The first block of lectures dealt with location-appropriate agriculture as well as social and market economic trends. The start was made by Dr. Thomas Guggenberger, head of the Institute for Livestock Research. He clearly explained why a repositioning of conventional dairy farming towards location-appropriate agriculture would make sense. Dr. Elfriede Ofner-Schröck, also from HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, presented the three sub-areas of the FarmLife Welfare Index as well as initial results from practical use on dairy farms. Professor Dr. Wilhelm Windisch from the Technical University of Munich dedicated himself to the topic of why climate neutrality and ruminants are not a contradiction. In their presentation, DI Edina Scherzer and her father Reinhard Scherzer discussed important parameters of site-adapted agriculture on their dairy farm. Finally, Hannes Royer from the “Land Creates Life” association presented his view on food production, nutrition, society and location-appropriate agriculture.
The second block of lectures covered current information from milk performance testing. DI Gerhard Lindner from LK Salzburg spoke about data networking when using milk robot and tank milk data and its advantages. DI Lisa Rienesl, Institute of Livestock Science at BOKU Vienna, presented results from her doctoral thesis on the use of the MIR spectrum of milk for health management and breeding.
The last block of the first day was dedicated to alternative basic feedstuffs with potential for the future. Dr. Elisabeth Gerster, LAZBW Aulendorf, presented an experiment on the cultivation and suitability of corn-pole bean silage for dairy cattle feeding. Dr. Georg Terler, main organizer of the livestock industry conference, and Dr. Qendrim Zebeli from the Vedmeduni Vienna presented results from a joint research project on the use of sugar hay in calf feeding instead of calf TMR and the influence on feed intake, weight gain and digestion.
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, an evening event took place again this year, which was used for further discussions and personal exchange.
The first block of the second day of lectures focused on updating the basic feed assessment and its implementation in practice. DI Gerald Stögmüller, LK Lower Austria and head of the Rosenau feed laboratory, Univ. Doz. Dr. Leonhard Gruber, former head of the Institute for Livestock Research, and DI Stefanie Gappmaier, HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, presented the joint research project, the test results and the knowledge gained regarding digestibility and energy assessment as well as protein assessment.
The last block of lectures was about alternative forms of cattle fattening. The lecture by Ing. Wolfgang Stromberger, LK Carinthia, was dedicated to the potential of intensive ox fattening with corn silage and concentrated feed and presented the experiences of a practical operation. Dr. Margit Velik, HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, spoke about slaughter performance characteristics of Austrian Alpine cattle. Ing. Roland Kitzer, also HBLFA , presented a field test for stress-free slaughter of cattle.
Hybrid events mean additional organizational effort, but also enable a broad audience to participate. The lively participation in the discussion by online participants and on site - also in the context of two panel discussions - testifies to the great interest in the topics presented and the value of the livestock industry conference as a further training opportunity.
download the conference proceedings and the individual contributions free of charge here :
You can watch most of the lectures again here - our livestock research channel on YouTube . We have put the videos together in a playlist for you.
... and here are some more impressions from the event:
