MINSK, 3 April (BelTA) – The dairy cattle breeding industry has to increase its productiveness. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave the relevant instructions during the government conference held on 3 April to discuss the development of the countryside and ways to bolster agribusiness effectiveness, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko said: “Dairy industry plays a special role in animal husbandry. It is good that it is a source of money. It is bad that it is the only stable source of money for many agricultural enterprises. We have accumulated some experience of intensifying dairy production. Some agricultural enterprises report milk production per cow in excess of 10 tonnes [per annum]. But we have negative examples, too, when last year some enterprises failed to produce even 1,800kg of milk per cow. Less than two tonnes. What are the heads of agricultural enterprises and district administrations thinking? Such facts are just inadmissible! The general situation gives reasons for concern, too.”
“Can't the agriculture minister see that the volume of stored forage rises while the productiveness of the milking herd fails to keep up? It means the forage is plentiful but the wrong kind,” pointed out Alexander Lukashenko.
In his words, the current silaging and concentrates system is extremely expensive and fails to match physiological needs of the animals. “The situation needs to be fixed right away!” believes Alexander Lukashenko.
As a negative example he noted that in 2017 some agricultural enterprises managed to produce only 1.5 tonnes of milk per cow using the dairy farms built as part of the latest government program. “It won't do. Why did we spend huge amounts of money on building these dairy farms? I believe that the vice premier, the Agriculture and Food Ministry, and particularly the oblast governors should find out reasons behind the low milk yield at the new dairy farms,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
There are many examples in Belarus when agricultural enterprises with unfavorable soils produce better results than those working with fertile soils.
“Investments in the modernization of the dairy industry have produced positive results. Nearly 40% of the dairy farms now use modern technologies. But a lot of them have yet to complete construction. I want the central government and the oblast administration to finish the construction of such farms by the end of the current five-year term,” stated Alexander Lukashenko.
The president pointed out that erecting a modern building and installing cutting-edge equipment is not enough. It is also necessary to get high-quality herds for these farms. It is necessary to properly feed the animals and preserve their health.
Alexander Lukashenko also pointed out the need to more efficiently use the cows. “It is necessary to increase the number of cattle bearing one criterion in mind: one head per one hectare of farm land. Unfortunately, the number of cattle rises slowly,” he said.
Systemic efforts to breed better animals should also contribute to higher productiveness of the dairy cattle breeding industry. “Belarusian scientists should play a decisive role in it. A cow population of the Holstein variety has been bred in Belarus. Its productiveness is twice as much as that of the regular Black Pied cattle. What more do you need? Perfect execution only. Municipal government agencies should see to it,” noted the head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko instructed the central government to work together with the oblast administrations to ensure the relevant level of pedigree breeding work and train the necessary personnel. “Our capabilities in the area of pedigree breeding should give a nudge to the development of an effective meat animal husbandry industry,” stressed the Belarusian leader.
Alexander Lukashenko continued it is also necessary to give an impulse to the development of pig farming, poultry farming, and sheep farming. “As we know, there are problems with those such as imperfect fodder, an outdated infrastructure, the lack of businesslike approaches and slovenliness,” stated the head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko also drew attention to the fish farming industry. “Fish is part of the national cuisine. Fish dishes will be in demand bearing in mind the increasing number of tourists coming to Belarus,” the president was convinced.
