Ukrainian and Dutch dairy experts have become friends and partners. This is due to Dutch Dairy Day in Ukraine, which has become a platform for meetings, discussions, exchange of experience and innovations in the dairy industry.
Among participants mr. Dykun
This year the event was held in September , on the base of the dairy farm “Rozvolozhzhia”, which is in Volodarka city, Kiev region. More than 300 participants attended the event, organized by the Association of Ukrainian Dairy Producers, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine and the company “Dykun”. The following partners sponsored the event: DIFCO International BV, Trioliet, JV “Agroinmash”, KUHN-Ukraine LLC, Agrotehnika LLC, Feed Lance, Advanced agricultural technologies LLC, GEA Farm Technologies Ukraine LLC. The official part of the event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Andrii Dykun. He covered essential issues in the dairy sector, in particular, the problem concerning the taxation of agricultural producers: “Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is experiencing the pressure of the International Monetary Fund, which is aimed at the abolition of the special regimes for VAT and agricultural tax. A lot of discussions and working group meetings were held to solve the problem. A law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2015” was recently promulgated. We can say that we have achieved our goal — by 2018 tax changes in the agricultural sector will not take place”.
Dutch counselor
Agricultural counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Evert Jan Krajenbrink also congratulated guests. He told about the prospects of the Ukrainian dairy sector development: “I am positive about the prospects of the Ukrainian dairy sector. Implementation of the EU-free trade agreement requires the introduction of EU-based food safety standards and transparency. So although the Ukrainian dairy sector will go through a painful modernization process, it has no other choice than to invest in quality and become more competitive, I am convinced that the Ukrainian producers can do it. The Netherlands are willing to remain a reliable partner, and share our knowledge with Ukraine”.
Dairy experts
At the end of the official part the Deputy Director for Agricultural Development Department of Kyiv Regional State Administration Volodymyr Levchenko welcomed Ukrainian and Dutch guests. During a theoretical part Ukrainian and Dutch experts spoke about the current approaches to the management of dairy business, acquainted listeners with the technological innovations and the latest developments of automated programs. The first speech was delivered by the guest from Holland, consultant at CRV Gervin Kerkdijk. The Dutch produce 12 billion kg of milk each year and 50% is used for cheese making. Each year about 650 million kg of cheese is produced in the Netherlands. So the speaker briefly described the ways, which can be followed to become successful in cheese making. The Dutch mainly focus on increasing protein content in milk. The speaker noted that feeding can be a tool to achieve this goal. However, it is quite difficult and expensive. Furthermore, increasing the protein content in feed does not always mean its increase in milk. Therefore, the Dutch still choose genetics, because it accounts for 66% effect on the protein content of milk compared with other factors effecting protein contents. Increasing protein percentage by genetics means selecting the best bulls of HF and other breeds as well as identification of the best cows that give the highest protein percentage in milk.
Dutch companies
The speech of Managing Director of DIFCO International BV Rene Kremers was about forage monitoring with the help of PiMapping® technology. It is based on satellite imagery and meteo data, which immediately provide information on climate, humidity, vegetation, etc. A correct analysis of data, and then decision, will help improve forage production. Allard Eggink, Commercial Director of Nuscience Cehave Korm, focused on on-line forage analysis, which can provide additional 2 liters of milk per cow per day. The audience had a chance to get to know and watch the whole process of taking feed samples for analysis. The speaker also told how to use the results in farmers’ daily work. It should be noted that this analysis helps to optimally balance the diet on the content of nutrients and to monitor compliance with the correct proportions of its components during mixing. It is crucial for cow performance and herd health. The next presentation was made by the representative of Trioliet Olena Zymenok. It was about automation of feeding. Automatic feeding provides cows with fresh feed a couple of times per day creating conditions that accommodate natural feeding behavior.
New equipment
Some of the speakers talked on the equipment for modern dairy farms. In particular, Director and owner of Europe Dairy Systems Rooter Shooter introduced a new development of the company — MooMonitor+. With this automated software you can monitor many indicators regarding cow health, rumination, lying time, activity etc. Today producers can get all the information about each cow on a mobile phone. Peter Talsma, Export Manager for Joz BV, focused on the prevention of hoof problems creating better living and feeding conditions. He noted that the cleaning intervals should be not less than 2 hours (day and night), length of the alley to drop pit should be maximum 60 meters and scraper systems should create minimum obstacles for the animals. Peter Talsma also presented robots for cleaning alleys from manure, told about features of the automated systems for cleaning and disinfection of hooves and equipment, which helps to reduce labor costs while cleaning the barn and prevent hoof problems.
UA speakers
Over the past years many Ukrainian dairy producers have made a breakthrough in dairy business. The Association of Dairy producers of Ukraine made a great contribution to achieving it. Therefore, a representative of the Association Yurii Kravchuk devoted his speech to its history, achievements and activities. He stated that cooperation is essential for achieving dairy producers’ goals. Director General of KUN-Ukraine LLC Victor Sych in simple terms explained about complicated technologies of forage harvesting. Feed quality is largely dependent on the speed and quality of cutting. He noted that very often producers follow all technological requirements for making quality forage, but then forget about hygiene requirements while distributing feed directly to cows in the barn. The final statement was made by Antoon Smits, Director of PE Agrofirm ‘Rozvolozhzhia’. He shared the successes and difficulties encountered. Antoon Smits invited everybody on an excursion to the farm, where agricultural machinery used on the farm was also demonstrated.
Visit dairy complex
Reference: The dairy complex “Agrofirm ‘Rozvolozhzhia’” is located in Haivoron village, Volodarka district, Kyiv region. About 700 Holstein (the majority), Ukrainian black and white and red and white breeds are raised on the farm. Loose and tie-stall housing systems are used. Average annual milk production per cow is 7300 kg with fat content of 3.8%, and protein — 3.25%. Cows are milked two times a day. Milking equipment used is parallel with a quick-exit 2×16 (GEA Westfalia). Daily 13 tons of milk is produced, which is delivered to the processing company “Danone” for baby food production. 5.5 thousand hectares of land is cultivated. The co-owners of the operation are Dutch farmers, Director is Anton Smits, and his wife is responsible for dairy production.
Thanks to Dykun company for this summary.
