EUnetHorse

On the 11th of September 🗓️, the National Facilitator from Poland 🇵🇱 for the EUnetHorse project, Ewa Metera-Zarzycka from Polish Horse Breeders Association🐴, attended the LXXXVIII Scientific Congress of the Polish Society of Animal Production in Siedlce. The congress focused on issues related to animal production 🐄🐖, including the potential of AI (artificial intelligence) 🤖. While AI offers exciting opportunities, human expertise remains crucial 🧑🌾. By combining technology and traditional knowledge 🌾💻, a sustainable future for agriculture can be achieved 🌍🌱. During this event, Ewa held an informative stand with EUnetHorse project information and she was able to interact with many congress participants 👥🤝. EUnetHorse keeps receiving attention! 📷 © E. Metera-Zarzycka Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est 

✨ 🐴 Would you like to know some more results about the Phase 1 of the EUnetHorse project? 3️⃣ Until now, we have talked about the characterization of interviewed farms at EU level and showed some relevant average figures about them 📊. Now, it is time to have an overview of the common priorities that were identified across EU 📋🌍. Several priorities were detected within each thematic area studied plus another two transversal needs were recognized from the interviews performed to equine farmers👨🌾.  Socio-economic💼: Focus on improving equine farm profitability and enhancing working conditions.  Environmental Sustainability 🌱: Adapt practices and resource management to climate change, promote biodiversity, and manage pastures for future challenges.  Equine Health and Welfare 🐴🩺: Implement biosecurity measures to prevent diseases and improve horse welfare.  Transversal 🔀: Address issues with access to agricultural land and improve training and knowledge transfer. These priorities aim to create a thriving, sustainable, and resilient equine industry across Europe! 💚 Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est  

✨ 🐴 Would you like to know some results about the Phase 1 of the EUnetHorse project? 2️⃣  Now, let’s talk about some average figures per country. Data concerning 🌱 hectares per horse, 👩🌾 workers per farm, and the 📊 percentage of farms in deficit have been represented to allow a general comparison among partner countries. Overall, Poland stands out for having no farms in deficit, despite its high demand for workers and large-scale operations. Belgium, on the other hand, has smaller farms but faces significant economic challenges, with the highest percentage of farms in deficit . Germany also shows a strong agricultural economy with low losses, though it requires more labor than other countries. 💡 These insights, based on interviews, show that agricultural conditions and profitability vary significantly across European countries, depending on 🌍 the amount of land available, 💼 the number of workers, and ⚙️ the efficiency of the farms. Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

✨ 🐴 Would you like to know some results about the Phase 1 of EUnetHorse project? 1️⃣ First of all, let’s talk about ‘farm characterization’ at EU level. 🌍 From over 300 equine farmers interviewed across EU 🗣🇪🇺️  , the following average data were extracted: - 🏡 🗺️ 📍 Farm location: 52 close to cities, 18 close to suburbs, 135 in rural areas, 15% in sensitive areas - 🏡📏 Farm size: 1 to 5,000 ha of agricultural area with 31% of permanent meadows, with an average of 45 horses and 10 births per year and farm - 👩🌾👨🌾 Farm workers: an average of 5 employees, 43% women - 💰📈 Economic goals: 57% focused mainly on equine activities. 44% aiming neutral economic balance, 48% aiming profit and 8% with no economic objectives. In terms of economic performance, 21% are in deficit, 30% break even and 48% make profit Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est  

🔊🔊Today is a reflection day within EUnetHorse community! Partners together with the farmers and experts from several countries are discussing about the farms that were visited yesterday during the cross visits in Poland 🇵🇱. Positive and negative aspects related to their management systems and infrastructures are being commented and the debate is being really fruitful! ➡️We are moving forward in finding the best and applicable solutions for the equine sector 🐴!! Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

⭐⭐⭐Bronislaw Kazberuk's family farm, located in Podozierany, Grodek, is the second Polish 🇵🇱 farm that we have visited today as part of the cross visits in Poland. The farm is based on the diversification strategy and is self-sufficient. Even though the main activity is dedicated to cereal 🌾 (mainly buckwheat) production for human consumption (around 80%), they also have cold-blooded horses 🐎 for meat, Limousine beef breed 🐄, some agroforestry 🌳 and machinery services that complement the income of the farm 🚜. In the grasslands, horses and cows graze together 🐎🐄, while in the crops they use a secondary crop (such as mustard 🌱) to avoid bare earth as long as possible. ➡️Tomorrow we will discuss what we have seen in these two Polish farms! 👩🌾👨🌾 Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

