On September 22–23, 2026, the Institute of Animal Biology of the NAAS hosted an online training seminar titled "Organization of Small-Scale Farms: Rearing, Housing, Feeding, Reproduction, and Productivity of Various Animal and Poultry Species."
The event was organized for women interested in starting, managing, or expanding a household or small-scale farm in the poultry and livestock sectors.
The seminar aimed to provide participants with systematic, practical knowledge regarding the organization of small-scale farms, the technical aspects of housing and feeding animals and poultry, reproduction, disease prevention, animal welfare, sanitary and hygiene requirements, biosecurity, and the fundamentals of economic planning.
Over the course of two days, participants had the opportunity to receive expert advice and practical recommendations from researchers and specialists in the relevant fields.
The first day focused on the organization and efficient management of small-scale dairy farms, the rearing of young stock and dairy cows, herd reproduction, animal nutrition, milking technologies, udder hygiene, milk quality assurance, and the prevention of common cattle diseases. Special attention was paid to modern technological solutions for housing and rearing beef cattle on small-scale farms. The speakers for the day were:
Yelyzaveta FEDOROVYCH – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the NAAS;
Vitalii FEDOROVYCH – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher;
Mariia STETSYSHYN – PhD;
Pavlyna DZHUS – Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher.
The second day of training focused on the technological aspects of pig farming in small-scale agricultural holdings, the fundamentals of successful poultry farming for beginners, and the specifics of organizing family-run goat farms.
Presentations were delivered by researchers from the Institute of Animal Biology of the NAAS:
Taras PRUDIUS – Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher: "Technological aspects of pig farming in small-scale agricultural holdings";
Yaroslav SIRKO – Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher: "Fundamentals of successful poultry farming: A start for beginners";
Markiian KUZIV – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher.
A key feature of the seminar was its practical focus. Participants received recommendations on selecting animal or poultry species based on available resources, facilities, feed supplies, and planned output; assembling the herd or flock; organizing feeding and watering; creating an optimal microclimate; caring for young stock; and ensuring appropriate productivity levels. Specific training modules covered animal reproduction, veterinary preventive measures, biosecurity, sanitation and hygiene, safe animal handling, and the management of manure, poultry litter, and other farm waste.
The program also addressed key aspects of the safe collection and initial storage of farm produce—such as milk, eggs, and livestock products—as well as the fundamentals of small-scale farm economics, including cost structures, feed costs, productivity, herd planning, production seasonality, and economic efficiency assessment.
Conducting such training is a vital way to put the scientific knowledge and expertise of the Institute of Animal Biology (NAAS) into practice, aiming to support the development of small and family farms, enhance the competence of their owners, and promote modern technologies in livestock and poultry farming.