Belarus proposes switching to centralized procurement of vaccines for livestock

June 17, MINSK District. The issue of a possible transition to centralized procurement of vaccines for livestock farming was discussed on June 17 at a visiting seminar-meeting in Minsk District with the participation of Belarusian President ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO, BELTA reports.

At the event, Vladimir Karanik, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences, gave a training report. He spoke about a comprehensive approach to improving the safety of cattle and ensuring the growth of its productivity. it was noted that the situation with cattle mortality has somewhat stabilized, but is still not encouraging. Over the five months of this year, the indicator has increased by 1.7% compared to the same period last year. However, the structure of unproductive disposal has changed somewhat: in most regions, the situation has improved for young animals, but has worsened for the main herd.

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The HEAD of the National Academy of Sciences dwelt in detail on the factors affecting the safety of livestock and voiced a number of proposals to rectify the situation. On vaccination and care of calves
For example, in order to avoid the risk of losing calves at birth (usually this happens at night), some farms pay extra to those employees who remain on duty during this time.
 
Important factors include the formation of immunity in calves and subsequent vaccination . Vladimir Karanik emphasized that vaccines, unfortunately, are often used inappropriately. Listing the problems, he noted that each farm should develop its own vaccination plan taking into account the epizootic situation on the farm, but often plans are not updated or are taken as a template from neighboring farms. Vaccination prevention schemes, methods and doses of administration, storage and transportation are violated. All this leads to the fact that vaccines do not work. To rectify the situation, he proposed that district veterinary stations monitor compliance with the requirements for the development and implementation of vaccination plans taking into account the situation.

The head of the National Academy of Sciences also proposed switching to a centralized procurement of vaccines for animals: "I propose considering the possibility of conducting a centralized procurement of vaccines at the district or regional level. So that we understand that we provide protection for the livestock regardless of the financial condition of the farm and whether there is a veterinarian there or not." By the way, in his opinion, in terms of the number of livestock in Belarus, there are enough veterinarians - you just need to properly organize their work. For example, centralize the system so that the district veterinary station provides veterinary support throughout the district.
 
Deputy Chairman of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly, authorized representative of the head of state in the Minsk region Alexander Kosinets also spoke in support of centralization in the procurement of vaccines at the seminar-meeting. 

According to the data he voiced, only 24 types of vaccines for veterinary medicine are produced in Belarus: 17 at Belvitunifarm and 7 at the S.N. Vyshelesski Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine, among them just over 10 are for cattle. But 56 items are purchased from abroad for cattle, 51 for poultry and almost the same number for pigs. There are 1,455 farms in the country, and each one purchases vaccines and medicines independently, he noted critically. 

"Vaccination in our country should be centralized, but taking into account the specifics of morbidity at each dairy complex," Alexander Kosinets agrees with Vladimir Karanik. He is convinced that it is imperative to establish a system for monitoring the quality of purchased vaccines. 
 
On the use of PCR laboratories in veterinary medicine
Special attention was paid to the prevention and treatment of infectious pathologies. "Unfortunately, laboratory diagnostics of infectious diseases currently does not fully provide the veterinary service with the necessary information. Some methods are either outdated or lack sufficient accuracy," he explained. For example, if a test for a disease such asbrucellosis , gives a positive result (and it often gives a false positive result), then it takes about a month to establish an accurate diagnosis, and during this period there is uncertainty about the actions on this farm and with the MILK obtained (it must be pasteurized).
Vladimir Karanik recalled that in Belarus during the pandemiccovid-19, by decision of the head of state, the capabilities of the PCR diagnostics laboratory service, which make it possible to quickly identify various antigens, were significantly expanded. "I believe that we should now engage PCR laboratories (from the healthcare sector in the interests of veterinary medicine. - BELTA note). Now we must create a PCR diagnostics system that allows us to receive an answer not within a month, but in one - maximum two days," the head of the NAS explained. According to him, in the near future, specialists will submit proposals to the President on how to make laboratory diagnostics in veterinary medicine more efficient and modern.

On the features of individual cow breeds
The issue of the efficiency of raising certain cattle breeds was discussed separately. For example, Holstein cows, one of the most productive dairy breeds in the world, are very common in Belarus, but this productivity is achieved only through strict adherence to feeding standards and diet. "We must make a decision: either we continue to use these cows just as intensively, regardless of whether there is technology or not, or we work on genetic diversity," the head of the NAS said. According to him, further development of the Danish direction is possible for medium-level and weak farms - cows of this breed are slightly less productive, but more stable and hardy. 

Belarus also has experience working with the Danish red breed of cows, they are raised in the agricultural enterprise "Ustye". However, for a number of objective and subjective reasons, this experience has not yet been very successful. In this regard, Vladimir Karanik proposed taking part of the livestock from the herd and trying to work with this breed on the basis of one of the leading farms of the country in the Brest or Grodno regions. This will allow comparing the results and finally deciding on the prospects. 
 
What Lukashenko said about the announced initiatives
Following the discussion, Alexander Lukashenko instructed to discuss in detail all the proposals made and, if necessary, formalize them into specific decisions. "Let's agree that we will not just listen to talks and lectures from scientists

at another meeting on preventing such a death rate as ours (they will speak correctly)... But so that we make a decision. If we need to centralize the veterinary service... Shuleiko thinks that it is necessary, but Kosinets does not (I am speaking for example). So you will come to a common opinion and make a specific proposal," the President said. "If Vladimir Stepanovich (Karanik. - BELTA note) thinks that we need to connect the healthcare system to diagnostics or something else, let's connect it, make proposals. If there are reasonable, verified proposals, a decision will be made within 24 hours."
Alexander Lukashenko approved the proposed approach to further work with the Danish red breed of cattle. "If you want to try to keep 50-60 heads of Danish cattle somewhere, you should do it," he said. "I am not against it. Try it. Think about how to proceed further to get results." 

As for the purchase of vaccines for veterinary medicine through a single system, the President also agreed with the announced initiative. Moreover, as time has shown, no market mechanisms help to solve this problem. On the contrary, questions about the quality and price of drugs purchased by livestock farms themselves are increasingly arising.

"We need to centralize - let's centralize. Let's stop all this chatter about markets in this regard. Tomorrow we won't produce enough medicines and vaccines, and it's unlikely that there is a state that produces everything, and if there is, then there are only a few. Therefore, the question arises: what we buy - who inquired about the quality? If we bought the right quality and what we need, then the result would probably be completely different," the head of state noted critically.