“The more ambitious the goal, the more interesting it is to achieve it.” How does the team of OJSC "Slutskaya Niva" live today?

Topic news Just a year ago, this agricultural enterprise could not boast of any success. But 2023 became a turning point in the fate of the economy and those who work here. We learned about the changes that had taken place by visiting Slutskaya Niva OJSC.
“The more ambitious the goal, the more interesting it is to achieve it.”
A landmark event occurred on January 11, 2023, when the farm was transferred to the management of Slutsk CHEESE FACTORY OJSC. The chief agricultural specialist of the Slutsk cheese-making plant, Alexander Leptyuk, was appointed manager. The young and ambitious manager has both the necessary experience (he was the DIRECTOR of OJSC Gritsevichi in the Kletsk district for 4.5 years) and the support of the plant’s management.

– Our main guide is Deputy General Director for Agriculture Elena Vikentievna Buslovich, an experienced specialist who constantly keeps her finger on the pulse. Without the help of the plant’s management, we would not have achieved such indicators in a year,” says Alexander Vasilievich. – For example, we increased MILK production by almost 5 tons. When I arrived, 50% of the milk produced was first grade, but for the last 2 months we have been supplying the plant with 100% extra grade. At the beginning of the year, the average milk yield was more than 20 liters per cow.
To achieve results, it was necessary to roll up one's sleeves and work hard, applying the strict dictates of technology and no less strict discipline. Intrenched habits are not easy to break. In any business, the worst thing is stagnation, when people have no incentive to develop. If the team is not motivated, management efforts alone are not enough, the interlocutor emphasizes.
“It’s important for people to understand that there is a future,” says Alexander Vasilyevich. “And before you ask them, you need to create the conditions.”
To encourage people to do their work responsibly, we decided to review the incentive system. For example, those who have 100% safety of newborn calves or 100% extra grade milk will receive a bonus based on the results of the reporting period, which is about 30% of the basic salary.

– When I shared the idea with my colleagues, I heard in response: “What are you talking about, Vasilyevich, this is impossible!” “And I think: the more ambitious the goal, the more interesting it is to achieve it,” says the manager.
Of course, not right away, but over time everyone became convinced that 100% safety and high quality milk are very realistic goals. But, again, in addition to strict requirements, acceptable conditions are needed. To question the quality of milk, you need to create a high-quality feed base. Today, Slutskaya Niva has more than 100% feed reserves. They produce five types of feed themselves, using a mobile feed mill that the cheese factory purchased for its agricultural branches. 

“To develop the livestock industry and obtain high-quality feed, this year we abandoned the cultivation of SUGAR beets: we will sow 200 hectares of alfalfa,” Alexander Leptyuk shares his plans. – In 2023, we got good results for haylage and silage, and for corn grain.

In terms of corn grain yield in 2023, they were among the best in the region; the gross grain yield in bunker weight was 4,350.7 tons (141.3 c/a).
In order to more accurately monitor employees’ compliance with technological requirements when calving, feeding calves, and keeping fresh cows, we purchased chest-mounted video recorders. The video recording will indicate how conscientiously the necessary manipulations were performed, and will help in controversial issues, as well as in making decisions on bonuses for good results.
The team believed it!

But the director considers the most important achievement of this year to be the construction of a modern dispensary for keeping young animals up to three months old in the village of Klepchany:
 “Our brainchild, into which they invested not only money, but also their soul. The dispensary is designed for 160 calves. If technology is followed, it is possible to achieve 100% safety of young animals. We hope this will affect future productivity: whencalves get sick less, they naturally develop better. And livestock farmers have more fun - conditions have improved and wages are higher when there is weight gain.

The spacious, bright and cozy building of the dispensary has a microclimate suitable for calves - without dampness or drafts. They are kept in special pen boxes, above each there is a sign with information about the pet. They pull curious faces and shake their brightly labeled ears. They avoid strangers, and when they see Oksana Kritskaya, the HEAD of the complex, they run up for their share of affection. Oksana Vladimirovna moved from Ukraine to Slutchina with her husband in 2014. She changed her accounting career to work in livestock farming.

– At the moment we have 51 calves, we expect another 20 heads to grow. This is our January,” the manager shows the youngest, who are still being given milk. – Calves are kept here from the first day of life. There are also older ones, they have been taken off the feed, they are already eating haylage and compound feed.

Chief livestock specialist Irina Romanenya has been working on the farm for six years. She came to agriculture , as she says, at a conscious age. She first graduated from the Agricultural Technological College in Pinsk, and this year from the Veterinary Academy with honors. And he feels in his place here.

“The team is united and moving forward. Look at what beauty they have built - conditions have been created for both calves and people. When you come in, your soul rejoices,” Irina Evgenievna smiles.

The dispensary is equipped with a dairy kitchen and a modern sink for drinking bowls. Another dispensary is being built at the second complex in the village of Kirovo.

A year ago there was not a single veterinarian on the farm. In the shortest possible time, they created a service, without which it is impossible to achieve high performance in animal husbandry. Today, the chief veterinarian Valentina Mikhalevich and three young specialists take care of the HEALTH of the livestock: two veterinary assistants and a veterinarian. Valentina Igorevna has been working since July 2023. Before that, she worked on a neighboring farm, then for three years in the Slutsk District Executive Committee in the Department of Agriculture. But she realized that desk work was not for her.
 “I was drawn to the village, I like taking care of animals,” the veterinarian shares.

They offered me a good salary and provided me with a company car. But there were enough problems:
– There were many cows with mammary gland disease, we are still working on it. There are positive dynamics. We try... All vacancies
todaychief specialists are closed. Without their support, there would be no results, Alexander Vasilievich emphasizes and names the names: chief agronomist Sergei Bortnik, chief engineer Vladislav Protasenya, lawyer Vitaly Protasenya, labor safety engineer and trade union leader Yulia Gulyaeva, farm manager Elena Kot, workshop manager Oleg Lesun, Valery Ruff and other employees who work conscientiously. Those who want to work and earn money try. They believed, they saw the changes taking place and they cared about people.
Farm equipment is being updated, workshops and utility rooms are being renovated, and a canteen is being built. They introduce innovations, specialists take advanced training courses and participate in seminars.

- A lot of work. We are moving on, setting more ambitious goals,” sums up Alexander Vasilievich almost on the move.

The job of a manager is not in the office, but next to people. This keeps everyone on their toes: the manager delves into the tasks of each department, and any employee can come up with problems and ideas on how to solve them together.

Anna MASLYAKOVA, photo by Ramil NASIBULIN and the author