Livestock farming and silage production issues were discussed in the Atninsky District
Today, a regional seminar and meeting on livestock farming and silage production was held in the Atninsky Municipal District of the Republic of Tatarstan. Participants included Gelyus Bayazitov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan; Rustem Khisamiyev, Head of the Atninsky Municipal District; Timur Galeyev, Head of the Main Veterinary Department of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan; as well as heads and specialists from agricultural and food departments in the republic's municipal districts, veterinary services, and employees of agro-industrial enterprises.
During the practical part of the meeting, participants viewed an exhibition of agricultural equipment, feed, additives, and veterinary drugs. A demonstration of corn silage production, the use of preservatives during corn harvesting, post-harvest field treatment, and a demonstration of processing techniques were also held.
During the theoretical part of the seminar, Rustem Khisamiyev reported that the arable land area of the Atninsky Municipal District is 46.2 thousand hectares, of which 43.8 thousand hectares is sown. Grain and leguminous crops account for 18.3 thousand hectares. Forage crops account for 58%.
According to him, agriculture remains the key economic sector in the district, accounting for 70% of the gross territorial product. Nine medium-sized agricultural organizations, six peasant farms, and two cooperatives operate in this sector. A total of approximately 1,200 people work in the district's agro-industrial complex.
Gelus Bayazitov discussed the fundamentals of harvesting high-quality feed and determining strategies and tactics for silage production, and also summarized the livestock production results for the first eight months of this year.
Over the first eight months, agricultural enterprises in the republic produced 1,253,000 tons of milk and 280,000 tons of meat. The average milk yield per cow was 5,936 kg.
He cited the following key factors influencing the quality and nutritional value of silage: harvesting corn at a moisture content of no more than 65% and a cutting height of at least 40 cm, crushing the corn kernels in the silage, thoroughly compacting the silage, covering the silage trench with a double layer of film, and setting the trench for 3-5 days.
Gelus Bayazitov emphasized that for better digestibility of corn starch, the grain must be properly crushed or broken into pieces. For this, the forage harvester must be equipped with a corn cracker. "Increasing starch digestibility by 1 percent increases cow productivity by 300 grams per day." "Per 1,000 cows, the farm receives additional revenue from milk sales of 360,000 rubles per month. Therefore, using a corn cracker pays for itself in 2.5 months," he said.
When preparing silage, it is necessary to consider the agronomic requirements for corn cultivation, methods for monitoring the silage production process, the optimal timing of corn harvesting, and the correct selection of the necessary microbial starters.