As part of the training activities implemented within the AKIS project and addressed to agricultural advisors, the Department of Cattle Breeding of the National Research Institute of Animal Production organised a two-day workshop focusing on beef cattle production under regenerative farming conditions and emerging challenges in modern cattle production. The official English name of Instytut Zootechniki PIB is National Research Institute of Animal Production.
On the first day, workshop participants visited the “Lubuskie Angusowo” farm, where they became acquainted with practical aspects of Limousin cattle production, as well as poultry, pig and goat farming. Under extensive farming conditions and within a production system designed to make full use of the grazing season, the discussions covered key issues related to production technology, biosecurity, animal welfare and feeding strategies.
Particular attention was given to the practical integration of livestock production with pasture management and to management solutions applicable to low-input and regenerative farming systems.
The theoretical part of the programme included a lecture by the farm owner, Tomasz Jakiel, devoted to the role of soil in livestock production and the impact of different land-use practices on human health.
Participants were also introduced to the farm’s original model for managing livestock within a regenerative farming system. Opportunities for the further development of this model were discussed in the context of Agriculture 4.0, including the potential use of modern monitoring, data-management and precision-farming technologies.
The second day of the workshop was held at the Lubuskie Agricultural Advisory Centre, where researchers from the Department of Cattle Breeding delivered a series of expert presentations. Each presentation was followed by an extensive discussion with the participants.
The following topics were presented:
- Measures to Mitigate Water Deficits in Cattle Production – Piotr Wójcik
- Modern Methods for the Early Detection of Cattle Diseases – Bartosz Szymik
- Data Quality and the Risk of Incorrect Decision-Making in Modern Cattle Production – Grzegorz Skrzyński
The workshop also featured a representative of Smart Feed, who discussed the application of innovative technologies for measurement, monitoring and software-assisted cattle feeding.
The presentation, entitled “Ration Balancing as a Measure for Mitigating Risks in Cattle Production”, highlighted the role of accurate feed-ration formulation and digital decision-support tools in improving feeding efficiency, animal health and the overall resilience of cattle production systems.
The workshop combined on-farm demonstrations, scientific expertise and advisory practice, providing participants with an opportunity to examine contemporary challenges in cattle production from the perspective of regenerative agriculture, animal health, resource efficiency and digitalisation.
Such an interdisciplinary approach reflects the broader research and knowledge-transfer activities of the National Research Institute of Animal Production, whose remit includes research, implementation and dissemination in the fields of animal breeding, production systems and sustainable livestock farming.
