Animal Production Research Centre Nitra (APRC Nitra)
APRC Nitra is partly state financed organisation of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Address:
Hlohovecká 2, 951 41 Lužianky, Slovakia
Managing Director: Mgr. Dana Peškovičová, PhD.
Tel.: + 421 37 6546 122
Fax: + 421 37 6546 361
e-mail: riaditel@cvzv.sk
web: www.cvzv.sk
The main purpose of the Animal Production Research Centre Nitra is scientific
and research solution of problems in the sphere of biology and breeding farm
animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, hunting game, poultry, bees), to
perform goal oriented fundamental and applied research up to the verification
of realization in the user´s sphere.
Institutes of APRC Nitra
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Institute for Farm Animal Genetics and Reproduction
Institute for Nutrition
Institute for Animal Breeding and Product Quality
Institute for Farming Systems and Animal Welfare
Institute of Small Farm Animals
Institute of Apiculture Liptovský Hrádok
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Within the framework of EU structural funds created the Animal
Production Research Centre Nitra (APRC Nitra) three Centres of
Excellence in the sphere of applied research in animal genetic
resources, nutrition of farm animals and quality of animal
products.
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APRC Nitra presented itself as excellent place of work within
the departmental research basis of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development SR by obtaining the projects of Centres
of Excellence, and by their development it strengthened
significantly the cooperation with workplaces at universities as
well as with leading scientific-research institutes abroad.
AT present APRC Nitra (Animal Production Research Centre Nitra)
can realize international cooperation mainly in research spheres
as follows:
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Development of methods for improvement and more effective utilization of
animals’ gene pool from the viewpoint of product quality, safety of animal
products.
Application of biotechnologies processes for sustainability of animal genetic
resources.
Innovation methods in nutrition and new feeding strategies in farm animals.
Improvement of production potential in small farm animals (mainly rabbits)
and protection of biodiversity in agrarian landscape.
Analysis of emissions produced by farm animals and possibilities of their
reduction.
Research in effect of environmental factors and new breeding technologies
on performance, welfare and animal health.
Development of complex measures for good quality rearing, breeding and
protection of bees.
Extension and Services
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Extension activities as well as concept-prognostic activity realizes APRC Nitra in all spheres of its professional
spectrum in practice directly to the end user
It elaborates legislative, concept oriented, prognostic and expertise materials for managing bodies.
It elaborates breeding programmes, proposals for herds’ revitalization, and zootechnic-economical breeding
analyses for different farm animal species and it gives individual consultations to agricultural subjects and farmers.
It makes sample analyses of feeds, biological material, milk, honey and assessment of risks from preparations for
plant protection.
It provides internet applications and data bases:
Slovfic – Slovak Information and Documentary Centre of Feeds
Efabis – European Farm Animal Biodiversity Information System
E cow – Electronic support of suckler cows breeding
Meat sheep – Electronic support for meat sheep
Central register of bee colonies – Information for bee breeders
Welfare data basis – Information data basis concerning good conditions for life
Data basis of films from Agrofilm festival
APRC Nitra is member of 28 international and
specialist organisations at present
Among the most important are:
European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP)
(Besides members, member of board in the committee of EAAP is APRC Nitra represented by the
national coordinator and secretary of pig breeding section.)
Biological Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Systems (OECD) –
(Representative of APRC Nitra is member of committee and national coordinator.)
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
European Agricultural Research Initiative (EURAGRI)
International Commission of Agricultural Engineering – CIGR
European Regional Focal Point for ANGR
Humboldt-Foundation Bonn (FRG)
Society for Reproduction and Fertility, Cambridge, Great Britain
World Rabbit Science Association
International Union of Game Biologists – IUGB- Switzerland
Central European Institute of Game Ecology, Brno, Vienna, Nitra with the seat in CZ, Brno
APRC Nitra participates significantly in scientific-educational and pedagogical
process
It is the only institute within the Scientific-Research Basis with the statute
(accreditation) of training workplace for the doctoral study in the following
branches:
•General zootechnics
•Special zootechnics
•Biotechnology
In study programmes:
•General animal production together with FAFR SUA Nitra
•Special animal production together with FAFR SUA Nitra
•Molecular biology together with FBFI SUA Nitra
•Biotechnologies together with FBFI SUA Nitra
Publication activity in RIAP/APRC Nitra 2008-2012
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Publications totally
549
371
460
436
482
Out of them: scientific
274
204
204
222
241
professional
275
167
256
214
113
Number of citations in foreign publications registered in indexes Web of
Sci. + Scopus was 622.
Important indicator of publication activity “Impact Factor” represented a
value of 41.19 in 2012.
APRC Nitra publishes the scientific journal Slovak Journal of Animal
Science.
International projects
At present participates APRC Nitra in:
7th EU FP
211606 REDNEX – Innovative and Practical Management Approaches to Reduce Nitrogen Excretion by
Ruminants
Projects within the COST programme:
Optimising and standardising non-destructive imaging and spectroscopic methods to improve the
determination of body composition and meat quality in farm animals
Rabbit Genome Biology net – RGB net - A Collaborative European Network on Rabbit Genome Biology
9 International projects within bilateral and multilateral agreements:
SK-FRG: Estimation of optimum amino acid rations for growing pigs fed low-protein diets
SK-Switzerland: Study of exogene phytase influence (RONOZYME NP) on exploitation of nutrients in pigs
SK-FRG: Determination of apparent and real ileal digestibility of amino acids in basal diet observing mutual leucin and
tryptophan interaction
SK – FRG – Austria: Comparison of biological accessibility of organic and inorganic trace elements in pig fattening
SK – Belgium: Substantial equivalence of GM maize and its testing in model animals
SK – CZ: Testing of ensilaged sugar beet pulps as supplement of nutrition for red deer
SK – CZ: Assessment of degradability and digestibility of treated feeds for ruminants
SK – FRG: Functional and morphological development of digestive tract in young ruminants
SK – FRG: Occurrence, regulation and transport-physiological importance of vacuolar H-ATPase in rumen epithelium of
sheep and cattle
Agrofilm (www.agrofilm.sk) is an international film festival dealing with issues of
agriculture and problems in rural areas. The objective of the festival is to inform
professional as well as nonprofessional public about the latest findings of
science, research, development and practice in agriculture, nutrition of
population, food industry, ecology, problems with protection of natural
resources and problems in rural areas. Agrofilm is supported by Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development and Animal Production Research Centre
Nitra
Foto: Peter Rafaj, Nitra
63rd Annual Meeting that took place in Bratislava from the 27 to the 31 August 2012.
Organised by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Animal Production
Research Centre Nitra
APRC was awarded a prize from the Ministry of Education, Science,Research
and Sport in category: Scientific-Technical team of the year 2012