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Production and food processing
The only such beef
producing plant
Spółdzielcza Agrofirma Witkowo near Stargard Szczeciński achieves such results
in beef cattle breeding that it surprises even the best specialists in the industry.
It is a real champions’ producing plant. In this regard, it beats all records
and continues to raise the expectations higher and higher.
Two years ago, at the 24 th National Animal
Breeding Exhibition in Poznań, the animals
from Witkowo were awarded 16 champion titles
and 1 vice-champion title in the category
of beef cattle. This year, at the jubilee, 25 th National
Exhibition, 18 champion titles, 3 vicechampion
titles and one super champion title
for beef cattle were awarded to animals from
Witkowo. Dr. Eng. Friedrich Averbeck from Germany,
the main judge of the event and one of
the most respected experts in beef cattle was
very impressed with Leban, the 4-year old bull
of Red Angus breed from Witkowo that was
awarded the super champion title. He said that
it was simply the perfect model of this breed
and that its neck muscles deserved special attention.
“This bull and all the remaining champions
from Agrofirma Witkowo confirm that the
breeding works are conducted there at the highest,
exclusive level. This is a real art of breeding”,
emphasized Dr. Averbeck.
“We owe our achievements in animal production,
most of all, to the permanent concern
for improving the genetic value”, confides Marian
Ilnicki, who has been the head of Agrofirma
Witkowo for 53 years. Since the 70’s, the Agrofirma
has acquired genetic material from the
best breeders in France, USA and Canada in order
to refine dairy cows. The cooperation is still
being continued. In the breeding practice, we
use successfully the latest zootechnical technologies
such as the embiotransfer carried out
in cooperation with scientists from Canada. In
1995, we commenced the works aimed at refining
the beef cattle. At that time, we imported,
by air, 40 Salers breed and 70 Red Angus breed
springing heifer and bulls. In the next years,
we bought also heifers and bulls of Limousine,
Hereford, Chrolaise and Simentaler breed from
the best pedigree breeding establishment in
France, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Due
to that, we have been breeding for several years
ca. 3.5 thousand cattle animals of as many as six
beef cattle breeds. The parent herd is made up of
1,400 cows. This is the only such refined and diversified
stock-breeding not only in Poland but in
the entire Europe as well. Therefore, each month,
our plant is visited by numerous specialized tourist
groups not only from Poland but also from almost
all European and non-European countries.
“All guests are impressed by our herds of every
breed that represent very high breeding and production
values, yet still have excellent health”,
adds Marek Tomaszewski, the chief specialist
in breeding of the cattle for fattening. They are
surprised that such outstanding results can be
achieved by keeping cattle outdoors all year long
and feeding them in traditional manner, only
with own feed.
“We are proud that our beef can satisfy even
the most demanding consumers - emphasizes
Grzegorz Trojanowski, Vice-President for trade
Head of Agrofirma
Witkowo, Marian Ilnicki,
presents the champion
from his own farm
Autumn 2011 43