Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles
CZECH REPUBLIC
by
Josef Královec
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply
the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city
or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented,
does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of
a similar nature that are not mentioned.
The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of FAO.
All rights reserved. FAO encourages the reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Non-commercial uses will be authorized free of charge, upon request. Reproduction for
resale or other commercial purposes, including educational purposes, may incur fees. Applications
for permission to reproduce or disseminate FAO copyright materials, and all queries concerning
rights and licences, should be addressed by e-mail to [email protected] or to the Chief, Publishing
Policy and Support Branch, Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension, FAO, Viale
delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy.
© FAO 2006
3
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION 5
2. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY 7
3. CLIMATE AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES 8
4. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS 9
4.1 Dairy and beef
9
4. 2 Sheep and goats
10
4.3. Animal health 11
5. THE PASTURE RESOURCE 11
6. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF FODDER RESOURCES 12
7. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONNEL
13
8. REFERENCES 14
9. CONTACTS 14
Appendix 1 15
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
5
1. INTRODUCTION
The Czech Republic, Czechia, lies in the very heart of Europe at the watershed of three seas, which has
predestined it to take the role of a bridge between East and West. Its neighbours include not only the
developed western countries, Germany to the west and Austria to the south, but also countries in process
of transformation, i.e. Poland to the north and Slovakia to the east (see Figure 1).
The Czech Republic is the western part of former Czechoslovakia and consists of three historical
countries: they are Bohemia in the west, Moravia in the east and Silesia in the northeast. The area of the
Czech Republic is 78 866 km2 (21st place in Europe) and it has a population of more than 10 million (12th
place in Europe). According to the World Factbook the population in July 2006 was 10 235 455 with a
growth rate of –0.06%.
A third of the Czech territory (33% is occupied Table 1: Agricultural land use
1989
1993
1997
2000
by forests and more than a half (54%) is agricultural. in
‚000s
of
ha
Table 1 gives an overview of changes in land use
4 296 4 282 4 280 4 280
before and after the Velvet Revolution (November Agricultural land
3 232 3 173 3 091 3 082
1989). The year 1989 was the last year under social- Arable land
of which: cereals
1 670 1 607 1 696 1 647
istic conditions and the year 1993 saw the splitting
oilseeds
110
270
294
409
of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and
Slovakia. The development has been characterized
potatoes
115
77
73
69
by a slight decline in arable land area and by a
sugar beet
127
91
95
61
growing share of permanent grassland. It is a confodder
1 079
962
786
725
sequence of the state subsidy policy, which should Permanent grassland
828
873
953
961
influence the restructuring of Czech agriculture.
of which: meadows
572
610
668
671
The total extent of fallow land is not followed
pastures
256
263
285
290
statistically, but it is estimated (by the Ministry of Hop-gardens
11
11
11
11
Agriculture and by the Ministry of Environment) Vineyards
16
16
16
16
that in 1999 it was around 300 000 ha, mostly on Set aside arable land *
3
32
57
70
less fertile soils situated in hill and foothill areas * set aside arable land means an area which is not cultivated for
where the soils are mostly stony and shallow or wet. different reasons (economical or social) and gives no production.
The share of such land is so far steady but growing Source: Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic
Figure 1. Map of the Czech Republic
© Kartografie Praha
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
6
Table 2: Trends in livestock numbers 1989–2005
1989
1993
1997
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
1 474
1 428
1 397
in ‚000 head
Cattle
3 481
Sheep
430
254
121
84
90
96
103
116
140
Pigs
n.r.
4 599
4 080
3 688
3 594
3 441
3 363
3 127
2 877
96.8
66.3
55.9
52.4
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
Livestock units per 100 ha of agricultural land
2 512
1 866
1 574
1 582
1 520
Source: Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic and FAOSTAT, 2006
n.r.=no record
and this trend will obviously continue due to the declining opportunity of putting agricultural products
on the market and due to lack of money for countryside maintenance. The percentage of ploughed land
has fallen to 72.2%, but this figure is nonetheless among the highest in Europe.
There has been a big decline in livestock numbers since 1989. During the last ten years the number
of cattle fell by more than a half to 41% and for sheep it was even more – to 27% of the 1989 level.
The stocking rate on 100 ha of agricultural land in livestock units fell by almost a half to 52.4 in 2000
(Table 2).
