The National Research Institute of Animal Production in Poland (Kraków-Balice), founded in 1950, is the largest institute in the agricultural sector serving the whole country. The Institute is engaged in research and development work, which comprises the breeding of all species of farm animals and the entirety of animal production issues.

This activity is directed at the current and future needs of production of safe food under animal and environmentally friendly conditions as well as the use of farm animals for biomedical purposes. The Institute’s research programme covers 6 areas:

• Genetics and breeding of farm animals
• Development of the methods for biotechnology of reproduction of male and female farm animals
• In situ and ex situ conservation of farm animal genetic resources
• Animal cytogenetics and molecular genetics
• Animal nutrition and feed science
• Technology, ecology and economics of animal production