The document provides an overview of the historical evolution, current status, and perspectives of the agricultural sector in Slovakia. It discusses how agriculture was traditionally the main economic sector but faced challenges in supplying food for the growing population. Under communism, collectivization increased yields but also had negative social and environmental impacts. Since 1989, there has been a transition to private farming and EU integration. Currently, dairy production systems range from intensive to extensive, and lifetime performance of dairy cows depends on age at first calving. Perspectives include improving knowledge transfer between research and industry to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.

1. Agricultural sector in Slovakia
Historical evolution, Current Status and Perspectives
Ing. Miroslav Záhradník
National Agriculture and Food Centre, Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra,
Hlohovecká 2,
951 41 Lužianky – Slovak Republic
www.vuzv.sk

2. Historical evolution
• depend strongly on natural conditions
• key economic sector until the 20th century.
• Theresian Urbarial Regulation, three-field system, changes
in the surface water regime
• mostly a self-supplying character
• efficiency was low
• not able to supply sufficiency of food for growing population
- massive emigration
1918
1920-
1945
1948-
1989
1989-
present
References: Valach, M. Agriculture and industry in Slovakia – general overview. Slovak University of Agriculture. 2014

3. Historical evolution
• Slovakia became a less developed part of the newly
established Czechoslovak Republic
• still very dependent on natural conditions
• level of using of the agricultural mechanisation was still low
• very negative impact was caused by the First Vienna
Arbitration (of 2 November 1938)
• Slovakia had lost more than 10 000 km2 of its area including
its most fertile soils, large sources of both surface and ground
water and more than 860 000 inhabitants
1918
1920-
1945
1948-
1989
1989-
present
References: Valach, M. Agriculture and industry in Slovakia – general overview. Slovak University of Agriculture. 2014

4. Historical evolution
• announced a plan of collectivisation of agricultural
production - the extinction of the private property in agrarian
sector
• Despite of many negative features (small-scale thefts, over-
employment, social harms, massive and often improper
application of chemicals, increase of erosion, etc.) hectare
yields of the most important crops increased threefold in
comparison to the pre-war period.
•T o a large extent, food industry was self-sufficient.
1918
1920-
1945
1948-
1989
1989-
present
References: Valach, M. Agriculture and industry in Slovakia – general overview. Slovak University of Agriculture. 2014

5. Historical evolution
• Restitution of land to original owners (or to their heirs),
• Economic transition of cooperatives and restructuralization
of agricultural business entities (collapse of the system of
cooperatives in state property),
• Changes in agricultural policy
• private farmers“, and also significant changes in ownership
structures
• most of the land is still farmed by bigger cooperatives
•non-production functions of agriculture are becoming more
important and supported.
1918
1920-
1945
1948-
1989
1989-
present
References: Valach, M. Agriculture and industry in Slovakia – general overview. Slovak University of Agriculture. 2014

6. Current status

7. Current status

8. Current status

9. Current status

10. Current status

11. Current status

12. Current status

13. Current status

14. Current status
AKIS – Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
 Despite the integration of organisations in relation to
research and advisory, as well as links among the farmer’s
community, was not successfully developed after EU
accession.
 system does not function well where cooperation is not
enhanced from policy maker actors.
 The specific national agreement about integration of
knowledge exchange does not exist among AKIS actors.
• No significant changes materialized with regard to the
effectiveness of the agricultural extension system.

15. Current status
AKIS – Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Barriers and Bottlenecks:
 Significantly understaffed with regard to the numbers of
advisors (also high average age)
 potential and practical overlaps among research institutes
and public organisations on one hand and academic
institutions on the other hand
 disconnection between different type of tools and
programmes

16. Current status
AKIS – Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

17. Current status
AKIS – Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Slovak Interactive Innovation projects
AgroBioTech (25 mil. €) innovation transfer
for agriculture and food processors (National
Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC) as
involved player)
Bioeconomy Cluster (Slovak University
of Agriculture, NPPC and enterprises)

18. Current status
AKIS – Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Slovak Interactive Innovation projects
Increasing private investments via cooperation between
research institutions and the business sector - Total EU budget
200 mil .€
Examples:
R & D centre for precision farming in the mountainous areas using advanced
automated technology
Partnership for research and innovative technologies enhancing the quality,
safety and the added value of special crops
Industrial research and development centre for Short Rotation Coppice