In the late 1980s Czechoslovak agriculture was characterized by maximum concentration on
production, by the attempt to use all agricultural land for intensive production and by relatively
large state subsidies. Large-scale agriculture produced significant surpluses in practically all basic
commodities (which were exported mostly to COMECON countries).
After the Velvet Revolution (1989) and the introduction of democratic conditions, Czech agriculture,
like the whole national economy, found itself at a cross-roads. It was absolutely clear that massive
redistribution, central planning and ownership along the lines of “everyone owns everything and nobody
owns anything” had to be abandoned. Social demand required the acceleration of economic reforms
aiming at a market economy, and the architects of economic reform decided on shock therapy, consisting
of:
• radical liberalization of prices,
• the greatest possible liberalisation of foreign trade,
• rapid privatization, and
• changes in the taxation system.
The transformational changes have had a major effect on both the farm structure and the structure and
dimensions of agricultural production. A part of the reform process was the restoration of the right to own
land and other agricultural property, carried out under the Land Act of 1991 (the so called Restitution
Act). On the basis of the law on property relationships and property claims within cooperatives, passed
in 1992 (the so called Transformation Act), agricultural cooperatives were transformed into private
business. Other companies, and in part also agricultural cooperatives, were formed in the course of 1993
and 1994 within the privatization of state farms. Also the number of private farmers and their share
of agricultural land increased during the whole period of transformation and privatization of Czech
agriculture. The current farm structure is completely different from the pre-transformation one (Table 3).
Another result of the transformation process has been the reduction of the average size of farms
from almost 1 000 ha to 130 ha. While this means that agriculture has lost the comparative advantage
of large-scale integral organization, this development on the other hand confirms the onset of new
trends toward the development of multifunctional farming. Small and middle- Table 3: Farm structure
Proportion in Czech
Average
size farms have become an irreplaceable agriculture
area
element of the Czech countryside and
%
ha
tourists are finding the countryside more
1989
1997
2000
1997
diverse and more attractive.
Private farmers
0.4
25.1
27.5
36
The number of workers in agriculture
Trading companies
35.4
42.2
666
is about 40% of the pre-transformation
61.3
38.7
30.0
1 349
status. Today there is only 1 worker per Cooperatives
38.3
0.8
0.3
864
5 ha of agricultural land. On the other hand State enterprises
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
7
the productivity in agriculture has risen Table 4: Workers in agriculture and gross agricultural
significantly. As expressed in constant output
1989
1993
1997
2000
1989 prices, the gross agricultural in ‚000s of persons
production per worker (work productivity) Workers
Total
in
the
national
5 403
4 848
4 947
4 732
has risen by about 84% (Table 4). Real
economy
wages, however, are still far below the
In agriculture
507
283
232
190
1989 level.
Gross agricultural output in constant 1989 prices (CZK)
The transformation of Czech agriculture
person engaged in
214 202 291 303 326 951 412 288
is still unfinished. The changeover from Per
agriculture
large-scale production oriented towards Per hectare
25 537
19 395
17 946
17 348
other economies, to an agriculture Source: Situation and Prospective Report: Soil. Ministry of Agriculture
fulfilling mainly
extra-production Prague, August 1996 and Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic
functions and securing the development
of the countryside will continue for many years to come. There are unlikely to be further very major
changes in the structure of production in arable areas, but in mountainous and foothill regions it is
absolutely necessary to create conditions for the development of extensive forms of farming, ecological
farms and the ever more popular agro-tourism.
Assistance is provided to agriculture in a number of different ways. First, there are Ministry of
Agriculture direct support programmes. Second, government regulation ensures that farmers are
given financial incentives to maintain the countryside to a cultured standard and to develop functions
of agriculture outside production. This latter type of subsidy is taking up an ever larger share of aid
to agriculture and fully corresponds to the world-wide trend of encouragement for multifunctional
agriculture.
