A scientific and practical center for breeding livestock and milk production has been built in the Vitebsk region, which has no analogues in Belarus and Russia

The fully robotic farm of the MazolovoGaz branch of the VitebskGaz Production Department will allow the farm to increase labor productivity and product quality, reduce costs and the influence of the human factor. It houses 400 cows, half of which are a milking herd. All cows are of the Holstein breed, some of them produce 60 liters of milk per day. Thanks to the presence of a prophylactic ward under one roof, it was possible to organize a closed cycle of milk and meat production.

The Scientific and Practical Center is a real paradise for cattle. Here, they are kept loose: the animals decide for themselves whether to eat or rest, go for milking or to the scratching brush. Climate control: fans are installed under the ceiling, and the windows in the room open and close automatically. Regular listening to classical music and falling asleep under the rays of calming ultraviolet light. Absence of stress: no tractor drives around, therefore, there is no noise and exhaust fumes. Photos of the most productive cows are displayed on a kind of honor board.

— The main advantage of the farm is that the robot replaces a dozen livestock breeders, performing all types of work, from feeding to manure removal, — said Konstantin Pochepko, Deputy General Director of PRUP "Vitebskoblgaz". — It is enough for a person to put silage, straw, and haylage into the container, the so-called "kitchen", determine how much feed each cow needs, and enter the data into the computer. The robot will do the rest.

In terms of technology, the robot is much better than a feed dispenser. For example, if the "Khozyain" (Master) is capable of feeding livestock 3-4 times a day, then the automatic machine can do it 12 times. Therefore, even in summer, it will be possible to comply with the standards that require six-time feeding of animals at 25-27 degrees Celsius to ensure their high productivity. In addition, there is no need for separate mechanisms or hands to push feed to the feeders, this function is provided in the settings of the smart machine.

The ability to individually feed different groups of animals is no less important. For example, cows with high milk yields have one diet, young replacement stock have another, and calving cows have a third. And the robot is capable of providing all this variety in one pass through the farm.

One mechatronics technician is enough to manage all processes. Less maintenance personnel are required than on a conventional farm (eight people instead of thirteen), and consequently, the salary is higher — from 6 million rubles. It has become easier for zootechnicians and veterinarians to work. Modern equipment helps to detect diseases at early stages, which allows preserving highly productive animals.

High-quality organic fertilizer is obtained from cow waste, which, in the challenging climatic conditions of the Vitebsk region, helps plants better tolerate drought and heavy rains. Due to the fact that manure is promptly removed by the robot and then transported to a special site, it is possible to avoid moisture getting into it, thus preserving its quality.

The NPC in "Mazolovogaz" is unique, but not the only place where gas workers have entrusted mechanisms with the care of cattle. The farm has 16 milking robots, the first of which appeared in 2009. They have more than paid for the invested funds. The head of SHP "Mazolovogaz" Denis Glushakov is confident that economic success in rural areas can only be achieved by moving away from manual labor.

— The future belongs to technologies and a scientific approach to animal husbandry, — he is sure. — Automated systems help to avoid risks associated with the human factor, therefore, the robotization of production is one of the ways to attract specialists to rural areas, guaranteeing good living conditions and salary.

Oleg Shvedov, "Vitebskiye Vesti"

For reference

SHP Branch "Mazolovogaz" of PU "Vitebskgaz" — 5.3 thousand hectares of total land area, including about 4.3 thousand hectares for agricultural purposes.

The main activities include milk production and crop cultivation. Winter cereals (wheat, triticale), rapeseed, and corn (for grain and green mass), as well as perennial and annual grasses (for fodder and green mass) are grown here. The farm hosts the cattle-breeding farms (MTF) "Kalinovo", "Mazolovo", "Buyany", "Sokolniki", and the large cattle complex (MTK) "Mazolovo".