19. Current status
National cattle inventories
467125
463358
471091
467820
465543
204386
201307
202589
198978
201795
159260
154105
150272
144875
143083
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Cattle total Cows total Dairy cows
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
5692,10 5772,7 6112,2 6334,2 6315,2
Annual milk yields per cow in litres

20. Current status
20
Dairy production systems in Slovakia
indicator Intensive Extensive Semi-intensive
Cost per feeding day >7 € <4 € 5-6 €
Herd size (dairy cows) >200 1-100 <200
Geographical location Southern low lands Mountainous and foothill areas Uplands and foothills
Feeding management
All-year round silage
based TMR
Dairy cows and heifer on
seasonal pastures with
minimum concentrate feed
Heifer on seasonal pastures (for
dairy cows additional only)
Management target 20 kg lifetime daily yield
Long productive life-span,
healthy cows, with good
locomotion
Various combinations
Technology level High level of innovation Low cost technology Various combinations
Prevailing breed Holstein Pinzgau, Simmental-Fleckvieh Various cross-breds
Milk sale - processing Industry Own processing, direct sale Various combinations
Source: Udržateľné systémy chov dojníc na Slovensku (2016)

21. Current status
Development of the length of productive life
and lifetime yield of Slovak Holstein cows
Source: Breeding Services of Slovak Republic, state enterprise BS SR, Results of cattle performance recording in
Slovakia, (2009-2016)
year AFC (days)
Length of
productive life
(days)
Number of
lactations
Llifetime
yield (kg)
Lifetime yield
per day (kg)
2009-10 829 827 2,25 16747 10,11
2010-11 823 862 2,31 17553 10,42
2011-12 815 907 2,39 18615 10,81
2012-13 815 908 2,32 18710 10,32
2013-14 808 910 2,39 19829 11,54
2014-15 799 931 2,44 20683 11,96
2016 787 946 2,52 21644 12,46

22. Current status
Economic impact of different AFC in Slovak
Holstein dairy herds in 2014/2015
Source: BS SR, 2015, own calculations, Note: * baseline AFC=24 months, 28 EUR/100 kg milk*
AFC (months) Lifetime yield (kg) Differences in income on a per cow basis *
21 19 937 - 375,76 €
22 20 051 - 343,84 €
23 20 948 - 92,68 €
24 21 279 0,00 €
26 20 907 - 104,16 €
28 20 529 - 210,00 €
30 19 698 - 442,68 EUR

23. Current status
Relation between AFC and lifetime yield in
Slovak Holstein dairy herds
Source: Huba et al, 2017
AFC (days) Number of lactations Lifetime yield (kg)
Yield per
lactation (kg)
Lifetime yield per
day (kg)
22 2,31 21 119 9583 14,33
23 2,44 21 847 9259 13,86
24 2,53 22 202 8950 13,29
26 2,54 21 696 8686 12,34
27 2,49 21 559 8551 11,98
29 2,52 20 537 8378 11,05

24. Current status
Summary of lifetime performance in relation to early
growth and fertility in typical UK Holstein/Friesian
dairy heifers
Source: Adapted from Wathes et al. (2008)
Top performers
Average
performers
Poor
performers
Worst
performers
Calf growth rates from birth to 9 months High Average Poor Variable
Nulliparous heifer fertility
Excellent 1.1 S/C Good 1.5 S/C Poor 2.5 S/C Very poor 3 S/C
Age at first calving
21 to 23 m. 24 to 25 m. 26 to 30 m. > 30 m.
Total milk production in first lactation >8000 l >7500 l >6000 l <6500 l
Fertility parameters in first lactation Average Good Average Poor
Age at second calving 38 months 38 months 41 months 50 months
Survival from first calving to 5 years 80% 60% 50% 30%
Total milk yield over 5 years from birth 24 000 l 22 000 l 17 000 l 8000 l