2. SOILS AND TOPOGRAPHY
Geographically, the Czech Republic is situated on the boundary of two different mountain systems. The
state borders are formed by the Šumava, the Bohemian Forest (Ceský les), the Ore Mountains (Krušné
hory), the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše), the Orlické hory, and the Jeseníky. In the centre are the Czech
Highlands (Ceská vysocina) and the Bohemian and Moravian Uplands (Ceskomoravská vrchovina). In
the eastern part of Czechia are the West Carpathians (Západní Karpaty, i.e. the Beskydy and the White
Carpathians - Bílé Karpaty). The outlines of both mentioned mountain systems are filled by valleys, the
most fertile of them being the valleys of the Morava river in Moravia and the valley around the middle
course of the Labe river (Polabská nížina) in Bohemia. The highest place in the country is Snežka
(located in Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) at 1 602 m above sea level), the lowest place (only 115 m above
sea level) is the point where the river Labe leaves the Czech Republic. A third of the Czech territory is
above 500 m.
The borders of Czechia are between the latitudes of 48°33’ and 51°03’ north and the longitudes of
12°05’ and 18° 51’ east. The distance from the western and the most eastern parts is 278 km, likewise
the maximum north–south distance is 493 km.
The Czech Republic has very diverse soils. According to soil genetic and agronomical classification,
they can be divided into five groups. Cambisols represent the prevailing type (40% of total agricultural
land), followed by stagno-gleyic luvisols and cambisols (20%), luvisols (19%), chernozems (11%) and
fluvisols (10%). According to soil maps there are in Czechia 60% of middle heavy soils, 20% light, 15%
heavy and 5% of stony soils.
The most fertile soils can be found in lowlands along the big rivers (the lower part of the Labe river
in Bohemia and the Morava iver in Moravia). On the other hand, the worst (shallow and stony) soils are
in higher elevations.
8
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
3. CLIMATE AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES
The climate of the Czech Republic is formed by mutual penetration and blending of oceanic and
continental effects. The westerly flow is characteristic of the described region as well as intensive
cyclonic activity, which causes frequent exchange of air masses with a great deal of precipitation. The
maritime influence is more obvious in Bohemia, while in Moravia the continental climate is more
marked. The climate is strongly affected by the altitude and by relief. Some 52 817 km2, i.e. 67%, of the
Czech Republic is below 500 m.
The average annual air temperature varies between 6 and 9 °C and the average annual sum of
precipitation between 400 and 700 mm, however with a big fluctuation in individual years.
The state territory is divided into 10 climatic regions (Table 5), described by several criteria (sum of
temperatures above 10 °C, moisture security, average annual temperature and average annual precipitation
- all these criteria are assigned on average for each of the last fifty years of meteorological observation).
Production conditions and
exploitation of agricultural land Table 5: Climatic regions
from the viewpoint of soil and Region
Symbol
Moisture
Average
Average
security
annual air
annual
climatic conditions (irrespective of
temperature precipitation
o
c
mm
administrative borders) are charVT
0–3
9–10
200–600
acterized by the means of agricul- Very warm, dry
tural production areas. This cate- Warm, dry
T1
0–2
8–9
less than 500
gorization of the territory is useful Warm, softly dry
T2
2–4
4–8
500–600
for economics and statistics and Warm, softly moist
T3
4–7
7–9
550–700
also for measures of the state and Softly warm, dry
MT1
0–4
7–8
450–550
regional agricultural policy. The Softly warm, moist
MT2
4–10
7–8
550–700
new framework of the agricultural Softly warm, moist,
MT3
more than 10
7–8
700–900
production areas was created in lowland
MT4
more than 10
6–7
650–750
1996 on the basis of evaluation of Softly warm, moist,
upland
agricultural soils and consists of
Softly cold, moist
MCH
more than 10
5–6
700–800
five agricultural production areas
CH
more than 10
less than 5
more than 800
and 21 subregions (Table 6 and Cold, moist
Figure 2).
