware of the importance of environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources. Partly environmentally friendly practices are in place to minimize the negative impact on the environment. An appropriate animal housing system has been introduced to maximize the properties of permanent grassland, which contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The farm is an example of a successful beef cattle farm that combines innovative herd management methods with sustainable use of natural resources. This makes the site a valuable demonstration site for farmers in the Silesian Voivodeship who are looking for modern solutions in cattle breeding and beef production.
The first training, as part of the project, was attended by farmers keeping beef cattle as well as future breeders. In addition to the owner of the farm, the meeting was attended by the farm’s supervisor from the Silesian Agricultural Advisory Centre Marta Ćwięk and Dr Eng Bartosz Szymik from the National Research Institute of Animal Production, who is the farm’s scientific supervisor. The supervisor from the Silesian Agricultural Advisory Centre presented the characteristics of the farm, and then the owner gave more detailed information about her farm, presenting the achievements and practical aspects of breeding Limousin cattle. A tour of the farm, the buildings and a visit to the pasture were also part of the meeting. During the demonstration, participants listened to a lecture on breeding beef cattle. Information was presented on other breeds of beef cattle and their suitability for culinary beef production. The audience learned about the most common breeds of beef cattle bred in Poland and their characteristics predisposing them to various forms of use and fattening. Supervisor Dr Eng Bartosz Szymik presented the equipment necessary for the demonstration in Kamińsko and its importance in a modern farm management model.
As part of the demonstration, the owner of the farm discussed measures to optimize the use of available pasture at the facility visited. The activities planned for this year were also presented: the assessment of pasture productivity and the installation of portable electric fences, which allow easy and quick separation of grazing paddocks. The aim of their use is to increase pasture productivity and make full use of the available grazing paddocks. The demonstration also pays particular attention to housing conditions and animal health monitoring in both pastures and barns. Control includes monitoring the occurrence of thermal stress, which can have a significant impact on animal welfare and weight gain. For this purpose, innovative monitoring solutions based on cattle microchipping are being used.
The “Demonstrations” project involves three farmer visits that take place during normal production in the grazing season. This multi-stage observation process enables close monitoring of the livestock housing conditions and of the changes in their health and welfare at different times. The meeting with the farmers ended with a discussion during which many issues related to both beef cattle breeding and the difficulties arising from farm management were raised.