25. Perspectives
Proposed action:
 speed-up the process of the cross-sectional research and academia knowledge
transfer along with the active participation of industry to ensure that research is
brought to the market more often
 linking the priorities at national level with the ESFRI strengthening the national
involvement in pan-European facilities within European research infrastructure
ecosystem
 interact on the multidisciplinary approach to practical and acceptable agri production
systems with defined sustainability KPI and to understand the mechanisms of
knowledge sharing and innovation among farmers
 need for and the added value of joint approaches in particular vis-à-vis the large
existing and emerging science nations
 mainstreaming interaction in promoting effective knowledge transfer mechanism and
creating added value for data sharing models
 active participation in the co-creation of innovative solutions to bridge the gap
between science and solving the practical problems by matching industry needs with
research activities

26. Perspectives
Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, National Forest Centre, Slovak Academy
of Science and the National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC) represent the
national agri-research system.
The structure of research in the field of agriculture under the NPPC is composed by
following institutes:
• Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute
• Research Institute of Plant Production
• Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra
• Agroecology Research Institute
• Grassland and Mountain Agriculture Research Institute
• Food Research Institute
• Research Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics
• Agricultural Technical and Testing Institute

27. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
"Bringing tailored decision support tools for dairy farm
management to remove bottlenecks to the delivery of practice-
oriented research to end-users“
• Applied research agenda, practice-oriented research
• Golden Sickle award 2015 in the category Science and
research
• Concept of new a communication platform between the
farmers and the research not commonly used in Slovakia

28. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
Rationale of the tool:
• better understand the dynamics of the herd structure
• improve economically sensible decision-making abilities
This approach could contribute to the successful deployment of
the existing scientific and practical knowledge

29. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
Background information:
• detailed and long run cooperation with dairy
farmsDevelopment is being debated with farmers
continuously
• Sensitivity analysis belongs to the basics of any farm
• Making this process more clear and simple to actualize

30. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
• introductionary modules distributed via web page for free
• first responses from the dairy farmers are positive
• willing to widen our services in the terms of online data
uploads and comparison with peer operations

31. Perspectives

32. Perspectives
Number of replacement for each age at calving
in a 300 cow herd
Months 24 26 28 30 32 35
Replacement heifers 170 185 199 213 227 249
Note: Total heifer inventory numbers for varying herd sizes at a 35% replacement per year for first lactation
cows and 25 % replacement per year for cows at remaining lactation stages. Other rearing parameters are
taken from the following assumption: 4% stillbirths, 100 % dairy cow natality, 5 % mortality of calves,
selection of calves 4 %, 50 % ratio of heifers born, heifer selection 20 %, culled cows that die before disposal
20 %.

33. Perspectives
Number of replacement heifers for various
culling rates
Culling Rate Increase in heifer pool numbers over 24 month calving age ^)
25/35* 170 (20 surplus heifers) (32^) = 202** (2 deficit heifers)
26/36* 176 (17 surplus heifers) (45^) = 221** (6 deficit heifers)
27/36* 180 (15 surplus heifers) (46^) = 226** (8 deficit heifers)
27/37* 182 (14 surplus heifers) (47^) = 229** (9 deficit heifers)
27/38* 184 (13 surplus heifers) (48^) = 232** (11 deficit heifers)
Note: Calving at 24 Months of Age. *Culling rates for second and following lactations/culling rates for first calving
heifers. Other rearing parameters are taken from the following assumption: 4% stillbirths, 100 % dairy cow natality, 5
% mortality of calves, selection of calves 4 %, 50 % ratio of heifers born, heifer selection 20 %, culled cows that die
before disposal 20 %. **Increase in heifer replacement numbers for various culling rates in 300 cow herd: First calf
heifers calving at 30 months.

34. Perspectives
Economic impact of changed input variables

35. Perspectives
AFC and heifers (calves) rearing period
Real data What-if scenario 1 What-if scenario 2
Dairy cows numbers 423 423 423
Culling (1. lactations) 36% 36% 36%
Culling (remaining lactations) 30% 30% 30%
Dairy cow natality 95% 95% 95%
Stillbirths 7% 7% 4%
Calves mortality 11% 11% 5%
Calves selection 14% 14% 9%
ratio of heifers born 50% 50% 50%
Heifer selection 20% 20% 18%
culled cows that die before disposal 20% 20% 20%
AFC (days) 789 days 733 days 733 days
Number of heifers needed for replacement 290 269 269
Replacement heifers surplus or deficit -31 -21 3

