DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING

Together we try to establish paths to sustainable breeding of healthy dairy cattle herds.

We monitor animal health (mastitis, leg diseases) and apply obtained data in the selection and breeding of cattle. Currently we address the early indication of negative energy balance using modern technological equipment at farms and milking parlours which could play an important role in the prevention of metabolic disorders and could improve the health of animals.

BEEF CATTLE BREEDING AND QUALITY OF MEAT

The goal is research aimed at economically viable production of beef while meeting the current demands on its nutritional value and organoleptic properties.

We do research in the area of fattening, intensity of growth, carcass quality of cattle and quality of beef. In addition to benchmarking the fattening performance and meat quality of different breeds and crossbreeds we evaluate the influence of practicing various methods of feeding on the meat productivity of cattle.

We study genetic and other effects on meat composition, namely as regards the content of intramuscular fat and fatty acids profile. Along with this we evaluate factors influencing the organoleptic and technological properties of beef.

We also investigate farming systems applied in beef cattle farming, classification of beef carcasses and the technology of rearing and fattening of farmed cervids with the aim to achieve economically viable meat production.

ECONOMICS OF CATTLE PRODUCTION

Finding and defining economic indicators of cattle breeding in the Czech Republic and EU.

We focus on economic indicators of cattle breeding and issues of the EU common agricultural policy. We regularly analyse and evaluate statistical information on the dairy and beef cattle breeding with an emphasis on the economics of production. The results are compared with other EU member states.

For over ten years we have been collecting and evaluating data from Czech agricultural businesses with the aim of defining the economic context of milk production. The collection and evaluation of production and economic indicators has been performed in beef cattle since 2013. For breeders there is free online economic software, FarmProfit, which is used for the calculation of economic indicators in the basic agricultural sectors.

The “Prediction of herd structure of dairy cattle” programme simulates the population dynamics of the herd at monthly intervals and then predicts the future structure of the herd.

A Czech version of the American economic programme „The economic value of cows” is being prepared to be launched.