112 participants from agriculture, science, consulting, business and politics took advantage of the two-day event at the FBN conference centre for an intensive professional exchange. This was the second time the forum had been held in person at the FBN, following on from the successful launch of the event series. This year's focus was on the animal-friendly rearing of cattle and pigs – a topic that is of central importance both for animal welfare and for the social acceptance of livestock farming.
After a welcome by the FBN's Executive Director, Prof. Dr. Klaus Wimmers, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Alois Rainer addressed the participants via video message. Dr Till Backhaus, Minister for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, also emphasised in his welcoming address the importance of scientifically sound and practical further development of animal husbandry.
The first day of the event was devoted to the current situation and challenges of calf and piglet rearing in Germany. Speakers from universities, colleges and research institutions highlighted where action is needed and which solutions are already being tested. As the event progressed, the focus shifted more towards the needs of the animals. Contributions on cow-bound rearing, stress factors in the early life of piglets and the promotion of resilience illustrated how formative the early stages of life are for the development of animals. A separate lecture section on feeding also addressed key issues relating to the nutrition of calves and piglets from birth to weaning.
On the second day of the event, the focus was on animal health, prenatal influences, breeding goals and breeding planning. Experts from research and practice highlighted common diseases in calves and piglets and discussed strategies for preventing them. This highlighted how closely prevention, management and feeding are linked. Contributions on prenatal influences and the long-term effects of species-appropriate feeding also underlined how early developmental stages can have a lasting impact on the performance and robustness of farm animals. Finally, current approaches to breeding planning for cattle and pigs were presented and discussed together.
The question and answer sessions and breaks were also used intensively for discussions and networking. The 2026 Livestock Forum thus once again provided an important platform for dialogue, knowledge transfer and exchange between research and practice. The high level of participation and lively discussions underline the success of the event and the great interest in sustainable concepts for animal-friendly and at the same time economically successful livestock farming.
The next Livestock Forum is planned for 2027 in digital form, once again enabling a broad specialist audience to participate and exchange ideas.
A selection of presentations can be found here: https://hotcloud.fbn-dummerstorf.de/owncloud/index.php/s/jtWJfBQzljusaFW
