Since the beginning of the year, over 1.2 million tons of milk have been produced in the region.

In the Grodno region, modern technologies are actively being introduced and new conditions are being created in livestock farming, which allows increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving product quality. Large-scale modernization, construction of new high-tech dairy-livestock complexes, and digitalization of processes are the main aspects of industry development.

Livestock Farming 2.0

Today, in the region, practically 90 percent of the dairy herd is kept on 290 complexes with milking in milking parlors equipped with computerized management systems. Over the past five years, 46 facilities have been built and reconstructed, 11 of them last year. Another 20 are currently operational, and 12 are planned to be commissioned by the end of the year. Thus, several new dairy-livestock complexes are currently under construction in the Svisloch, Berezovichi, Shchuchin, and Volkovysk districts. The result is significant: since the beginning of the year, over 1.2 million tons of milk have been produced in the region.

• A modern dairy-livestock complex is a livestock facility that provides a full cycle of milk production and includes five buildings: two cow barns, a milking parlor block, a workshop for housing dry cows, and a prophylactic unit for calves. In terms of mechanization and digitalization of processes, the focus is specifically on the milking parlor," says Vital

In 2024, the MTK "Gubinka" was put into operation at SPK "Ozeri Grodsky District". The complex is designed for 777 dairy cows and is equipped with modern equipment and technologies. Here comfortable conditions have been created for the animals: increased air volume in the premises, a four-tier system for housing the milking herd has been introduced, which allowed expanding the feeding area. Also, sensors have been installed on the cows' necks that allow tracking animal activity (number of approaches to the feed trough, rest time, number of chewing movements per day). A herd management program has been implemented, where a schedule for procedures has been prepared for each animal.

One milking parlor – almost 300 cows

Last November, a new dairy-farm "Netchchi" opened in Grodsky District of Grodno Region. The new facility includes two cow barns and a milking-milking block. Currently there are 545 heads of dairy cows here. Over the first 8 months of this year, average milk yield per cow amounted to approximately 8.6 thousand kilograms plus 150 kilograms compared to last year's level. Milk quality – 96-97 percent and all of extra grade.

The burenki (bull calves) on the farm live in modern and comfortable conditions. The milking parlor is equipped as a parallel 2x18.

– Modern technologies significantly ease human labor, – says the chief zoologist of SPK "Svisloch" Svetlana Novik. – On this farm we have three machine milking operators working. Two women work during one shift, the third works on rotation. This means each serves about 300 cows. Thanks to modern equipment everything proceeds much faster and more conveniently for both workers and the animals themselves. For example, the system is programmed so that after each milking the apparatus automatically disinfected the cow's udder. The operator does not need to spend time on this. One cow here gives 35.4 liters of milk per day.

By the way, the bull calves on the farm are kept on soft mattresses. This was done specifically: since the weight of nearly all cows reaches 700 kilograms, comfort for their joints is important.

Milking can be done easily based on the computer system. Record keeping starts from birth of the calf, and all information that will be important for a veterinarian or breeder is entered into the card.

– On the animal map, all information about the cow is displayed from its birth until today. For example, which manipulations the doctor performed during artificial insemination. The program calculates lactation days, average daily yield and more. Moreover, the system itself calculates bonuses in milking or vice versa. At this farm we purchased the most modern responders – sensors that automatically determine the condition and needs of the animal. For instance, how many times the cow ate, layed and stood up. Recording takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, explains the zootechnician-selectionist of SPK "Svisloche" Dmitry Beleninik.

To ensure animal comfort

To ease the labor of livestock keepers on the farm, there are feed dispensers and electric pushers available. Animals are fed twice a day, and this process takes significantly less time and requires less effort. The premises where the dairy herd is kept are equipped with headlines.

For example, at this dairy farm we can confidently say