The Vitebsk regional executive committee presented the results of the livestock sector's work for 2024.
By the end of this year, the average milk yield per cow in the Vitebsk region should be at least 4.7 thousand liters. This task was set for agricultural workers at a meeting of the regional executive committee, where the results of the livestock sector for 2024 were discussed.
It should be noted that this will be another record in the history of the region. Recall that in 2023, the milk yield per cow was 4225 liters, and in 2024 – 4504 liters.
Opening the meeting, the chairman of the regional executive committee Alexander Subbotin noted that positive moments were highlighted based on the results of work for 2024. However, there is much to work on, areas to grow, and additions to make. Livestock farming brings in the main income for the agricultural sector, forming the tax base, so it is necessary to address current issues and strategic prospects for the development of this sector.
As reported by the first deputy chairman of the committee on agriculture and food of the regional executive committee Natalia Bortnik, the production of gross livestock products increased by 5.6% compared to the previous year. In its structure, milk accounts for 46.9%, cattle breeding – 12.1%, pork – 16.3%, poultry – 19%, and egg production – 5.7%.
The highest productivity of the milking herd was in the Orsha district – 7085 liters per cow, in the Gorodok district – 6625 liters, and in the Vitebsk district – 6594 liters. Last year, 60 thousand cows were kept in 97 modern dairy farms, which is 36% of the total herd. The average yield from them was 5843 kg, which is 30% higher than the regional average. By the end of 2024, another 11 new dairy farms for 7 thousand heads will be put into operation, and the construction of ten facilities has begun.
Pork production increased by 2.4% with an average daily gain of 640 grams. There are reserves for improving the indicator through new breeders and reconstructed fattening sites.
Poultry farming increased by 14.6% (the best indicator in the country), producing 450 million eggs (309 eggs per hen). These figures are also the best in the history of the region.
During the meeting, problematic aspects of livestock management technology, product quality improvement, and work efficiency were discussed. In a conversation with journalists, the chairman of the committee on agriculture and food Andrey Bulavkin emphasized that in all areas of the sector, agricultural workers see the path they need to take.
The issue of staffing was also discussed. The rector of the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine Olga Gorlova addressed the participants of the meeting. She urged regional leaders, agro-industrial associations, and agricultural enterprises to intensify career guidance work with school graduates to form a personnel potential in farms. In particular, Olga Gorlova reported that under targeted training conditions, students can enroll in the veterinary academy without exams as early as the beginning of July. During their studies, they will receive additional payments to their scholarship, and after graduation, they will have guaranteed employment with a five-year contract and material bonuses. The admission conditions can be found on the university's website, on its Telegram and Instagram pages.