More than 80% of milk from new MTCs in Grodno region sold as "extra" grade in 2024

27 March, Grodno. In the next five years, the Grodno Region plans to build 46 dairy farms and reconstruct 33. What is needed for the efficient operation of such dairy farms was discussed at a meeting of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, BelTA has learned.

The Presidential Decree "On the Construction of Dairy Farms" of 2008, according to which one large dairy farm was built in each district of the country, served as an impetus for the rapid development of the dairy industry in the Grodno Region, as well as the country as a whole. Then, in accordance with the Presidential Decree "On Certain Issues of Dairy Industry Development" of 2010, the growth process in the dairy industry accelerated. Thus, in the first four years alone, 81 dairy farms were built in the Grodno Region. As of 1 January 2025, 115 new dairy farms were commissioned and 170 farms were reconstructed. The number of cows increased by 44.3 thousand by January 1, 2011. Such facts were presented at a meeting of the regional executive committee.
 
The meeting, which was held under the leadership of the acting chairman of the Grodno regional executive committee Yuri Karaev, was attended byMinister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus Yuri Gorlov.

"The productivity of the dairy herd in 2024 reached 7,512 kg (the average annual MILK yield per cow. - Note by BELTA), which is 2,537 kg higher than in 2010. The increase in the number of cows and their productivity ensured an increase in the average annual milk production by 766.9 thousand tons, or 88.5% compared to 2010. At the same time, from 2010 to 2024 inclusive, 477 old and obsolete farms were liquidated, which made it possible to reduce the number of milkmaids to 2.3 thousand. The modernization planned for 2030 will allow us to reduce the number of machine milking operators to 2 thousand people, while increasing the livestock, the load per operator will be about 110 cows," said Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food Igor Sorokin.

As noted at the meeting of the regional executive committee, the commissioning of new capacities and the modernization of existing ones allowed 85.7% of the dairy herd to be transferred to year-round stall maintenance with milking in milking parlors. In 2024, 88.4% of the total regional milk production was produced on farms with milking parlors. On average, milk yield per cow at the new MTCs in 2024 was 8186 kg, which is 674 kg more than the regional average. 81% of milk was sold as "extra" grade from the new complexes, which is 43.3% of the total volume in the region. The profitability of milk production in 2024 at the constructed complexes was 54.3% with an average of 42.7% in the region. All MTCs operated profitably, while at 37 MTCs the profitability exceeded 50%.

"In fulfillment of the instructions of the HEAD of state to transfer the entire dairy herd to modern conditions of keeping by 2030, the construction of 46 and reconstruction of 33 MTCs are planned in the Grodno region. Thanks to this, an additional 51.5 thousand cattle places will be created to accommodate the dairy herd. This will allow transferring the entire herd of dairy cows kept on farms with milk pipelines to industrial technologies and increasing the dairy herd in the region by the end of 2030 to 230 thousand heads," Igor Sorokin outlined such plans.

In 2021-2024, 35 investment projects for the construction and reconstruction of MTCs were implemented in the region. Currently, 14 MTCs are being built in the region, in the first half of 2025 it is planned to begin implementing 9 more investment projects with the commissioning of MTCs in 2025-2026.
 
At the same time, at the meeting of the regional executive committee, issues that require solutions and can be resolved at the regional level were considered in detail.

"The equipment of new complexes requires timely, high-quality maintenance, and this workmust be strictly observed, - this is the task set by Yuri Karaev for all responsible organizations. - Yes, this requires certain resources, but in the end it brings a much more significant result - a healthy, highly productive herd." He also emphasized the importance of observing all the necessary technologies for raising young animals, here too all the invested funds pay off with interest, giving healthy young livestock in a short time. "Compliance with all regulations, vigilant control over their implementation, in which nothing is left to chance, discipline - the key to high results," noted the acting chairman of the regional executive committee.