Figure 2. Agricultural land production areas in the Czech Republic
(With the kind permission of the Research Institute for Agricultural Economy, Prague)
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
9
Table 6: Definition of agricultural production areas
Production
area
Characteristics
Share (%)
Maize
Production of maize, sugar beet and cereals; hot and dry climate with very fertile soils; elevation
to 250 m above sea level, percentage of ploughed land 80–90%,
Beet
Production of sugar beet and cereals; warm climate and fertile soils; elevation up to 350 m
above sea level, percentage of ploughed land 80–90%
24 Cereals
Production of cereals; slightly warm and slightly wet climate and medium fertile soils; elevation
300–600 m above sea level, percentage of ploughed land 60–80%
41 Potato
Production of potatoes and cereals; slightly warm to slightly cold and wet climate; medium and
less fertile soils; elevation 400–600 m above sea level, percentage of ploughed land 60–80%
18 Grass
Fodder production with emphasis on cattle; cold and damp climate with less fertile soils;
elevation over 600 m, percentage of ploughed land under 50%
10
7 Source: Situation and Prospective Report: Soil. Ministry of Agriculture Prague, August 1996
Table 7: Agricultural land according to production areas
Status on 1.1.1996
Agricultural land
Production area
Arable land
Permanent cultures
In ‚000s of ha
Maize
Grassland
Percentage
287
85.4
10.8
3.8
Sugar-beet
1 042
86.8
6.6
6.5
Cereals
1 734
71.1
5.6
23.2
Potato
186
74.8
2.9
22.2
Grass
426
39.7
3.4
56.9
4 280
73.4
5.5
21.1
Total
Source: Situation and Prospective Report: Soil. Ministry of Agriculture Prague, August 1996
Table 7 shows the share of crops in individual agricultural production areas. Most grassland is in the
fodder production area where cattle and sheep grazing prevails.
4. RUMINANT LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
4.1 Dairy and beef
Changes in both state subsidy policy and consumer demand have together led to a major fall in the
production of milk and beef.
On the basis of the long-term programme of development and support of cattle rearing, the
restructuring of the herd continued. Dairy breeds prevailed (87%). The most widespread race remains
the Czech Spotted Cattle (52%) which are kept for combined milk and meat. The second most important
race is Holstein with its distinct dairy use (40%). Other breeds make up the remaining 8%.
Most of the cattle population in Czechia in 2000 was dairy breeds kept under large-scale conditions of
the agricultural cooperatives and trading companies. The supply and accessibility of modern technologies
improved the conditions for introducing free housing systems for dairy cows. According to the estimates
of the Ministry of Agriculture the share of this housing reached about 60% in 2000.
Table 8: Dairy
1989
1993
1997
2000
2001*
2002*
2003*
2004*
2005*
Dairy cows
in ‚000 head
1 248
830
702
615
483
477
459
433
439
Yield
litres/cow/year
3 982
3 824
4 366
5 255
5 762
5 720
5 764
5 983
6 062
Milk production
millions of litres
4 893.0
3 350.9
2 703.0
2 708.1
2 782.9
2 728.6
2 645.7
2 602.4
2 661.0
Consumption
kg/person/year
91.4
75.2
59.6
59.6
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
n.r.
Source: Situation and Prospective Report: Milk. Ministry of Agriculture, Prague, December 2001 and Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic.
*Date for 2001-2005 from FAOSTAT, 2006
n.r.=no record
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
10
Table 9: Beef
In the last ten years, herds of dairy
1997
2000
1989
1993
cows have been reduced by more than
Cows without
in ‚000 head
47
67
50%. Despite direct subsidies and in
market production
spite of the moderate improvement of
Beef production
524.5 390.3 293.6 208.0
the producer’s position in the market,
Supply
in ‚000s of
518.5 390.3 306.5 227.6
the decline of dairy cow numbers
tonnes
continued in 2000 under the influence
Consumption
kg/person/year
30.0
19.8
16.1
10.9
of the continuing unprofitability of
Source: Situation and Prospective Report: Beef and Pork. Ministry of Agriculture,
Prague, August 2001
milk production. On the other hand
there is a basic improvement in yield,
which today is around an average of more than 5 000 kg of milk/cow/year and is therefore already
comparable with that of some EU states.
The increase in yield is the result of the effect of targeted subsidies for dairy farming and the continual
improvement in the genetic work of breeders. Unfortunately it has not yet proved possible to increase the
consumption of milk and dairy products significantly, so it is necessary to export some of the production.
The share of exported milk products in 2000 was almost 24%.
The restructuring of beef farming in the direction of a higher proportion of beef breeds is underway with
a significant impetus provided by subsidy policy. Currently there are 70 000 cows in the Czech Republic not
involved in market milk production and it is anticipated that this number will continue to rise.
There are 12 specialized breeds kept for production of quality beef. The most important among
them are Simmental, Charolais and Aberdeen Angus, followed by Hereford, Limousin, Piemont,
Salers, Aquitaine, Galloway and Highland. The number of beef cattle continues to grow, especially
in less favourable areas. Conformable with the long-term perspective in cattle rearing development,
grazing was supported as well as the number of cows without market milk production with the target to
increase the beef production. Thus the production of quality beef and the maintenance of the countryside
are solved at the same time. Simultaneously the production of organic meat increased to restore the
consumers’ confidence.
