Belarusian scientists restored the former unprofitable enterprise, and now they breed unique cows

October 30, Orsha district. Belarusian scientists are working on breeding a red Danish cow in the country. Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Gusakov told journalists today, BelTA has learned.

In 2015, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko instructed to transfer the lagging production enterprise "Ustye" of the Orsha district to the National Academy of Sciences. In the Soviet years, the economy was one of the most advanced, but over time it fell into disrepair. “We accepted it in a very unsightly form. We started the restoration with crop production: we leveled and enlarged the fields, developed a new crop rotation system, produced the latest varieties. We got good productivity, and this made it possible to restore the livestock industry,” Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences, told reporters. Now the economy is getting on its feet, earning money on its own.”

All livestock buildings were reconstructed at the enterprise and a new dairy complex "Ustensky" was built. Belarusian specialists have developed special technologies for keeping and caring for cows. The dairy complex was put into operation at the end of last year.

Scientists decided to breed here a unique northern European breed of red cattle. These cows are bred in Denmark, Holland and Scandinavia. "For the second year we have been purchasing this cattle in batches. Now there are 1,092 heads of cows and heifers at the complex. 560 calves have already been received. In total, the complex is designed for 1,200 heads," the head of the National Academy of Sciences said.

For milking at the complex, the "Herringbone" installation for six places is used, for the main herd - "Carousel". There are many milking parlors with carousel milking machines on Belarusian farms, but, according to the company, this is the first robotic one. It is designed for 40 cows. A special mechanism automatically drives the cow to the milking parlour. She enters a free place for milking, the computer remembers the structural features of the udder of each. The equipment does udder massage, processing, milking of the first streams, sorts the milk into separate tankers.

According to Vladimir Gusakov, the milk of Danish cows is unique: it has a higher fat content, and it contains AA protein (black-and-white has only A). According to research by foreign experts, such milk is better absorbed by the bodies of children and the elderly.

“Now we are working on expanding the selection and getting a Belarusian breed on the basis of this one with no less characteristics and distributing it to Belarus,” said Vladimir Gusakov. It usually takes 25-30 years to develop a new breed. But since the National Academy of Sciences already has a base, developments and a breed group of red cattle, scientists plan to cope in 10 years. Two years have already passed.

Not far from the farm, another innovative complex was built - for the preparation of seeds of agricultural plants. "Already this year, 11,000 tons have been processed here. The plant can fully meet the needs for seeds of the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions," the chairman of the presidium of the National Academy of Sciences noted.