Students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice had the opportunity to explore modern trends in livestock production during an excursion to a fully automated dairy farm in Bělá, operated by DS Holding Libštát. The farm represents a state-of-the-art example of automation in cattle breeding, where key processes – from feeding to milking – are managed by modern technologies with minimal direct human intervention. The visit provided students with valuable insight into digitally controlled farm operations and allowed them to connect their academic knowledge with real-world practice.
The excursion contributed to bridging theoretical education with practical experience and helped students better understand the importance of digitalisation and automation in contemporary agriculture. Farm representatives introduced not only the operation of the facility but also the main benefits of automated systems, including increased efficiency, improved animal welfare, and optimized labour management. Experts from the university are also actively involved in advancing innovations in this field, collaborating on the development of a newly emerging fully automated calf barn. This project aims to elevate calf care through the use of intelligent monitoring systems and environmental control technologies.