How to make animal husbandry in the Vitebsk region consistently successful? Discussed at a regional seminar
The time for the green harvest is an opportunity to work for the future. And now it is extremely important for the villagers of the Vitebsk region not to miss this chance, to mobilize all forces.
It is obvious: if there are quality feeds, there will be milk, and with it, profit. But despite the fact that the Vitebsk region showed positive dynamics in milk production in May, the economy of many farms in the region is incurring losses. This was discussed at the regional training seminar on fodder harvesting, held in the Orsha district. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, senior officials of the regional executive committee, first deputy chairmen of district executive committees, deputy directors for agriculture of integration structures, and scientists took part in it.
Preventing a drop in milk production and restoring livestock numbers are the most important tasks, the fulfillment of which was demanded from the district leadership by Ivan Fyodorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee.
"We need to get to work immediately to have feed," emphasized the head of the committee. "Only by adhering to the technology of working with livestock, feed, and pastures can stable results in animal husbandry be achieved, and consequently, the economy of the regions be developed."
Vladimir Mashero, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, drew the attention of those present to the new technological regulations for fodder harvesting. He also focused on the issues of undersowing and establishing long-term multi-component pastures.
"It is unacceptable that about 30% of cattle are currently grazing on poorly prepared pastures," stated Vladimir Alexandrovich. "What quality and quantity of milk can we talk about then? We need to do everything possible to prevent a decrease in milk volumes. First of all, provide animals with sufficient water and salt, and move them to pastures with a predominant legume component in a timely manner."
– Take the culling of animals under the strictest control, – demanded the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee. – The districts are also failing in insemination. The offspring is even below last year's level by 100 heads. Why are we missing this point? A decrease in cows, a decrease in calves, a decrease in milk. What foundation are we preparing for next year?
The Head of the Main Department for Intensification of Livestock Production of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Nataliya Sonich, emphasized that the level of livestock production determines the financial condition of agricultural enterprises.
– In April, Vitebsk region was lagging behind, in May we already moved to positive dynamics, – she noted.
Nataliya Sonich drew the attention of the seminar participants to the clear implementation of the instructions for fodder harvesting.
The importance of complete feeding of cattle was discussed by the Associate Professor of the Department of Feeding of Agricultural Animals of the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine, Nikolay Razumovsky.
– 50% of success in obtaining milk is quality fodder, – he stated. – What do we have today? The protein content in fodder is 10-12%, while a cow needs 15-17%. With this level of protein, we will not get milk. For normal reproduction and milk quality, we need to have first-class fodder, not third-class. And then we add the missing elements with concentrates, thereby tripling the cost of milk. That's the whole economy.
Nikolay Razumovsky dwelled on how to properly store fodder, noting the importance of salt treatment to prevent damage to the upper layer of silage mass.
The seminar-training also touched upon the issue of building silage trenches, where the Dubrovno district is setting the trend this year.
The organization of fodder harvesting was demonstrated to the seminar participants using the example of OJSC "Mayak-Vysokoe" of the Orsha district. Here, during the practical part of the event, scientists told those present about ways to increase the productivity of fodder fields in the Vitebsk region, depending on the phase of grass maturation and fodder harvesting conditions.
During the seminar, participants were introduced to the adaptive technology for cultivating intermediate crops for autumn harvesting and ensiling in stretch film.
When demonstrating advanced forage harvesting equipment, requirements for the harvested "green mass" were discussed. The quality of silage ensiling in the trench (monitoring temperature, humidity, compaction, and covering) was examined at the MTP in Maly Babino (OJSC "Mayak-Vysokoye").
Summing up the training seminar, Ivan Fyodorov once again emphasized the need for a clear, well-thought-out analysis of each link in the technological chain.
Text and photos by Olga LEBEDEVA, "Vitebskiye vesti".