The strong position of OAO "Chernyany" and its confident forward development are confirmed by the numbers: the agricultural enterprise has fulfilled all its forecast indicators in livestock farming for the first half of the current year at 100 percent.

Milk production over seven months of this year amounted to more than 9,780 tons – which is 104.7 percent compared to 2025. Compared to last year's level, they obtained an additional 212 kilograms of milk per cow, and currently this figure stands at 5,041 kilograms per cow. They sold 9,857 tons of milk, adding 730 tons to last year's figure. Milk marketability reached 96 percent.

The farm is also adding to its total weight gain, which increased by 65 tons compared to last year and amounted to 418 tons. The average daily weight gain rose by 122 grams. Sales of cattle increased by 161 tons compared to 2025. The calf crop was 1,368 head, which is 128 calves more than last year.

Behind these dry figures lie well-informed management decisions and a well-coordinated collective effort. "We have been working toward this result for four years. First of all, we revised our approaches to feed procurement, and now we have a well-established chain for obtaining high-quality feed in the necessary volume. We optimized our dairy herd. We systematically improved our production base and enhanced the conditions for keeping our replacement heifer herd. We applied an approach for determining pregnancy in milk, which has allowed us to date increase the calf crop," said Andrey Kurdyuk, director of OAO "Chernyany."

The livestock sector at the farm is headed by the experienced chief zootechnician Yuri Kashlei. Within his area of responsibility are nearly 4,440 animals, including about 1,850 head of milking herd. To ensure indicators continue to rise, work is underway to renovate premises at the dairy commodity farms. Several years ago, a calving hall, a milking parlor, and a calf nursery were built at the "Velikorita" dairy farm. In 2024, four silage-haylage pits were built at the "Chernyany" dairy farm, along with a shelter for coarse feed at the "Velikorita" dairy farm. Last year, livestock premises at the "Dubichno" dairy farm were renovated. For the current year, renovation of another premises at this farm and of the calf nursery at the "Chernyany" dairy farm is planned, along with the construction of two silage-haylage trenches at the "Dubichno" dairy farm.

The priority is good conditions both for keeping animals and for the work of livestock farmers. Great attention is paid to production discipline – the overall result depends on the work of each person on the ground. The farm has its own leaders among livestock specialists and top machine milking operators. The best results in milk yield per cow at the farm belong to machine milking operator Ruslana Stepanyuk, with a gross milk yield of 7,568 centners.

Ruslana Nikolaevna has been working at OAO "Chernyany" for more than 15 years. She says that over the past years the farm has become like home to her. The woman was born in Ukraine, but her heart became attached to Maloritchina.

"This is hard work, but we receive a decent wage for it. Morning milking starts at 5:30 and ends at 13:00, or even later, and the evening one – from 17:00 to 24:00. During a shift I milk about 700 cows. I am also involved in calving. In terms of working conditions, everything suits me – there is a rest room and a locker room. Our team is good. We help each other out if needed, for example, by covering for someone on a replacement shift," noted Ruslana Stepanyuk.

In the old-fashioned way, Ruslana Nikolaevna calls herself a milkmaid and believes that automation will never replace a human, which means there is still a lot of work ahead. After all, it is thanks to the daily labor of agricultural workers that we have bread, meat, and milk on our tables.

Livestock specialist Elena Kulichik works with the same conscientiousness and heart. Together with Oksana Loychits, they achieved the best result at the farm in average daily weight gains in young stock rearing. Elena Alekseevna admitted that she does not strive to be among the front-runners – she simply knows no other way to work.

"I have been working at 'Chernyany' since 1993. I have a responsible area of work – I care for calves over three months old that are moved from individual hutches to small-group housing. Of course, the work takes a lot of time and effort, but in agriculture it is no different," she says.

Caring for calves is no easy matter and requires full dedication. Elena Kulichik works conscientiously, without regard for time or fatigue, and she also treats her charges with attention and care – after all, animals need this no less than good feed. It seems the calves recognize Elena Alekseevna by her footsteps and greet her with a friendly mooing. They also please her with an average daily weight gain of 956 grams, improving on last year's result.

The livestock sector of OAO "Chernyany" faces ambitious challenges that are within the reach of true professionals. The farm is not slowing down, and experienced leadership, new technologies, and a love for their craft remain the guiding principles in their work.

Alena Satsuta

Photo by the author