Beef cattle are kept at pasture during the growing season, some of them throughout the year, mainly
by private farmers. Beef cattle and the cows without market milk production form 13% of the whole
cattle population. There are more than 80 000 cows without market milk production and beef cows.
Pure-bred beef cattle number more than 15 000 (19% of the whole population). The average daily gain
was 0.76 kg by calves, 0.65 kg by heifers and 0.88 kg by fattened bulls.
Home grown beef on the Czech market decreased gradually owing to falling cattle numbers during
past years so that it was necessary to import. Nevertheless beef consumption is decreasing all the time
and in 2000 it fell below 13 kg per person per year. The reason also lies in changes in consumer demands:
some consumers have replaced beef in their diets with the cheaper pork while others have moved from
red to white meats. A similar declining trend in beef consumption can be observed abroad, too.
Today the market for beef seems to be almost in equilibrium. The introduction of obligatory
classification of abattoir-processed carcasses using SEUROP norms since 2001 will provide a further
motivation for the expansion of the breeding of beef cattle. This measure should lead to a desirable price
differentiation of beef according to quality.
4. 2 Sheep and goats
The sheep (and in much smaller numbers also goats) have their uses in Czechia, namely for maintaining
the amenity value of the countryside. The main product - lamb - which is one of a few commodities
exported to the EU - countries, is also very important.
Table 10: Sheep and goats
1989
1993
1997
2000
Sheep
399
254
121
84
Goats
41
45
38
32
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
90
96
103
116
140
28.5
13.6
12.8
11.9
12.6
in ‚000 head
Source: Situation and Prospective Report - Sheep and Goats. Ministry of Agriculture, Prague, December 2000 and FAOSTAT 2006
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
11
Sheep rearing is going through big changes both in structure and economics. All these changes have
negatively influenced results. The sharp fall of wool prices in 1991 caused a big decrease in sheep
numbers (the share of sheep for wool production was almost 63%). Since 1995 the main product is lamb.
Dual purpose breeds are preferred now: in 2000, 67% dual purpose were kept and 30% for lamb. Sheep
are kept first of all for quality lamb and for grazing grassland mainly in fodder production areas. Almost
80% of sheep rearers have small herds up to 10 head, mostly for domestic use and only about 30% goes
through slaughter to the market.
Sheep numbers are still decreasing, so the goal of subsidiary programmes is to boost the number
of sheep, firstly by merging and extending flocks with a bigger number of sheep, secondly by lamb
production for the local and foreign demand. A part of the systematic approach is the optimizing of
pastures and the management of grazing areas to increase herbage production and to maintain the
amenity value of the countryside. In 1998, the government programme (focused on sheep breeding in
uplands) began, but its effects are not yet evident. The end of reduction of flocks can be expected in the
coming years and since 2000 numbers have slowly begun to increase again.
Goat numbers fell in the five years from 1995 to 2000 by about 30% and then halved again from
2000 to 2004. No increase is expected and the only change will consist of preferences for large flocks
instead of individual stock raising and in the expansion of the meat breed, especially the one appropriate
for joint grazing with cattle and sheep.
4.3. Animal health
According to data provided by the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic, which is
responsible for animal health and welfare, the health status is quite satisfactory. The Czech Republic is
officially free of bovine brucellosis (since 1964), bovine tuberculosis (since 1967) and enzootic bovine
leukosis (since 1996). The last occurrence of foot and mouth disease was in 1975. On the other hand,
two cases of BSE were found in 2001. All slaughtered beef is examined for this disease.
5. THE PASTURE RESOURCE
It is difficult to give an overview on grassland in the Czech Republic because of the lack of information
and the dearth of statistics.
Rychnovská et al. (1985) define meadows and pastures phytocenologically as plant associations and
divide them according to moisture conditions into five grassland types. However, they differ very much
in their productivity and fodder quality. Three of these types can be characterized by extreme conditions
(stands on very wet or swampy or inundated localities with predominance of Carex spp., then dry places
belonging to Nardus stricta communities, and xerophytic stands of Bromus type). These are without
any economical importance and can be evaluated only from the point of view of their ecological – nonproductive – functions. It is estimated they make up approximately 30% of all grassland.