36. Perspectives
Economic analysis – EkonMOD milk results I.
-31 heifers
-21 heifers
3 heifers
7 % 7 %
4 %
11 % 11 %
5 %
14 % 14 %
9 %
20 % 20 %
18 %
29 903 EUR
40 864 EUR
62 794 EUR
Real data What-if scenario 1 What-if scenario 2
Replacement heifer deficit or surplus stillbirths
Calves mortality Calves selection

37. Perspectives
Economic analysis – EkonMOD milk results II.
789 days
733 days 733 days
290 heifers 269 heifers 269 heifers
29 903 EUR
40 864 EUR
62 794 EUR
Real data What-if scenario 1 What-if scenario 2
AFC (days) Number of heifers needed for replacement Economic result

38. Perspectives

39. Perspectives
Sensitivity analysis - BW and AFC
Real data What-if scenario 3 What-if scenario 4
Dairy cow mature BW 700 kg 700 kg 700 kg
Milk price (expected) 0,28 € 0,28 € 0,28 €
Daily milk yield (expected) 18,5 kg 18,5 kg 18,5 kg
Cost per feeding day of a cow 8 € 8 € 8 €
Cost per feeding day of high-pregnant cow 3,50 € 3,50 € 3,50 €
Herd size 432 432 432
Average number of heifer calving per year 172 172 172
Target share of mature cow BW 85% 85% 85%
AFC 789 days 733 days 733 days
BW at first calving 560 kg (80 %) 560 kg (80%) 585 kg (84%)
Target AFC 733 days 733 days 733 days
Economic loss per cow -35 € - 25 € - 6 €

40. Perspectives
Economic analysis – EkonMOD milk results III.
789 days 733 days 733 days
-14987 €
-8428 €
-2408 €
80 % 80 %
84 %
Real data What-if scenario 3 What-if scenario 4
AFC Economic loss per farm BW at first calving

41. Perspectives

42. Perspectives

43. Perspectives

44. Perspectives
GGE referring to various milk yield per year
(litres)
Average milk yield per year (litres) 3500 4500 5500 6500 7500 8500
Total methane emissions from
cattle (CH4 tonnes/year)
23,629 23,759 24,194 24,678 25,510 25,914
Note: Total methane emissions from dairy farm for varying milk output levels in 100 dairy cow herd

45. Perspectives
total methane emissions for various milk yields

46. Perspectives
GGE referring to various modifications in farm
management
Input parameter change result
Cow liveweight (kg) + 20 +0,165 (CH4 tonnes/year)
Milk fat content (%) -0,2 -0,241 (CH4 tonnes/year)
Calving inter-val (days) - 25 -0,011 (CH4 tonnes/year)
Cows on pasture - 30 -0,201 (CH4 tonnes/year)
-0,078 (NH3 tonnes/year)
Pasture season duration (days) - 50 -0,067 (CH4 tonnes/year)
-0,043 (NH3 tonnes/year)
Cows producing manure in deep-bedding to cows
producing slurry into reservoir (tank) ratio (20:80)
50:50 -0,700 (CH4 tonnes/year)
-0,238 (NH3 tonnes/year)
+49,5 (N2O kg/year)
Note: Total GGE from dairy farm for 8500 litres average milk output per cow in a 100 dairy cow herd

47. Perspectives

48. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
• Monitoring the KPI routinely is important so critical areas can be
revised sooner and minimize the negative effect to cash flow
• Nowadays testing the SAP HANA and SAS visual analytics
„The further incorporation of BI tools and visual analytics combining
the research results with market data developments could be vital
for making more informed tactical and cost-effective choices at the
unique dairy farm-level, with respect to the volatile global milk
price“

49. Perspectives

50. Perspectives

51. Perspectives

52. Perspectives

53. Perspectives
EkonMOD milk – the decision support tool
for dairy farm management
.
The versatility of the core application offers potential use in
numerous areas including the adaptation for the use in the pig, sheep
and goat sector. The NPPC Teaming activity resulted in developing the
parallel adaptation for pig farms - EkonMOD pig and the first
modifications for beef cattle and sheep breeders

59. Thank you!
Contact:
Ing. Miroslav Záhradník
National Agricultural and Food Centre
Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra
Slovakia
Tel. ++421 37 6546371
Mail: zahradnik@vuzv.sk