Good Practice - Project
Modernisation of cattle breeding at ALA, a.s. Řepníky
Mixed farm uses CAP investment support to modernise its livestock facilities, improve efficiency, animal welfare, and reduce its operating costs and environmental impact.
General information
Beneficiary type
- Farmer / land manager
CAP specific objective
- SO2. Increasing competitiveness: the role of productivity
Intervention type
- Art. 73-74 – INVEST
Summary
ALA, a.s. Řepníky is a traditional mixed farm in the Pardubice Region with a strong focus on potato cultivation and dairy production. However, the company was facing significant technical obsolescence in its livestock facilities, particularly in the dairy cow housing. The existing stables no longer met modern standards for animal welfare, operational efficiency, bedding management, or manure‑handling technology. Daily operations were physically demanding, less efficient, and limited in capacity, creating a barrier to further development and undermining the farm’s competitiveness.
To address these challenges, the company used CAP investment support to finance a comprehensive modernisation of its livestock production. The core activity was the construction of a new barn equipped with robotic milking systems, modern housing, ventilation, and feeding technologies. The project also included the construction of a new slurry storage tank and pumping tank, enabling more efficient and environmentally responsible manure management.
Results
- The project modernised the entire livestock operation, improving animal welfare, production performance, and overall farm efficiency.
- Robotic milking and automated barn technologies enhanced milk quality, reduced labour demands, and optimised herd management.
- New manure‑handling infrastructure improved environmental compliance, reduced operating costs, and strengthened the long‑term sustainability and competitiveness of the farm.
Promoter
ALA, a.s. Řepníky
Funding
Total budget: 2 879 127 (EUR)
EAFRD: 335 910 (EUR)
National/Regional: 623 833 (EUR)
Private/own: 1 919 384 (EUR)
Context
ALA, a.s. Řepníky is a long‑established agricultural enterprise with a strong focus on potato cultivation and dairy production. The company is one of the leading potato producers in the Pardubice Region. Its operations are located on the outskirts of the village of Řepníky, in an area designated for agricultural activities.
The farm manages a herd of 680 cattle and operates stables, silage pits, and a slurry storage tank. However, part of the existing infrastructure had become outdated and no longer supported the high‑quality development of livestock production. The dairy cow housing facilities had reached the end of their technical lifespan and no longer met modern standards for animal welfare, labour efficiency, or energy performance. Limitations in bedding management, inadequate slurry removal technology, and rising operating costs created a long‑term, unsustainable situation. In addition, a shortage of straw for bedding further constrained the farm’s housing strategy. To address these challenges, the company decided to invest in a comprehensive modernisation of its cattle operations.
Objectives
The project aimed to enhance the efficiency of livestock production, improve animal welfare, reduce operating costs and environmental impacts, and ensure the long‑term sustainability and competitiveness of the farm.
Activities
The project was implemented through several phases, each addressing a key component of the farm’s modernisation strategy.
Project Preparation and Planning
- Assessment of the condition and functionality of the existing livestock housing.
- Preparation of project documentation required for building permits and grant applications.
- Development of the concept for the new barn, including feeding systems and manure‑handling technology.
Construction of the New Barn
- Construction of a new livestock building with a capacity of 280 stalls.
- Installation of modern, welfare‑oriented housing equipment (cubicles, ventilation systems, drinking troughs).
- Introduction of feeding technology compatible with self‑loading and self‑mixing feed wagons.
- Installation of robotic milking systems and automated barn management technologies.
Construction of Technical Facilities
- Installation of a pumping tank.
- Construction of a storage tank with a usable capacity of 2 480 m³.
- Connection of the new facilities to the existing farm electrical and water infrastructure.
Commissioning and Training
- Testing and fine‑tuning of robotic milking systems and other technological components.
- Training of staff in the operation, maintenance, and optimisation of the new systems.
- Integration of the new technologies into the farm’s overall management processes.
Main results
- The project delivered a comprehensive modernisation of livestock production at ALA, a.s.
- The construction of the new barn significantly improved dairy cow welfare and enhanced production performance.
- The introduction of robotic milking systems increased milk quality, improved hygiene, and ensured smoother, more reliable daily operations.
- Automated technologies reduced the physical workload for staff and improved time efficiency.
- The new storage and pumping tanks strengthened manure management, generated environmental benefits, and ensured compliance with legal requirements for safe manure storage.
- Modernisation measures reduced energy and fuel consumption, improved feeding efficiency, and supported more effective herd management.
- Better production parameters and lower operating costs have strengthened the overall economic performance of the farm.
- The project has increased the long‑term sustainability of livestock production and reinforced the company’s competitiveness as a major milk producer in the region.
Key lessons
- Thorough project preparation, including the selection of housing systems, feeding and milking technologies, facilities for other animal categories, and integration with existing farm infrastructure, proved essential for successful implementation.
- The choice of construction contractor and technology suppliers had a decisive impact on project quality, timelines, and overall performance.
- The project promoters strongly recommend that future investors visit similar completed projects and discuss both implementation experiences and operational insights to make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
Robotic milking greatly reduces physical work, but its reliability is significantly influenced by the quality of installation and subsequent operational service, as well as the detailed training of operators. The transition to robotic milking means a fundamental change in herd management, with which barn operators must be properly familiarised.