Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources

Thessaloniki, historically important city closely connected with history of Slavic and Nitra on the one hand and modern with vibrant culture on other. In past together with Constantinople co-capital of Byzantium Empire is also today second city on Greece and principal center of Macedonia region. In 2014 Thessaloniki becomes „European city of the Youth“ and named „ best mid-sized European city for future of human capital and life style“. From 19^th to 20^th of March was organized in Thessaloniki, fifth, final conference of EU COST FA1308 “DairyCare Action” oriented on dairy animals health and welfare and use of technologies as part of the good animal husbandry. Thematically is project part of the “Precision Livestock Production”, which is nowadays newly developing branch of animal science. The aim was reaching of improvement of dairy production by use of biological, technological, engineering and social sciences to improve farmer and animal interaction. Core of the project was development of sensor technologies, use of non-invasive biomarkers and development of “smart” solutions in animal husbandry. Alltogether more than 750 scientists form 31 COST associated countries take part in the project during four years (140-200,000 € annual budget). High emphasis was given to involvement of early career investigators. In Thessaloniki were presented most important deliverables and solutions as well as possibilities and proposals for further collaboration after project ending, because as somebody said: “there is still enough to do”.

On the conference Slovakia was represented by both management committee members of the project, both from Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, SUA Nitra, prof. Ing. Vladimir Tancin, DrCs. department of veterinary disciplines and doc. Ing. Radovan Kasarda, PhD. department of animal genetics and breeding biology. Final conference took place at Veterinary research institute of Thessaloniki, Hellenic agricultural organization - DEMETER (HAO-VRI) and Institute of bio-economy and argi-technology - HELLAS (IBO/ CERTH). Program included presentation of selected members, members of different project WG, presenting Keynote reviews, presentation of Incubator Grant Groups (across WG groups) together with scientific session, presenting most important results achieved during project. Program of the conference included dissemination as well as discussion forum: Future Project Opportunities, with presentation of projects and actions ongoing from the presented Action. Finally, blueprint of action has been approved. In the scientific program theatre presentation of doc. Kasarda (authors: Kasarda, Moravcikova, Vlcek) with topic „Bayesian estimation of genetic parameters highly associated with health traits in cattle“and prof. Tancin, poster presentation „Incidence and impact of lameness in ewes´ milk production of new breed Slovak dairy ewe and Lacaune (Tancin, Stefanovic, Margetinova, Macuhova, Uhrincat) took part. Both submissions were accepted positively within intention of the project.

In conclusions were defined challenges connected with further precision livestock farming development:  evolving herd genetics/ genomics, evolving herd size, evolving environment, evolving consumer needs, evolving global demand. This mean: high quality of animal husbandry needed.