Union State government to consider draft program for mixed feed production

MINSK, 12 august (BelTA) - The draft of the new Union State program “Development of advanced resource-saving, environmentally friendly technologies and equipment for the production of biologically high-grade animal feed" will be considered at a session of the Council of Ministers of the Union State on 15 August in Moscow, the director general of the Research Center for Agriculture Mechanization of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Samosyuk told reporters.

Development of this program was initiated by scientists and agriculture specialists of the two countries. “Russian and Belarusian scientists believe that the production of fodder in Belarus and Russia is not efficient and cannot meet the growing demand of livestock, poultry and fish farms for high-quality high-grade organic mixed fodder,” Vladimir Samosyuk said.

Use of grain in production of compound feeds in Belarus and Russia is 15-20% higher than in EU countries. Despite this, weight gains and milk yields of animals that feed on foreign compound feeds enriched with various additives are much higher, Vladimir Samosyuk informed.

Agricultural companies do not make good use of secondary waste from the food industry and agriculture. The problem of availability of protein feedstock for the feed industry has not been solved yet. The needs of the feed industry in protein are met only by 60-65%. As a result, mixed feed is unbalanced, which leads to overuse of grain and higher consumption of feed per unit of livestock production.

“We decided to collaborate with Russian scientists to develop not only the resource-and energy-saving technology and cooking recipes of mixed feed enriched with various additives, but also to design equipment for the production of additives using protein, complex mineral and other supplements from local raw materials and secondary waste of the food industry,” Vladimir Samosyuk said. Production lines will be developed by scientists and designers of the center, will be installed at the feed production shops or feed mills affiliated with the Bakery Department.

All in all, during this period the Belarusian and Russian scientists plan to develop 15 technologies and 15 types of equipment to upgrade the existing feed production facilities and those under construction. Russia will be responsible for eight lines, Belarus for six. Two lines will be designed by joint efforts. As a result, the animal feed industries in Belarus and in Russia will become more technologically advanced.

“We decided to make extensive use of sapropel which was not used previously in the manufacture of feed. These efforts will be carried as part of the scientific research,” he informed.

Vladimir Samosyuk informed that Mixed Feed draft program would include three phases from 2011 to 2013. The program envisages development of technologies and equipment for the production of protein and mineral additives and premixes, equipment for wet-heat treatment as well as mobile units for mixed feed production.

Given batch production, new equipment will be 1.5-2 times cheaper than the imported analogues. Besides, the program will create jobs and minimize the use of foreign currency.

According to Vladimir Samosyuk, the program will allow for saving 10-15% in production costs and reducing the consumption of grain in the composition of mixed feed by at least 20%. The annul production of biologically sound eco-friendly fodder is projected to increase from 4.7 million tonnes to 7.5 million tonnes in Belarus and from 29.2 million to 46 million tonnes in Russia.

“We hope for an increase in average daily gain in weight by at least 800-1000 grams for cattle and by at least 600 grams for hogs,” Vladimir Samosyuk said.

A total of RUB517.7 million will be put into the implementation of the program. Of them RUB226.5 million will be taken from the Union State budget.

Scientists and constructors of Belarus and Russia have a big experience in cooperation on equipment designing and production. The recent horticultural program implemented by the two countries in 2005-2008 let develop a wide range of new equipment for the production of vegetables and fruits.