Grassland belonging to the phytocenological order of Molinio-Arrhenatheretea is most often used. It
can be divided into two parts: Molinietalia and Arrhenatheretea. The productivity of Molinietalia depends
on the local moisture conditions and management (both influencing the botanical composition). On light
soils the stands are created mainly by Alopecurus pratensis, Festuca pratensis and Holcus lanatus and
on heavier soils Deschampsia caespitosa prevails. The meadows and pastures of Arrhenatheretea could
be divided into regularly double-cut meadows with a big share of cultural grass and clover species like
Arrhenatherum elatius, Festuca pratensis, Festuca rubra, Dactylis glomerata and Alopecurus pratensis
or productive pastures with Lolium perenne, Cynosurus cristatus, Poa pratensis, Phleum pratense,
Trifolium repens and on less fertile soils with Agrostis tenuis, Festuca rubra, Anthoxanthun odoratum
or Briza media.
Animal production in lowlands - where most cattle are kept in stables under large scale conditions - is
based on fodder from arable land. Grassland offers only a small amount of hay in these areas because
of their small acreage. They are situated mostly around rivers and brooks and are not suitable for
mechanized harvesting. That is why almost a quarter of arable land is under fodder crops (in 1989 it was
12
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
a third). In the growing period feeding Table 11: Development of hay production
1989
1993
1997
2000
consists of fresh fodder, while in winter it is based on silage or haylage (mainly) tonnes/ha
from maize.
Meadows
5.35
3.34
3.67
2.95
There is more grassland at higher Pastures
3.48
2.18
2.54
2.15
altitudes. The meadows there serve for Fodder on arable land
7.56
6.72
6.26
5.66
hay but the production is very often not Source: Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic
exploited at all because there is no need
of fodder. Very important is however maintaining of the countryside and that is why grazing beef cattle
(and sheep) in these areas is supported by state subsidies. Under local conditions continuous grazing
prevails, which is a cheap way of grassland management.
Despite the subsidies, the productivity of grassland is falling from year to year as a result of lack of
fertilizers. Farmers use less fertilizers overall and almost none on grassland because of their high prices.
This is shown by the decreasing yields of fodder even from arable land. Fertilizer consumption dropped
from 217.8 kg pure nutrients per ha in 1989/90 to 88.4 kg in 1999/2000 and it is clear that almost all of
it is used on cereals (and oil seeds) which bring immediate profit to the farmers. Another consequence
is the fall in soil nutrient supply which is evident from the results of regular soil checking provided by
the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ).
6. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF FODDER
RESOURCES
Under existing conditions there is no need to improve pasture resources. In the near future, there is
no chance for better utilization of grassland, either, mainly in marginal and hilly areas. In the struggle
to maintain the countryside, state subsidies for grazing and rearing of cattle and sheep are given by
Ministry of Agriculture and partly even by the Ministry of Environment.
A suitable alternative to the conventional agriculture and a new opportunity for farmers is organic
agriculture. Areas which are managed in this way are increasing rapidly: at the end of 2000 some 563
farms were registered with more than 166 000 ha (3.9% of all agricultural land) in this system. In
organically managed farms grassland prevails (90%) and only 10% is arable land. Beef from these farms
(“bio-beef”) is sold nowadays even in supermarkets.
Provided the conditions in Czech agriculture improve, the farmers have enough knowledge and
material possibilities to improve their pasture resources. An example of this is seed. According to the
Act No 92/1996 Coll., on plant varieties, seed and planting material of cultivated plants, the State Variety
Book of the Czech Republic is issued. It is the National List of all plant cultivars registered by reaching
the requirements from the above quoted Act. There are 98 cultivars of 19 grass species and 66 cultivars
of legume species listed in this book to the date of 1 July 2001. This book is regularly published by the
Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ). The overview of the grass and
legume species and their cultivars in Czechia can be found in Appendix 1. only grass species intended
for fodder are given there, none for lawns.
