In dairy cattle breeding, the introduction of innovative approaches aimed at increasing productivity and management efficiency is of particular importance. PSP “Piskivske” (Chernihiv region) is a vivid example of the implementation of such modern methods through the implementation of elements of the reference model of a dairy farm. What results did the farm manage to achieve and how did productivity change? In numbers and facts, the team of the magazine “Milk and Farm” (No. 6 (79), December 2023) tells. We share with you a part of their publication.

PSP “Piskivske” from Chernihiv Oblast is at the origin of the Association of Milk Producers, a founder and member of AVM since 2009.

The process of implementing the elements of the reference model of the dairy farm at the “Piskivske” PSP began with the diagnosis of the state of the farm, which made it possible to identify key aspects that needed intervention and optimization. Specialists of the AVM Consulting Center drew up a plan for the implementation of elements of the reference model, which provided for improvement in most key processes, in particular, the results of the improvement of the breeding process are indicative.

When implementing the breeding policy, the focus was on:

selection of sperm of breeder bulls;
cultivation and selection of repair young animals for further reproduction.
As a result, the productivity of the first-born increased significantly — by an average of 20% (graph 1). In addition, they improved the persistence of lactation and the decrease in productivity during lactation was not as pronounced as in older cows (graphs 2–3).

The farm does not add premixes to the diet and at the same time milks 31.7 kg of milk per cow, the fat content is 3.7% and the protein content is 3.3%.

Among other indicators that have improved significantly, there is a reduction in cow culling. At the beginning of cooperation with the farm, the level of forced culling was almost 50%, in three years it decreased to 30-35%. It would seem that the indicator is high, but culling is currently not forced. It is due to the fact that for a certain period of time some cows were inseminated by a bull, some were artificially inseminated, so the quality of the firstborn was low. Now the firstborns, born from artificial insemination, are just beginning to be milked. However, even so, if you look at graph 1, in 2023 the productivity indicators of first-borns are much higher — at the peak of lactation, they give 35 liters of milk. After 300 days of milking, the productivity of firstborns is about 27–28 liters of milk, and cows of the 2nd lactation less than 25 liters.

The results of the implementation of elements of the reference model in PSP “Piskivske” are motivating with their effectiveness and confirm the importance of a comprehensive approach to dairy farm management. We are proud of the cooperation!

HOW TO USE THE REFERENCE MODEL

The entire list of reference model documents can be found on the Milkua.info website at the link: http://milkua.info/uk/post/section/referentna-model-mtf. Much of the material is available for download, but there are documents that can be provided upon personal request from an interested party. Downloadable files are documents that farms can implement on their own without outside help.

We remind you that the reference model of a dairy farm in Ukraine is a reference model of the farm’s operational activity. It is based on the best global management and production practices. Certain elements of the reference model are currently implemented on 229 dairy farms, which have more than 115,000 head of cattle and make up 30% of the industrial dairy herd. At enterprises that implemented the reference model comprehensively and systematically, annual milk productivity increased by an average of 26% — from 13 to 51%.

If you have additional questions, please call +38 (093) 608 71 87 or write to zyateva@avm-ua.org.

Photo: “Milk and Farm” magazine

Source of information: AVM Consulting Center