IAK Herd Manager Training 2025: Focus on health – the potential of humans and animals

Day 1: Theory – professional exchange and new perspectives

The first day was dominated by presentations on various aspects of animal health, feeding and feed controlling and also built a bridge to human health. New approaches and food for thought on optimizing the management of dairy cow herds were presented and discussed together.

• At the event's opening, Dr. Martin Schneider, Managing Director of IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH, spoke about IAK's extensive services in domestic consulting and international cooperation, emphasizing both current and future challenges facing agricultural businesses.
• Preparatory feeding and “fresh cows”: Prof. Dr. Heiko Scholz from Hochschule Anhalt University of Applied Sciences explained the scientific background, potential problems and approaches to feeding dairy cows during the transit phase. He also offered interesting insights into the work of LLG Iden.
• Dr. Horst Auerbach presented his work at the International Silage Consultancy and explained various approaches to assessing and improving silage quality.
• Aylin Rudolph-Lourenco de Aquino, an agricultural business consultant at IAK with a focus on HR management and sustainability, highlighted current and growing challenges related to the shortage of skilled workers in agriculture. She also provided insights into her work on recruiting staff – also in an international context – for IAK's clients.
• Dr. Wolfram Richardt, LKS mbH/LKV Sachsen, presented the new feed evaluation system of the Society for Nutritional Physiology and spoke about innovative approaches to feeding healthy and productive dairy cows based on the latest scientific findings.
• Nico Klamt, special dairy cattle consultant at IAK, explained measures for implementing “tools” in the daily practical feeding control of dairy farms and the associated improvement in the performance and health of dairy cows.
• Dr. Mandy Schmidt from TSK Sachsen provided information on the current situation of bluetongue (BTV) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany and outlined measures to protect livestock.
• At the end of the first day, Christoph Rothaupt – farmer, freelance speaker and farm manager – gave personal insights into his career and his everyday life between farming and family life. He spoke openly and impressively about his experiences with grief, death and suicidal thoughts as well as his own path out of depression and burnout.

Day 2: Practical experience – visit to Agrargesellschaft Prießnitz mbH

On the second day, the focus was on the practical consolidation and implementation of the presentations of the previous day. Managing Director Dr. Patrick Zier gave us an exciting insight into the multifaceted operation in the new, animal-friendly and generously designed calf barn at Agrargesellschaft Prießnitz mbH. Among other things, it combines milk production, arable farming, renewable energies, pig fattening and the breeding of heavy warmblood horses (Saxon-Thuringian). The participants explored the farm in three groups:

• Dr. Patrick Zier gave a tour of the Abtlöbnitz dairy cow barn, which is designed for maximum animal welfare, and demonstrated the work with modern automatic milking technology. He also talked about the current problems in milk production and his work with a young, motivated team.
• Animal production manager Nancy Hunka demonstrated the use of a shaking box to assess and optimize dairy cow rations in terms of mixing accuracy, selectivity and physiological composition.
• Nico Klamt showed how dry matter content in basic feedstuffs can be determined, which brings health and economic benefits for dairy cow husbandry. The group then assessed feedstuffs and estimated and tested dry matter contents using modern near-infrared technology (NIR sensor) and compared them with samples from other test methods. The practical assessment of the Body Condition Score (BCS) and the assessment of health aspects in dairy cow husbandry were carried out together in the barn of the dry cows.

Nico Klamt and Dr. Patrick Zier concluded the event with heartfelt thanks to all participants and speakers. The great commitment of the participants and their passion for the responsible work as managing directors, division managers and herd managers in dairy farms was particularly emphasized. The many employees also deserve great recognition – especially in dealing with current and future challenges in the industry.

Closing remarks

We can look back on two intensive days with valuable insights and lively discussions – and are particularly pleased with the positive feedback from the participants and the great interest in the event. The herd manager training course has once again shown how important the exchange between practice, science and consulting is. It provided numerous impulses and further strengthened the dialog – an important step towards tackling the challenges of the future together. We look forward to seeing you again next year!