Honorary Patronage
Prof. Tomasz Szwaczkowski, PhD, DSc
Chairman of the Committee on Animal Science and Aquaculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Prof. Anna Wójcik, PhD, DSc
President of the Michał Oczapowski Polish Society of Animal Production
Prof. Arkadiusz Terman, PhD, DSc
Rector of the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin
Prof. Justyna Więcek, PhD, DSc
Dean of the Faculty of Animal Breeding, Bioengineering and Animal Protection, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW)
Dr. Tomasz Jacek, Eng.
Director of the National Research Institute of Animal Production (IZ PIB); Kraków
From 10 to 13 February 2026, the Scientific Seminar of the 18th Professor Marian Różycki Winter School was held in Ustroń, Poland. The leading theme of the event was “Pig Welfare in a Sustainable Livestock Production System”.
The Seminar was organized by the Department of Pig Breeding of the National Research Institute of Animal Production (IZ PIB) in cooperation with the Department of Monogastric Animal Sciences – Pig Breeding Unit and the Department of Genetics of the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, the Department of Animal Breeding and Nutrition of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), and the Polish Association of Pig Breeders and Producers POLSUS.
The Seminar brought together 95 participants, including researchers from universities and research institutes, representatives of the pig breeding sector, and delegates from companies operating in areas such as animal breeding, feed and feed additive production, slaughtering, pork processing, and trade.
During the Seminar, three plenary sessions were held, during which nine scientific presentations were delivered:
- Risk Assessment and Insurance Opportunities in Livestock and Crop Production – Łukasz Kurnik, MSc, Lider Sp. z o.o., Kraków, Poland
- The Pig as a Research Model and a Farm Animal – Shared Welfare Challenges – Dr Witold Żakowski, University of Gdańsk, Poland
- Pig Welfare in Production and Breeding Systems – Assessment Methods and Opportunities for Improvement – Dr Eng. Dorota Bugnacka, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
- Nutritional Aspects of Pig Welfare – Dr Michał Dąbrowski, DVM, PhD, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
- The Effect of Ammonia Concentration on the Reproductive Performance of Sows – Prof. Arkadiusz Pietruszka, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland
- Novel Methods of Pig Stunning – Prof. Dariusz Lisiak, Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology – State Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
- Gastric Ulcers – A Contemporary Welfare Challenge in Pig Production – Dr Piotr Cybulski, Goodvalley Agro S.A., Przechlewo, Poland
- Biosecurity Measures – Rodent Control and Farm Disinfection – Krzysztof Grad, DDD-1, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
- Is an Ethogram Essential for Reliable Assessment of Pig Behaviour? – Dr Eng. Martyna Małopolska, National Research Institute of Animal Production (IZ PIB), Kraków, Poland.
As part of the Winter School programme, a Practical Breeding Session was also held. During this session, Adam Zboina, a pig breeder from the Mazowieckie Province, presented the achievements of his breeding operation. In addition, Jakub Borkowski of the Polish Association of Pig Breeders and Producers (POLSUS) showcased the accomplishments of the breeding farm owned by Roman Grzywiński from the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province.
All sessions were accompanied by lively and engaging discussions, reflecting the strong interest of participants in the topics presented. Questions were addressed both to the speakers delivering scientific lectures and to the breeders presenting the achievements of their farms during the Practical Breeding Session. Throughout the Seminar, participants repeatedly expressed their appreciation to the organizers for the high scientific quality of the plenary sessions and the professional organization of the event.
During the Seminar, participants had the opportunity to taste a variety of traditional pork products and regional specialties prepared from the native Polish pig breeds Złotnicka White, Złotnicka Spotted, and Puławska. The products were supplied by the “Pstra Wybiegana” Farm operated by Bożena Dąbrowska and Maciej Feddek (Direct Farm Retail), Złotnickie Specjały Nasiadek (Direct Farm Retail), Nowicki Naturalnie – Producer of Traditional Meat Products, “JK” Sp. z o.o. – Jasiołka Meat Processing Plant, as well as Animex Foods Sp. z o.o., Ełk Plant.
The organization of the Seminar was supported by the National Research Institute of Animal Production (IZ–PIB), the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, and the companies “JK” Sp. z o.o. – Jasiołka Meat Processing Plant, AdiFeed Sp. z o.o., and Addicoo Group s.r.o.
