Head of Vitebsk Region Nikolai Sherstnev: “Fodder procurement must be carried out strictly according to technology”
Heads of regional authorities, regional services, the Vitebsk Meat and Dairy Products Concern state enterprise, and agro-industrial associations gathered at the Yanovichi agro-complex of Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory OJSC. Urgent issues of the important agricultural campaign were discussed. Among them are optimal harvesting phases for fodder crops, technological settings of fodder harvesting machines, and the quality control system for ensiling forage mass into standard storage facilities and polymer packaging. A unique exhibition of equipment from foreign and domestic manufacturers, including Tiraspol Agrotechservice, Zapadno-Dvinny MRS, and Bobruisk Agromash, was presented in one of the agro-complex's fields. Company representatives informed the seminar participants about each unit.
Nadezhda Gribanova, Deputy General Director of Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Factory OJSC, reported that the enterprise's three agro-complexes (Yanovichi, named after Shmyryov, named after Silnitsky) house over 11.5 thousand head of cattle, including almost 4.3 thousand cows. Fodder harvesting is planned for two weeks, requiring the mowing of 355 hectares of grass daily. To maintain the set pace, equipment is regularly updated. Specifically, six mowers were purchased this year, including three 9-meter mowers that can mow 45 hectares per day. Four mechanized detachments are operating in the farms, each with two choppers and at least nine units of equipment for transporting green mass. The first mowing typically yields 35 thousand tons, or 65% of the planned volume. In total, by the stall period, there will be 29 centners of feed units per conventional head of cattle. Incidentally, by July 1, the enterprise will have another agro-complex, Vozrozhdenie.
Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev noted that the agricultural production volumes of Vitebsk Broiler Poultry Farm are comparable to an average district, so the enterprise's experience should be applied to every region. It is necessary to create specialized mechanized detachments with all the necessary equipment everywhere and to procure feed along established routes, regardless of the farm. This will significantly increase the indicators in livestock production.
Elena Klyga, Head of the Perennial Grasses Department at the Scientific and Practical Center for Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, spoke about the optimal harvesting phases and the species diversity of forage crops. Galega orientalis (goat's-rue) was also presented, which yields 700-750 centners per hectare of green mass per season. In terms of crude protein quality, it is slightly inferior to alfalfa. This forage crop, with such high yields, can be used in the same field for ten years. The productive plant should find its place in the Vitebsk region, and Nikolai Sherstnev urged those present to focus on this. By the way, according to Sergey Egorov, Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee, in the peasant farm "Rodnik" in the Shumilinsky district, galega has been cultivated on 300 hectares for seventeen years, with a green mass yield of 600 centners per hectare. The farm is ready to share seeds.
Nikolai Sherstnev emphasized that feed procurement must be carried out strictly according to technology. Failure to comply with every detail leads to a decrease in feed quality and, subsequently, to a loss of revenue.
Based on materials from: "Vitebskiye Vesti", "Vitbichi".