On October 31, 2024, the International Scientific and Practical Conference “AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE FROM THE “UKRAINIAN ROTAMSTED” TO THE PRESENT” was held in a mixed format, dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the foundation of the Poltava Experimental Field, organized and held by the Institute of Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production of the NAAS together with the Poltava State Agricultural Research Station named after M.I. Vavilov and in active cooperation with institutions in Poland, Sweden, Latvia, namely the Institute of Biology, Pomeranian University in Slupsk, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technology.

The event was opened by the Director of the Institute of Pig Breeding and APV of the NAAS Oleksandr Tsereniuk. The conference participants were welcomed by the acting academician-secretary of the Department of Zootechnics of the NAAS Vasyl VOLOSCHUK, Director of the Institute of Biology, Pomeranian University in Slupsk (Poland) Tomasz GETMANSKY, academician-secretary of the Department of Scientific Support for Innovative Development of the NAAS, Director of the National Scientific Agricultural Library of the NAAS Viktor VERHUNOV, Director of the Department of Agroindustrial Development of the Poltava Regional Military Administration Serhiy FROLOV, Rector of the Poltava State Agrarian University Oleksandr HALYCH, acting director of the Poltava State Agricultural Research Station named after M.I. Vavilov Mykhailo SOKIRK, Associate Professor of the Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden) Galiya ZAMARATSKA, Head of the Department of the Poltava Museum of Local Lore named after Vasyl Krychevsky Natalia KUZMENKO, Chief Expert on Animal Biosafety of the CIAB Scientific and Educational Center (Estonia) Andriy BUZUN, Director of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine" of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy PALIY.

The plenary session and the work of the sections were held within the walls of the Poltava State Agricultural Research Station named after M.I. Vavilov.

It is appropriate to recall the words of the outstanding scientist, Professor V. Kulchytsky: “He who does not know his history is not worthy of his future. He who does not honor the outstanding people of his people is not worthy of honor himself.” That is why the work of the first session was devoted to the history of the development of agricultural science and research.

The first session was opened by a report by Leonid GLUSCHENK, which revealed the historical prerequisites for the formation of the Poltava Research Field, and the report by Oleksandr LENY highlighted the historical progress of the Poltava Research Field. M. I. Vavilov for almost a century and a half.

“Thinking about the future, I want to return to the past” with these words, the head of the Public Union “Poltava Agricultural Society” Grigory SHARY began his report. In his speech, the speaker called for the drafting of a memorandum on opposing the development of the Research Field as a historical monument. The scientific community supported the decision and made a proposal to the conference resolutions.  

The next stage of the reorganization of the Experimental Field was the creation in 1910 of the Poltava Agricultural Research Station. Its role in the development of the livestock industry was covered in the report of Anatoly SHOSTI.  

The speech of Serhiy NAGORNY aroused great interest. The scientist's presentation was rich in rare historical photographs of the vocational schools of the Dibrivsky Stud Farm.  

The picturesque Poltava region, the fertile Odessa region are just two regions from the territory of our long-suffering Ukraine. No less significant contribution to the development of zootechnical education and science was made by scientists and educators of the Odessa State Agrarian University, which was precisely what the speaker Ruslan SUSOL told about and outlined the future prospects of this higher education institution.

Portrait specifics of the history of domestic science were provided by the reports of Viktor SAMORODOV and Natalia KUZMENKO about the developers of agricultural science, brothers Fedor and Grigory Pomalenkhy. Marina ANTONETS brought back from oblivion the name of the undeservedly forgotten breeder of nut crops Pavlo Krat. Viktor PISARENKO introduced the audience to the agroecological paradigm of the outstanding agrarian of our time - Semyon Antonets.

After an interesting excursion to the famous museum of the Poltava Research Field, conducted by Lyubov KAVALIR, the work of the second session began on modern challenges and innovative processes in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. The highlight of the event was a report in Polish by the future scientist Agnieszka JELONEK on modern trends in the diagnosis of infectious diseases of pigs. The logical continuation of the speech of the Polish colleagues was the speech of Andriy BUZUN on the creation of a regional model of biosecurity of small-scale pig farming under martial law based on available local resources and traditions of society. The executive director of the "Meat Industry" association, Mykola BABENKO, drew attention to the glaring problems in the development of the domestic business of meat producers. The solution to the problem of improving welfare in pig farming, according to a colleague from Sweden, Galia ZAMARACKIA, is the immunocastration method, which she spoke about in her speech.

According to Vasyl VOLOSHYNOV, the key to increasing the production volumes of industrial pig complexes is improving the economically useful traits of pigs, and this is the topic the scientist chose for his report.

The speech of a regular participant of our events, Mykola POVODA, on the efficiency of raising piglets under different feeding systems during the suckling period at weaning aroused keen interest among colleagues.

The report of Oleksandr BORDUN was devoted to the study of the operational value and reproductive qualities of sows of the Large White breed of French selection, as well as the definition of the criteria for selecting highly productive animals according to the ECSv index.

The results of the experiment on studying the effect of stimulating sows with an immunostimulating drug on the reproductive function of animals were presented in the speech of Iryna MARTYNYUK.

The conference was attended not only by representatives of the pig industry, but also by beekeepers. Oleksandr BELYKH spoke about his own developments and the features of improving the operating parameters of a centrifugal extractor of bee honeycombs.

A new breath of fresh air in science, accelerating the implementation of scientific tasks and research solutions, as well as surprisingly symbolic in terms of generational continuity, was the speech of the young scientist Mykyta PEKI on the development of a specialized industry-specific electronic scientific database, which will contribute to the development of open science, and most importantly, creating new opportunities for interaction between specialists in the industry.

The event was held at a high level in a businesslike and at the same time friendly atmosphere.

We are grateful to all the participants of the conference and above all we thank and bow to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, thanks to which we have the opportunity to work, research, live. We wish everyone well-being, victorious peace and stability.