A unique breed of cows is being created in Belarus. Their milk is suitable even for allergy sufferers

At a recent meeting on agriculture, the Head of state mentioned that a unique breed of cows is being bred in Belarus. Their Milk has special characteristics in terms of fat content and protein content, and even allergy sufferers can drink IT. We learned how the creation of the new Belarusian cow breed is going on. Breed No. 1 in our country has already 99 percent created

its own gene pool
, assures Nikolai Pesotsky, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, head of the laboratory for breeding and selection of dairy cattle of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Animal Husbandry." We are talking about the Holstein black-and-white breed of domestic selection. Now her herd, including bulls, numbers about 1.3 million heads.

– In terms of productivity and abundant milk production, there is no better breed in the world. This is our heritage! – notes Nikolai Pesotsky. – But in order to avoid a monobreed in industrial milk production, we decided to create an alternative dairy breed of domestic selection.
About 40 years ago, cows of this breed were found in many peasant households and collective farms. But over time it was replaced by the black-and-white one, which produced more milk. Well, most villagers, looking at the abundance of milk in stores, stopped keeping cows altogether.

Nevertheless, the gene pool of the Belarusian red breed was preserved. Now such a herd is kept in the USP “Novy Dvor-Agro” in the Svisloch district of the Grodno region.

“We have been working on preserving the gene pool of this breed for the last 20 years, and as a result we have 200 head of cattle. Our center, together with the Institute of Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the All-Russian Institute of Animal Husbandry, has been conducting research on the quality of milk and DNA of the Belarusian red dairy herd for the last two years. Work in this direction continues, emphasizes Nikolai Pesotsky.
Breeding project
The creation of a new breed of cows in Belarus began with a research and production breeding project in 2020, when “foreign” red dairy breeds arrived from Denmark. During the selection process, their mothers consistently demonstrated to the world their high suitability for milk production on an industrial scale and robotic milking.
– The milk of red cows is more concentrated and healthy than that of others, including the Holstein black-and-white. It has a higher content of fat, protein, lactose, mineral compounds and vitamins,” notes the candidate of agricultural sciences. – Another advantage of red dairy cattle is higher lifetime productivity. Daria Shishko, livestock breeder at the selection and production farm "Budagovo" of the State Enterprise "ZhodinoAgroPlemElita", says that in 2020, 300 Danish cows were brought to them. The adaptation was successful. The cows turned out to be hardy, and their milk– very sweet and fatty (4.5–5.5%). From the second lactation, the red cows began to be milked, and they gave more milk than in the first. Now some of them are setting records - 35 liters of milk per day, and on average on the farm this figure reaches 23-27 liters per day. Milk from red cows is supplied to a company where, in particular, blue cheese is produced.

New breed – by 2030
– We have almost reached the minimum requirements for the formation of the Belarusian red breed of dairy cattle. It remains to finalize the selection of bulls of domestic lines. This will take several more years. The joint work of the National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, BelplemZhivovoedineniye and specialists from basic farms will enable the country to receive the number of livestock necessary for the formation of the domestic Belarusian red breed by 2030, notes Nikolai Pesotsky.
At the meeting with the President, it was noted that breeding work on the creation of a new breed is underway in three farms: State Enterprise “ZhodinoAgroPlemElita”, Republican Unitary Enterprise “Shipany-Agro” and Republican Unitary Enterprise “Ustye” of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus,” which are part of the structure of divisions of the National Academy of Sciences. However, many from the offspring of Danish beauties live on the farms of other enterprises and farms in the country.
- When the innovative complex was created in the Orsha region, it did not provide for the sale of the excess number of replacement heifers, but in three years the herd has grown so much that we were able to sell it to other livestock breeders. farms have about 220 heads! This is the specificity of the red breed - excellent fertility. I am sure that it is capable of filling the MTK with livestock, - says the scientist.  
Crosses with Holsteins
The red breed can strengthen the position of the Black-and-White Holstein, which has made our country one of the world leaders in the Export of dairy products. -

We have significantly improved the gene pool of the Holstein black-and-white breed over the past five years. There are entire herds whose milk solids yield has increased significantly, and we continue to work in this regard,” notes the candidate of agricultural sciences.

To increase the productivity of Holsteins, scientists propose crossing this breed with the Belarusian Red. There is also the possibility of a three-breed cross - the two mentioned above and the Simmental, which is distinguished by especially strong bones.
– By renewing the blood of other breeds, it is possible to strengthen the bones of the Holstein offspring and increase their life expectancy. This is world practice for improving commercial herds, emphasizes Nikolai Pesotsky. “Belarusian herds of dairy cows will become more resilient, their milk will be tastier and healthier, and Belarus’ position in the global dairy market will be even more reliable.
To increase the productivity of Holsteins, scientists propose crossing this breed with the Belarusian Red. There is also the possibility of a three-breed cross - the two mentioned above and the Simmental, which is distinguished by especially strong bones.

Tamara MARKINA
Photos provided by the breeding and production farm