Agricultural Institute for Cattle

Introducing the Sano Agrar Institute for Cattle

The Sano Agrar Institute for Cattle, the Hungarian Solum AG, is located in northwestern Hungary, just under an hour’s drive west of Budapest. In direct proximity to the Hungarian Sano mineral and compound feed plant, a total of around 2,400 dairy cows and their female replacements are kept across two sites.

Other areas of the company include crop production, potato storage and packaging, as well as packaging material production. Overall, the farm employs 235 staff members.

Luftaufnahme des Sano Agrar Instituts Rind, die ungarische Solum AG

Farm Overview

Business Divisions

  • Dairy Production
  • Forage Production
  • Potato Cultivation
  • Packaging
  • Crop Production

Animal Stock

  • 2,600 dairy cows
  • 3,000 calves and heifers
  • Annual milk yield per cow: >14,000 kg

Two Operating Sites with Dairy Production

  • Sano Agrar Institut Csém (1.400 Kühe)
  • Sano Agrar Institut Komárom (1.200 Kühe)

Barns

  • Maximum animal comfort
  • Climate-controlled barns
  • Cleaning via flushing system
  • Low emissions
  • Excellent air quality
  • Digital data collection and smart software solutions

Agricultural Land

3,100 ha of cultivated land, including:

  • 1,750 ha forage production
  • 1,000 ha crop production
  • 350 ha potato cultivation

Completed 305-Day Milk Yield per Year

  Sano Agrar Institute Komárom Sano Agrar Institute Csém
2019 13,025 kg* 13,384 kg*
2020 13,216 kg* 13,767 kg*
2021 14,173 kg** 13,956 kg**
2022 15,025 kg* 14,326 kg*
2023 14,500 kg* 14,643 kg*

Source: *Holstein Friesian Breeders Association, **Riska

Innovations for Practice and Profitability

Since 2020, the farm has been part of the Sano Group and is being developed as a global competence centre for modern dairy production. Through partnerships and innovative, practical concepts, as well as digitalisation—such as with SmartDairyNutrition (SDN)—Sano drives agriculture forward. The Sano Agrar Institute for Cattle operates independently from an economic standpoint to evaluate the entire production process comprehensively and efficiently.

Portrait von Sascha Kiekbusch, Leiter Tierproduktion Landwirtschaftsbetrieb Griepentrog KG
Sascha Kiekbusch

Head of Animal Production, Griepentrog KG Farm, 1,580 Dairy Cows plus Replacements, Germany

„The quality of the basic feed on the farms in Hungary is exemplary. Various control points during the harvest process ensure both quality and performance."

Innovative Top-Class Cattle Farming

The Hungarian Solum AG, part of the Sano Group, is a flagship operation with two dairy farm sites, achieving over 14,000 kg of milk per cow per year. The farm keeps 2,400 dairy cows and operates crop production, potato processing, and packaging material production. Modern barns with the highest standards in animal welfare and technology, such as flushing systems and cooling, provide optimal comfort. Intensive calf rearing and exclusive in-house replacements ensure the herd’s performance. The farm employs 235 staff members and is located near Budapest.

July 2020

The Hungarian Solum AG becomes part of the Sano Group

December 2020

Commissioning of New Transit Barn at SAI Komárom (150 Places)

March 2021

Commissioning of New Calf Barn at SAI Komárom (340 Places)

September 2021

Completion of New Drive-Over Silage Facility (65,000 m³) at SAI Komárom

October 2021

Completion of New Compound Feed Silos (15 × 22 m³) at SAI Komárom

July 2022

Commissioning of New Heifer Barn at SAI Komárom (400 Places)

July 2023

Commissioning of Third Free-Stall Barn for Dairy Cows and Dry Cows at SAI Komárom (400 Places)

May 2024

Commissioning of New Free-Stall Barns for Dairy Cows (2 × 600 Places) with Milking Centre (2 × 24 Side-by-Side) at SAI Csém

Precision Farming Beyond the Barn

Solum AG manages a total of around 3,100 hectares of agricultural land, of which 1,300 hectares can be irrigated. 1,750 hectares are used for forage production.

In addition to maize silage as the main fodder crop, green rye, triticale, and Sudan grass are also grown for silage. On approximately 350 hectares in Komárom, potatoes are cultivated, the farm’s most important cash crop. From storage to cleaning and packaging into retail units, the farm covers the entire production chain and is one of the largest potato producers and suppliers in Hungary.

The entire field operations of the Sano Agrar Institute are carried out with in-house machinery. This allows maximum flexibility and ensures the best possible forage quality even in narrow harvest windows. Here too, the farm relies on state-of-the-art technology and precision farming, with field-specific management and nutrient application.

Ein Mann kniet vor einer aufgeschütteten Silage
Visit Our Sano Agrar Institutes

Transparency is especially important to us. We are happy to open our doors and show what modern agriculture looks like today, under the principles of digitalisation and animal welfare.

The farms also serve as training and continuing education centres for herd managers, farmers, veterinarians, and students from Hungary and around the world. We also look forward to your visit!