«Agrofirm after Dovzhenka» Ltd.

 

Yareski village, Shishatsky district, Poltava region

The enterprise is a structural unit of the agro-industrial holding «Astarta-Kyiv» since 2009. Company cultivates almost 45 thousand hectares of arable land in Gadyatsky, Dykanskii, Zinkivsky and Shishatsky districts of Poltava region. She is a direct employer for almost 2 thousand people, and also closely cooperates with village councils where they lease land. As part of the social partnership, it provides material assistance to schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and cultural buildings. Supports amateur artistic teams, sports teams, talented rural youth.

The enterprise successfully develops the crop production industry. Strategic crops include sugar beet and soy. In addition, winter wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower are grown.

Dairy direction

Dairy cattle breeding is one of the priority area of the agribusiness. In general, more than 13 thousand heads of cattle are kept there, including almost 7 thousand dairy cows. Milk is of Extra and Higher Grade.

At present, the company has 12 dairy units and one heifer complex.

Only in Gogoleve village cows are kept at free stalls, in all other — fixed housing.

Dairy farm in Gogoleve village is the most productive among the farms of Dovzhenko It works since 2010.

Total herd is 978 heads of cattle, 700 are dairy cows. They plan to increase the number of dairy cows to 1000 to reach the full capacity of the milking parlour.

Two modern barns for 500 heads each and milking unit are built. In one of the barns rubber mattresses are used.

Cows are milked three times a day in the milking parlour «parallel» 2×20 (Afimilk). The average daily yield per dairy cow is 30.5 liters. Expected productivity increase up to 35 liters. Fat content is 3.3%, protein — 3.2%. Milk after milking is stored in 2 cooler tanks (DeLaval).

The American Cow Watch activity monitoring system has recently been purchased. In addition to detecting animals in heat, the system allows to see the health of cows at an early stage.

Heifers complex

All young animals are grown at heifers complex in Khvoshchove village. It is designed for 5,200 heads, and now they hold about 3,000. They plan to construct open lots for year-round housing of young animals to reach the planned capacity of the complex. At present, many objects of the complex are under construction and reconstruction.

Growing of all calves in one place until the time of fertilization is practiced since 2012. Here they are inseminated anf being pregnant are back to dairy farms of agricultural company.

During preweaning period, calves are kept in individual cages. Calves are fed with milk three times a day. From the 5th day calves have free access to feed mixes and water. On day 42−49, the service team determines the weight of calves using a measuring tape. Calves are weaned from milk when reach a weight of 65 kg. During the week it is given 3 liters of milk a day, then one week it is given only water and feed mix, then transfer to another calf pen for group housing of 8 heads in each section. Until the age of three months, heifers continue to be fed with starter.

Heifers in heat are defined by tagging the tail. First insemination is in 13 months. During the first and second artificial insemination, sex semen is used.

In 2016, the heifers complex «released» 2 200 heifers.