Animal Health in Focus – Partnership Strengthens Research, Education and Veterinary Care

Director Dr. Johann Gasteiner emphasised that the challenges facing livestock farming are becoming increasingly complex. Sustainable, future-oriented solutions can only be developed through close cooperation between research, education and practical application.

The partnership builds on many years of successful collaboration and opens up new opportunities for knowledge transfer, innovation and practice-oriented education. One of its objectives is to make a significant contribution to ensuring comprehensive veterinary care in rural areas.

Vetmeduni Satellite Site at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

A particular milestone is the establishment of a satellite site of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein. This will enable students to gain more intensive exposure to applied agricultural research, the requirements of livestock farming and veterinary practice, as well as large-animal medicine. At the same time, existing research and education partnerships will be further expanded.

Rector Prof. DDr. Matthias Gauly highlighted the importance of attractive educational opportunities in rural areas in order to inspire young veterinarians to pursue careers in livestock medicine at an early stage. The new site at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein represents an important milestone in this regard. Furthermore, the partnership aims to safeguard veterinary care over the long term. Through cooperation with practising veterinarians, students will gain early insights into day-to-day professional practice, while exchanges between science, education and practice will be further strengthened. The partnership builds on numerous successful joint research and educational projects.

Federal Minister of Science Eva-Maria Holzleitner emphasised the benefits of the enhanced collaboration: “Through this partnership, we are bringing veterinary education, research and agricultural practice even closer together. To me, this is cooperation in action rather than parochial thinking: we are building on what already works well and developing it further together with strong regional partners. This is important to ensure that high-quality veterinary care will continue to be available in rural areas in the future.”

Speaking on behalf of Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig, Mag. Christian Kasper of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) described the partnership as a forward-looking model for connecting education, science and practice, as well as for strengthening departmental research. Federal Minister Totschnig also supports measures to safeguard veterinary care in rural areas at other locations, including Tyrol and Upper Austria.

The cooperation at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein plays a particularly important role in this context. Synergies and expertise are being strategically utilised: applied agricultural research is directly linked with education and veterinary practice. In addition, pupils will gain quick and low-threshold access to the work and objectives of Vetmeduni. This will strengthen Austria’s nationwide network of expertise in animal health and sustainable livestock farming.

Regional Councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer underlined the vital importance of comprehensive veterinary care for Styrian agriculture. Healthy animals are the foundation of productive family-run farms and the production of high-quality food. At the same time, animal diseases and emerging pathogens present growing challenges. This makes reliable veterinary support, early disease detection and effective disease-prevention measures all the more important. Animal diseases can pose an existential threat to farms and have far-reaching consequences for the entire value chain. Safeguarding animal health is therefore a key factor in ensuring the future viability of Styrian agriculture.

The Vetmeduni satellite site at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein marks an important step in strengthening Styria as a centre for research and education. Combining scientific expertise, practice-oriented education and applied research opens up new perspectives for animal health and for the education of future veterinarians. At the same time, the partnership makes an important contribution to securing veterinary care in rural areas over the long term and to preparing domestic livestock farming for future challenges.

The joint objectives of Vetmeduni and HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein are to:

• promote innovation;
• rapidly translate research findings into practice;
• further develop veterinary education; and
• provide sustainable support for agricultural businesses.

The enhanced partnership will strategically expand the Austria-wide unique centre of expertise for animal health and sustainable livestock farming at HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, adding further capabilities in research, teaching and veterinary practice.

* Press release HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and Vetmeduni, 28.10.2026

all Photos: HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein