New breeding manager from Schwandorf: Lukas Irlbacher takes over at RZO!

New breeding manager from Schwandorf: Lukas Irlbacher takes over at RZO!

With a breath of fresh air in dairy cattle breeding: Lukas Irlbacher has been the new state breeding director at the Upper Palatinate Cattle Breeding Association (RZO) since August 1st. The 27-year-old, who comes from the Schwandorf district, takes on important tasks in this key position, such as the planning, implementation and monitoring of dairy cattle breeding in the Upper Palatinate. Christoph Härle, head of department at the State Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism, appointed Irlbacher and underlined the great importance of state breeding managers for dairy cattle breeding in Bavaria. This is particularly relevant in the Upper Palatinate, where the RZO is the second largest association in Bavaria with around 1,900 members.[Central Bavarian]

Irlbacher is already experienced in the industry: Having grown up on a dairy farm and breeding farm, he knows what is important in practice. His father is active on the RZO advisory board, so the topic of breeding is deeply etched in his mind. Helmut Melchner, head of the Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (AELF) Regensburg-Schwandorf, emphasizes the new breeding director's many years of experience. After completing his master's degree in agricultural sciences from the Technical University of Munich, Irlbacher began his legal clerkship in 2022 and completed the state examination in 2024. Before that, he worked as a consultant at the AELF Tirschenreuth-Weiden and also acted as a semester leader and teacher at the Weiden-Almesbach Higher Agricultural School. Irlbacher brings with him a colorful mix of theory and practice that will benefit him in his new role.

Be the successor

He succeeds Thomas Nibler, who was appointed head of the AELF in Cham in May 2025. Melchner was positive about the reappointment and sees Irlbacher as a good choice for this responsible position. The new breeding director will work closely with the Upper Palatinate Cattle Breeding Association, whose chairman Erich Pilhofer leads the association's fortunes. The RZO was created after the merger of the Weiden and Regensburg breeding associations, which significantly increased its clout and influence in the region.

The appointment of Lukas Irlbacher is an important signal for the dairy farmers in the region. You can look forward to a breeding manager who knows the interests of the industry and is committed to modern and sustainable dairy farming. “There’s something going on,” farmers in the Upper Palatinate can rightly imagine. With a new face at the helm of the RZO, many are hoping for fresh impetus that will benefit the dairy industry.

A look outside the box

But exciting things aren't just happening in agriculture. There is also news in the world of entertainment. Did you know that “Iron Man 2” is a real blockbuster? The film, which was released in 2010, is set six months after the events of the first part and shows Tony Stark coming into conflict with Russian scientist Ivan Vanko. Even though critics didn't like the sequel quite as much as its predecessor, it was still a financial success. With over $623 million at the box office, the film has clearly asserted its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe[Wikipedia].

It's currently exciting to see how the market is developing. In both agriculture and the film industry, innovative approaches are required to keep pace with the challenges of the times. While Lukas Irlbacher drives agriculture in the Upper Palatinate, films like “Iron Man 2” contribute to cultural diversity.