National Science Program "Intelligent Animal Husbandry".

This Bulgarian National Science Program "Intelligent Animal Husbandry" which is aimed for the period from the year 2021 until the year 2024 recognizes that the European Commission's digital single market strategy is aimed at open science and open access to scientific results. It aims for European science, agrarian industry and public administration to have state-of-the-art means and scientific infrastructure for the development of intelligent animal husbandry. As a result of this national scientific program, livestock breeders will be provided with innovative methods and tools for intelligent and efficient animal husbandry with reduced human resources and reduced environmental impact. Researchers and breeders will have easy and controlled online access to funds, resources and collaboration tools, and high-performance information and communication technologies will be provided for computing, connectivity, data storage and access to virtual research ecosystems and client networks. The major objectives of the program are meeting the need to upgrade existing knowledge, create new knowledge and introduce innovative modern practices that will ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of livestock breeders and the opportunity to exchange experience, knowledge and development of scientists and specialists engaged in the field of Bulgarian animal husbandry: - Reduction of the human factor in animal husbandry; - Genetic improvement of herds; - Balanced feeding of animals with the aim of reduced emissions (of ammonia and methane) and high quality of meat and milk; - Intelligent waste management; - Monitoring of animal health and welfare; - Robotization and automation of technological operations in animal husbandry; - Open science and providing public access to scientific results; - Digitization of science and animal husbandry; - Digitization of education and creation of new educational resources in the field of animal husbandry, based on the results of scientific research; - Sustainable management of pastures and meadows.
Expected results are listed as follows: consolidated scientific society with critical scientific capacity for digital transition in animal husbandry avoiding duplication of research costs and human resources; developed scientific methodology, systems and tools for modeling and simulating the main processes in animal husbandry: breeding, feeding, milking and cleaning in animal husbandry, monitoring the physiological state of animals, the impact on the climate, the environment, etc; applied methodology for genetics and reproduction in animal husbandry, developed within the framework of the "REPROBIOTECH" NGO; attracting private investment for scientific research in animal husbandry; a consolidated scientific society in intelligent animal husbandry with the capacity to develop innovations and increase the efficiency of animal husbandry; developed platform for open science and open access to research results in animal husbandry and its application for development of distance learning platform and environment; ensured equal access to open educational resources through new digital technologies in education; developed pilot projects for automation and robotization of livestock operations; a developed system for continuous monitoring of the physiological state of animals, conditions of the breeding environment, detection of biological pollution, etc; developed policies for intelligent animal husbandry.