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Extension Services for Quality Milk Production
Proceedings of an International Workshop in conjunction with the East-West-Forum
of the Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry
and the "Window of German Animal Breeding" at the International Green Week
24-25 January, 1999
Cattle in Belorus
I.P. Sheyko - Agricultural Academy of Belorus
Cattle breeding is one of the most important branches in Belorussian
agriculture. It covers almost two thirds of the gross value of animal production.
Cattle are reared everywhere in the Republic owing to favourable conditions
(mild climate, large areas of pastures and grassland which consists 30
% of arable lands). Unfortunately after the Chernobyl accident the area
of arable lands has decreased by 20 % and it comprises now 7.8 mln. ha.
State-owned farms are the main producers and suppliers of animal products
to the domestic and external markets as they produce about 60 % of milk
and 92 % of beef.
However during the last 8 years the productivity of cattle has significantly
decreased owing to the general economic crisis. Besides our agriculture
endured two cruel droughts in 1992 and 1994 which led to a drastic reduction
in feed stock and in cattle number.
In 1990 milk productivity of cows on the state farms was 3 220 kg per
lactation. The levels of milk production and milk consumption were 726
and 421 kg per capita, respectively.
In 1998 milk production in the Republic was somewhat stabilised despite
of unfavourable climatic conditions (excess of rains) and economic difficulties
(deficiency of current capital) when compared to previous years. The gross
milk yield has been increased by 4 % and reached 3 186 700 t, the average
milk productivity was 2 485 kg per lactation. Genetic potential of cows
being realised only by 60 %. It should be mentioned that milk productivity
of cows on breeding farms was more than 6 000 kg with fat content of 3.8
%.
New standards of milk quality have been implemented in the Republic
since 1998 with higher demands on the bacterial count (no more than 3x10
/cm), somatic cell count (no more than 500 000/ml), acidity (no less than
1 028 kg/m at 20 °C). They gave a more precise definition to the tolerable
levels of toxic elements in it (lead, arsenic, copper, mercury, zinc, pesticides
and radioactive elements). The fat content remained the same (3.4 %) as
there are no valuable prerequisitions for realising genetic potential of
milk fat (3.7 %).
In recent years some steps have been undertaken to supply milk producers
with better milking and refrigerating equipment which is partly purchased
in Germany. Some new detergents and disinfectants of milking equipment
have been put into practice. Lately milk purchasing prices have been differentiated
according to its quality. Thanks to the support of ADT (Germany) two Milk
Control Laboratories have been set up in the Republic. One of them, Brest
Regional Laboratory, performs more than 1 mln. analyse/year.
Fattening livestock on state farm has increased by 6 % and beef production
has reached 421 200 t. The number of cows on state-owned farms is 1 266
300 and 1 900 000 including family farms.
Family farms are not numerous in our republic; there are only 3 030
farms having 17.6 ha of arable lands on average. Average milk productivity
does not exceed 3 000 kg per lactation (2767 kg).
The demand of the home market for milk and dairy products is on the
whole met by our own producers. However the gross output of milk is to
be driven to 7 400 000 t in order to deliver it on the external market.
State-owned cattle breeding enterprises will further constitute the
major part of milk and beef producers (66 and 80 %, respectively). Milk
productivity is expected to be increased to
3 200 kg and live weight gain to 800 g owing to better feeding and
nutrition and keeping strictly the technologies of reproduction, management
and milking.
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