⭐⭐⭐As part of the cross visit in Poland 🇵🇱, we have just visited the farm of the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds in Kalitnik, Michalowo where we have learnt quite a bit about: - how to protect bird population and ground nesting by combining grassland management with Konik horses 🐦🐴 - how to closure grasslands with over and under ground nets included in the fence in order to avoid predators (foxes and badgers) 🦊🦡 - water regulation across grasslands with ditches where the horses can drink 💧🐎 ➡️Lets learn more things in the next Polish farm this afternoon!!!🗣️🧑🎓 Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen l Polski Związek Hodowców Koni l Instytut Genetyki Człowieka PAN l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

🔊🔊 This morning we have started the 3rd European Workshop in Warsaw, Poland 🇵🇱 !!! EUnetHorse project partners together with equine experts 🐴 and several farmers 👨🌾👩🌾 are very busy assessing the solutions that were previously evaluated at national level in different countries 🌍. First of all, the solutions related to biodiversity 🌱 are being discussed such as: - The utilization of guard animals to protect horses 🐕 - The utilization of native plants for horse husbandry 🌿 - Leaving strips of meadow uncut 🌾 Now we are moving towards ‘overseeding – optimization of grazing’ Discussion among partners is being very fruitful and solutions are getting the final positive ✅ or negative ❌ score to move for the next step of demonstration. Participants will have a very long day ahead ⏳ in order to score a number of solutions 📝. We keep moving forward! 🚀 Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

🔊🔊 The EUnetHorse project is advancing!!! 🐎    We are now immersed in the Evaluation of solutions 📋! During this third phase of the project, solutions with highest technological maturity are being assessed using a multi-criteria grid developed within the project. With this grid the cost-benefit analysis 💰, performance 📊 and resilience 🌱 are being assessed. The assessment of the solutions obtained at national level in each partner country during the 3rd National Workshops will then be further discussed and agreed at the 3rd European Workshop to be held in Warsaw (Poland 🇵🇱 ) next week, 16th of October.    Solutions related to ‘working conditions’ 💼 and ‘biodiversity’🦋 will be the first ones assessed and then reported as technical sheets and practice abstracts in the EU CAP Network website. Later on, some of the selected solutions will be demonstrated to equine farmers during Training & Demonstration days.    Additionally, on the 17-18 of October 📅, during the cross visits, partners and farmers from different countries will visit two Polish farms in which several solutions will be presented by the farmer owners. After, these solutions will be evaluated and scored among all participants.    Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est

💡 Let’s talk about solutions! During the last cross visit in Germany, partners, experts and farmers were able to see the solutions already implemented on the farms visited. 🍃 In Reitstall Pavel, in Calden-Fürstenwalde, we were able to discover the solution of have a strong commercial strategy 💸 On this farm, whose main activity is horse boarding, two types of boarding are offered: ▪️ classic boarding in a box starting at 330€ per month (without service), ▪️ active stable boarding, starting at 420€ per month (without service). Each service is then billed to the owner via a system of tokens: litter, use of horse walker, feed, use of solarium, etc. Owners purchase tokens from the stable and then choose the services they want for their horse. The stable even offers a child-care service. 119 horses live on the farm, including around 50 in active stables. On average, owners pay700€ per month, all services included. ↗️ What are the benefits of this solution? ▪️ Facilitates management and billing (the farm only charges for tokens, not services) ▪️ Tailor-made boarding service for owners as they choose only the services they want ↘️ What are the disadvantages of this solution? ▪️ No boarding with service included (risk that horses may not always have access to 3F – fodder, freedom, friends – depending on the services chosen by the owner) ▪️ High prices for customers Farmers, what type of commercial strategy have you implemented on your farm❓ 📷 © N. Aldai Project funded by the European Commission 🇪🇺. #eunethorse #improvingresilienceofequinefarms Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation - IFCE l Acta les instituts techniques agricoles l Mont-le-Soie l Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus l University of Helsinki l Justus Liebig University Giessen l Polish Horse Breeders Association l Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences l FeedInov CoLab l Centro Tecnolóxico da Carne l UPV/EHU l Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania l Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen l WBF-Agroscope I Chambre régionale d'Agriculture Grand Est