The following are performed at the Animal Nutrition Experimental Centre in Gorzyń:
- poultry nutritional studies, including:
- gallinaceous poultry (laying hens, chickens)
- waterflow (duck, goose)
- pig nutritional studies, including:
- balance studies and
- individual tests on porkers
- nutritional studies on other bird species (including guinea fowl, pigeons)
The Centre carries out numerous research works under the Scientific Research Committee (KBN) grants, ministerial programs: Long-term program (2011-2015 and 2016-2020), international agreements (Eureka project and the 6th EU Framework Program), own research and statutory activities. Every year, master thesis and other promotional works (doctorates and habitations) are carried out. Most of the research work is carried out for the Department of Animal Nutrition and Fodder Farming at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań.
In addition, the Centre carries out experiments on the basis of services for other scientific units of the University of Life Sciences in Poznań as well as for other research centres in the country and abroad. Close scientific cooperation includes the Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Jabłonna, the Institute of Animal Science in Kraków, the Universities of Life Sciences in Wrocław and Lublin, the University of Warmia and Masuria in Olsztyn, the University of Agriculture in Kraków, the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and the Agricultural University of Szczecin. In recent years, it mainly involve the Institute of Animal Nutrition of the University of Martin Luther in Halle, TNO Wageningen in the Netherlands and the Univers Aarhus in Denmark. The Centre, under the contract signed with the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury, carries out research work for game breeding centres.
At the moment, apart from scientific research, commercial works are also carried out at ZDŻZ Gorzyń - as part of services commissioned by Polish and foreign feed companies.
RESEARCH TOPICS:
The main research topic in the poultry department concerns the use of domestic feed (including triticale, post-extraction rapeseed meal and legume seeds) in place of imported components (maize, soybean meal) in mixtures intended for growing and adult poultry. Research is also carried out on the improvement of domestic fodder by using new generation feed enzymes and extrusion techniques. In addition, as part of learning about the nutritional value of feed, the metabolic energy and availability of amino acids in chickens are determined. Research is being carried out on the microbiological status of the gastrointestinal tract.
The research conducted on pigs concerns, inter alia, determining the intestinal digestibility of feed on fistula pigs. This allows for a more accurate knowledge of the nutritional value of the feed. Growth tests are also carried out on weaners and porkers.
In recent years, the activity of the Centre has been expanded to include a new section - agritourism animals. The Centre maintains, among others Scottish highland cattle, llamas, donkeys, emus, Cameroon sheep and many breeds of gallinaceous and waterfowl poultry.