Modern agricultural technologies on the guard of food security of the region
31.10.2014 Source: Kommersant
At present, state of dairy farming in the Samara region is estimated by experts as unsatisfactory. Because of a deficit of raw milk, processing companies have to buy it in the neighboring regions which inevitably affects the price of dairy products for final consumers. Situation becomes even more serious due to embargo imposed on import of dairy products from some countries to Russia which makes it necessary to significantly increase the volume of local milk and dairy products production under the conditions of remaining deficit of raw milk in the region.
On the other hand, current situation predetermined substantial growth in the number of dairy complexes and the amount of raw milk production in the Samara region. Measures of federal and regional authorities on supporting the dairy industry are aimed at absolutely new level of industry development.
Currently, several projects on construction, reconstruction and extension of dairy farms are in different stages of implementation in the Samara region.
In accordance with the Governor’s Order, “Samara Region Development Corporation” OJSC (the Corporation) started establishing of a dairy stock breeding complex. “Issues of food security of the region are extremely critical now, - noted General Director of the Corporation Olga Serova. In modern agriculture all projects are capital intensive and long-payback. That is why the task of launching large-scale and operationally efficient projects in this field was set in front of the Corporation in its capacity as the development institute.
Corporation together with independent experts and Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Samara region developed business-plans of the projects on construction of dairy stock breeding complexes. Some technological solutions were significantly improved, which will allow the cost of construction to be reduced and the operational efficiency of the complexes to be increased. Advanced technologies envisaged by the projects will allow the region to get the milk of the high quality at a relatively low cost.
“Milk plants are now ready to buy raw milk at reasonable prices on condition that guaranteed and stable supplies are ensured, - says Deputy General Director of the Corporation Andrey Novikov. – Moreover, some plants are ready to provide milk producers with commercial loans for the purpose of increasing population of herd and, consequently, the volume of production, against future supplies. Technologies that are planned to be used at dairy complexes will allow to receive quite high results of milk output. We want to achieve not less than 8.5 thousand liters from one cow per year. One of the most essential questions that we have to solve is the correct organization of herd reproduction process. Due to the absence of specialized centers for rearing stocks which are ready to guarantee stable cyclic deliveries of pedigree high-productive cattle on the prices set in advance in long-term contract, we will organize stock breeding complex of full cycle. We will strive for dairy herd reproduction in the complex and reduction of our dependence on import purchases”.
According to experts, large dairy holdings with high-productive, in terms of milk production, cattle herds are forced to direct considerable amounts of funds to purchase heifers in order to retrain the population of milking herd. Having analyzed collected information and using recommendations of leading Russian specialists on herd reproduction, the Corporation has developed technological solutions on holding, feeding and veterinarian servicing of young stock in order to ensure the maximum safety of it. Computerized system for the herd management allowing to exercise efficient monitoring of cows health is among advanced technological solutions. Additional investments to this system are planned intentionally, because benefits from early detection, disease prevention and fast solving of arisen problems will overweight the costs.
The second main aspect of modern dairy farm operating is feeding of animals and this aspect is extremely relevant for high-productive herd. Provision of the complex with quality forage is one of the main components of high milk yield. In order to create own forage base, the Corporation attracted profile specialists who worked out balanced feeding for cows, selected the necessary agricultural machinery, calculated the necessary amount of forage and developed cropping plan with the use of advanced technologies in the field of agriculture.