11th International Stopmastitis.pl conference (18-19.10.2024) in Poland.
The Polish Mastitis Association’ s mission is to support the growing Polish dairy sector and strengthen bonds between vets and dairy farmers. And once again- we did it! This year over 350 dairy professionals gathered in Jachranka, on the outskirts of Warsaw, to discuss and address key topics related to milk quality and cattle health, with particular emphasis on herd management, welfare and biosecurity. The event was attended by internal (Poland) and external (Dutch and German) speakers, with different expertises in the field of dairy and with different scientific backgrounds, sharing their opinions and insights with all participants.
The conference was inaugurated by a speech of Philipp Goetz (IFCN Dairy Research Network) who explained the role of Poland in the global milk market. At the moment Poland is the third milk producer in the European Union so it is considered an important player at the global level. According to recent data, milk production in Western Europe is shrinking but increasing in Poland (on average with 2%/ year) as the country has still potential to grow compared with countries like Germany or France. Mr. Goetz explained that milk production will move toward eastern regions of European Union due to lower labour and production costs and theeconomic flexibility of Polish famers. He also stressed that the increasing world population may face milk shortages. The best way to overcome these difficulties includes efficient production, a positive impact on the environment and a generation shift of dairy farmers (young farmers).
The next speaker, prof. Zygmunt Kowalski (University of Agriculture in Krakow), characterized the negative impact of mycotoxins on milk production. Mycotoxins can be found in silage, crops etc. and due to characteristics different preventive strategies may apply. Unfortunately climate change, higher temperatures or droughts increase mycotoxin contamination risks. It is a well-known fact that dairy cows are somehow “protected” by their rumen flora, yet mycotoxin like DON can decrease synthesis of proteins in these animals resulting in lower protein levels, also in milk.
Another interesting topic directly related to milk quality was presented by Pawel Panasiuk (Biofarmtech). Mr. Panasiuk has compared the milking system to the human body, where each component – from vacuum pump to pulsators – acts as an essential organ to keep the whole system running smoothly. Later he illustrated this comparison, showing how regular milking time testing, much like stress tests for athletes, can reveal hidden issues before they impact herd health. When poorly maintained, these systems can cause microdamage to teats, leading to bacterial spread and cases of mastitis. Regular dynamic testing, akin to stress tests for athletes, allows early detection of issues before they escalate. With tools like VaDia, dairy specialists can address problems proactively, ensuring a healthy herd and a productive farm.
Other interesting topics were covered by Dr. Marcin Gołębiewski from the SGGW University (“The use of artificial intelligence in milk quality analysis”), Michał Skoczylas (“The importance of biosecurity on a cattle farm”), Renata Kubiak (“New tools to monitor herd parameters and reproduction”), and last but not least Marcin Kocik (“Economic benefits resulting from improving the welfare of dairy cows”). On the second day Mr. Martin Ziaja shared his concerns about the Green Deal from the perspective of Polish milk producers and Mrs Anna Kosater (SWPS University, Warsaw) explained how to keep proper life-work balance to avoid burnouts which is another civilization disease of the 21st century.
In summary, Dr. Michał Pochodyła (President of Polish Mastitis Association) summed up the conference with the following words: “The growing number of conference participants from year to year proves not only the vision and mission of the Association but also the trust that the entire veterinary and agricultural industry has in us. For all professionals, animal health and welfare plus the highest quality of milk are the primary goals in our everyday work.”
Without any doubt this conference is an important forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience. All experts unanimously emphasized that new technologies, including artificial intelligence, improvements in genetics, mastitis prevention and welfare will play an important role in increasing milk production efficiency.
