February 9 and 10, 2017, Module One of the UCAB AgriSchool on Diary Business Management titled ‘Technological Equipment, Milk Quality and Hygiene in Diary Cattle’ took place. The module included theoretical and practical training and a visit to an operation facility of Ukraine Private Agricultural Company (Zhytomyr region).

The practical and theoretical training was attended by nearly 30 participants including representatives of agricultural companies, supplier companies and experts in agricultural area; they discussed issues on providing comfortable cattle housing; effective ventilation systems of livestock buildings; influence of comfortable housing on efficiency, health and reproduction of the cattle; main factors affecting milk quality. Moreover, during the workshop, urgent matters were raised regarding incoming quality control, technical conditions of milk production and preserving extra quality milk at a farm.

Volodymyr Fichak, Director of Genetics and Selection Private Company, spoke on providing comfortable housing for cattle during session one of theoretical and practical training. According to Mr Fichak, success in diary cattle business depends on four aspects – cattle forage, cattle itself (genetics), staff and comfort. “Back in the days, a cattle farm used to get profit at any cost; yet, at present, we should introduce operational methods yielding the most in terms of economic efficiency at a lower or the same prime cost. It is necessary to create all the conditions for cattle to feel good. Comfortable housing for cows is affected by building the cattle lives in, temperature and humidity, conditions and feeding alike. In our work, we are guided by US experience,’ Mr Fichak shared.   

Taras Baydyuk, Joint Products Sales Manager in DeLaval Ukraine LLC, told the AgriSchool students on quality of milk and milk production efficiency. ‘The issue of bacterial contamination of milk is very urgent for any farm – while milking a cow and when milk flows from milking cluster to fridge. The number of bacteria can increase dramatically at these stages. If strictly following a procedure, applying specified cleansing agents, timely replacing of diary rubber and diary hoses, and providing a constant control on critical points washing, it is possible to avoid bacteria contamination’ Mr Baydyuk considers.

Mr Baydyuk also believes that it is quite impossible to name a certain stage affecting milk contamination with bacteria in the most profound way. It is necessary to treat the issue of milk quality in an integrated manner; quality starts with purchasing quality forage and goes up to a milk truck leaving a farm. ‘If we learn what happens at every stage of milk production and flowing, we will be able to control bacteria contamination. In such a way, we will get a chance not only to improve the quality, but also the quantity of milk. Any mistake affects an animal, and, in the result, its efficiency decreases,’ Mr Baydyuk argues. During his presentation, he provided necessary details on economic part of a farm activity. The speaker shared his cost calculations at every stage of milk production.

Day two of the practical workshop took place at an operation facility of Ukraine Private Agricultural Company (village of Pochuyky, Popilnya district, Zhytomyr region). At the beginning of 2017, the number of livestock accounted 830 units, out of which diary cows made 465 units. In 2016, 8428 kg of milk was produced. The diary farm is equipped with eight VMS milking robots manufactured by DeLaval and fitted with leading stalling units. A microclimate optimal for cattle is automatically provided in the housing. The applied technology allows to minimizing human factor and assuring high quality of milk.