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
13
7. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND
PERSONNEL
Czech Agricultural University Prague,
Dept. of Fodder Crops
CZ 160 21 Praha 6 Suchdol
Tel. +420.2.24383036
Fax. +420.2.20921639
Doc. Dr. Jaromír ŠANTRuCEK
Head of Department
Mendel University of Agriculture and
Forestry Brno
Dept. for Fodder Crops
Zemedelská 1
CZ 613 00 BRNO
Tel. +420.5.45133074
Fax +420.5.45133075
Prof. Dr. František HRABE
Head of Department
Agricultural Faculty of the South of
Bohemia University
Dept. of Fodder Crops
Studentská 13
CZ 370 05
CESKÉ BUDEJOVICE
Tel. +420.38.7772456
Doc. Dr. František KLIMEŠ
Head of Department
Research Institute of Crop Production
Prague - Ruzyne
Grassland Research Station Liberec
Rolnická 6
CZ 460 01 LIBEREC
Tel. +420.48.5103793
Fax. +420.48.5103718
e-mail:
[email protected]
Dr. Josef FIALA
Manager in Office
Research Institute of Crop Production
Prague - Ruzyne
Grassland Research Station Jevícko
K. H. Borovského 461
CZ 569 43 JEVÍCKO
Tel. 00420.462.327814
e-mail:
[email protected]
Dr. Alois KOHOUTEK
Manager in Office
14
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
8. REFERENCES
Agriculture and agricultural cooperatives in the Czech Republic. Published by the Association of Agricultural
Cooperatives and Companies of the Czech Republic, 1997 (in Czech).
Green Reports of Czech Agriculture (in Czech).
Landwirtschaft in mittel- und osteuropäischen Ländern. Potenziale und deren Ausnutzung. Proceedings from
the 113th Congress of VDLUFA, Berlin 2001 (in German).
Rychnovska, M. et al., 1985. Ekologie travních porostu (Ecology of Grassland). Academia Praha (in Czech).
Situation and Prospective Reports issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Prague (in
Czech).
State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic, leaflet (in Czech).
Statistical Yearbooks of the Czech Republic (in Czech and English).
9. CONTACTS
This profile was prepared by Josef Královec in November 2001. He is a grassland expert of the Central
Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture BRNO Agrochemistry, Soil and Plant Nutrition
Department PLZEN and can be contacted at:
(Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture BRNO
Agrochemistry, Soil and Plant Nutrition Department PLZEN)
Grassland Research Station Závišín
P.O.Box 141
CZ 353 21 MARIÁNSKÉ LÁZNE 1
Czech Republic.
Tel.: +420.602.949371
e-mail: [email protected]
[The profile was lightly edited by J.M. Suttie and S.G. Reynolds in December 2001 and livestock figures
were modified by S.G. Reynolds in November 2002 and October 2006.]
Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profile
15
Appendix 1
Table 1: Species and cultivars of grasses registered in the Czech Republic
Number of registerted
cultivars
Czech cultivars
Foreign cultivars
Phleum pratense
6
3
3
Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum
8
6
2
Lolium multiflorum var. westerwoldicum
4
2
2
Lolium multiflorum x Festuca pratensis
1
1
Lolium multiflorum x Festuca arundinacea
5
5
Lolium perenne
34
9
25
Festuca rubra
6
4
2
Festruca pratensis
9
3
6
Festuca arundinacea
2
1
1
Poa palustris
1
1
Poa pratensis
3
1
2
Arrhenatherum elatius
2
2
Alopecurus pratensis
2
1
1
Phalaris canarensis
1
1
Agrostis gigantea
1
1
Dactylis polygama
1
1
Dactylis glomerata
9
7
2
Bromus catharicus
1
1
Trisetum flavescens
2
2
Source: National List of Varieties inscripted in the State Variety Book of the Czech Republic by 1 July 2001. ÚKZÚZ Brno (Central Institute
for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture), 2001
Table 2: Species and cultivars of legumes registered in the Czech Republic
Number of registerted
cultivars
Czech cultivars
Foreign cultivars
22
18
4
Trifolium incarnatum
1
1
Trifolium repens
17
9
8
Trifolium hybridum
3
2
1
Lotus corniculatus
3
2
1
Medicago sativa
15
9
6
Coronilla varia
1
1
Melilotus albus
2
2
Onobrychis viciifolia
1
1
Medicago lupulina
1
1
Trifolium pratense
Source: National List of Varieties inscripted in the State Variety Book of the Czech Republic by 1 July 2001. ÚKZÚZ Brno (Central Institute
for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture), 2001