On March 29, 2023, Direktor Dr. Johann Gasteiner of the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein opened the event and welcomed the participants and speakers. The first session then focused on the 50th anniversary of the Livestock Farming Conference. Dr. Thomas Guggenberger, Head of the Institute for Livestock Research at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, presented the evolution of livestock farming and the Livestock Farming Conference over the past 50 years. Following this, Department Head Mag. Christian Kasper from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management addressed the significance of the Livestock Farming Conference for the Ministry's educational and advisory tradition. The first session concluded with Dipl.-Ing. Karl Wurm from the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture, who explained the importance of the Livestock Farming Conference for feed consulting in Austria.
The second session of the conference focused entirely on efficiency in cattle production. Dr. Georg Terler from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein reported on efficiency as a research focus at the research institute. Following this, Associate Professor Dr. Leonhard Gruber, former head of the Institute for Livestock Research at the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, spoke about the influence of genotypes and concentrate feed levels on the production, efficiency, and health of dairy cows. Before the lunch break, Dr. Margit Velik, also from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, concluded the second session with her presentation on "Holstein Genotypes and Simmental Cattle in Bull Fattening: Animal Performance and Slaughter Value."
After the lunch break, the third session continued with the topic of feeding and feed quality. Professor Dr. Karl-Heinz Südekum from the University of Bonn began with a presentation on current developments in energy and protein evaluation for ruminants. Following this, Reinhard Resch, engineer, from the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, spoke about agricultural forage projects as a basis for the quality development of silage and hay in Austria, thus concluding session three.
Block four focused on bull and calf fattening with dairy breeds. Wilfried Naue from the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture addressed the question of whether bull fattening with dairy breeds is truly a viable alternative. The session continued with a presentation on production and sales development in the domestic beef market, given by JohannMinihuber, a certified engineer from the Austrian Cattle Exchange GmbH. In the final presentation of the first day, Martin Brader, a certified engineer from Mank in Lower Austria, reported on his practical experience with rosé-type calf fattening.
On March 30, the second day of the conference, session five continued with the topic "Livestock Farming in Times of Crisis." Priv.- Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Franz Sinabell from the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) opened this session with his presentation "Agriculture in Times of Crisis." Mag. Thomas Loibnegger from the Styrian Chamber of Agriculture followed with his presentation "The Energy-Independent Farm - A New Perspective." The fifth session concluded with a recorded interview with Bernhard Schaumberger, a farmer from Wörschach in Styria, about his practical experiences with electric drives in agriculture.
After a short break, the sixth and final session began. Dr. Georg Terler spoke about the methane reduction potential of lemongrass, biochar, and other feed additives in cattle feed. The final presentation of the conference addressed the topic of feed additives – the legal situation and practical implementation – and was presented by Dipl.-Ing. Franz Doppelreiter from the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety.
Feedback from conference participants and the lively discussion following the presentations demonstrated the high level of interest in the conference. This hybrid event offered a valuable continuing education opportunity for interested farmers, consultants, teachers, and livestock professionals.
Conference proceedings and lectures:
Photos from the 50th Livestock Farming Conference:
