All partners gathered in Bursa, Turkey, from 8 to 10 October 2024 for a three-day workshop together with students from Croatia, Romania and Turkey.
First, they visited Ömer Matlı Dairy Farm in Yenişehir. It was established with the aim of producing quality milk with knowledgeable animal husbandry experience, laying the groundwork for R&D studies, and contributing to the producers by developing animal husbandry and agricultural activities. The farm operates on 140 decares of land with a capacity of 1,800 cattle, 750 of which are dairy cattle; There are Holstein, Simmental and Red Holstein animal populations. The farm, which has “Health Certificate for Disease-Free Enterprises” and “Milk Producing Farm Certificate in EU Standards”, aims to produce 25 thousand liters of healthy, delicious and high-quality milk per day, while animal trade opportunities of pregnant heifers and empty heifers of different breeds are preferred for business partners engaged in animal husbandry is also offered.
The participants toured the facilities, observing the modern milking systems and high animal welfare standards implemented on the farm. The farm houses 1,800 cattle, and the production goal is to reach 25,000 liters of high-quality milk daily. The farm’s practices meet EU standards for disease-free certification and sustainable milk production. They were shown various departments within the dairy farm, from milking operations to the feed production area. Special attention was given to the farm’s closed-loop system that minimizes waste and ensures sustainable feed for the cattle.
The second day was reserved fot a series of expert presentations by Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Slovak University of Agriculture, the University of Osijek and University of Belgrade on sustainability topics related to agriculture and livestock.
E-Learning Platform as the first result of the SUSTRA project was introduced by Levent Burgu from Bilecik Üniversity
Participants evaluated the PR1 e-learning platform designed for livestock training, offering feedback on usability, content, and improvements for future iterations. The platform aims to be a comprehensive learning tool for sustainable livestock practices across partner countries.
On the last day participants visited Hamidiye Agricultural School, where they were introduced to the curriculum and facilities. Presentations from agricultural schools from Croatia,, Romania and Türkiye focused on their approach to sustainable agricultural education and vocational training.
In the afternoon they visited the Bursa Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Fair, where they explored the latest innovations in the agricultural sector, including livestock farming technologies, feed advancements, and new animal breeding techniques.
Finally, project partners held a meeting focusing on quality assurance, project monitoring, and dissemination strategies. Tasks were delegated for the upcoming phases of the project.
