Technology that works around the world
An American farm manager living near Moscow and using technology from DeLaval proves that good ideas can work anywhere
"The International Fund Russian Farms has been in Russia trying to help the agricultural industry for about ten years," says US citizen Shan Betzold, farm director for Dmitrov Dairy Farm, situated about 70 kilometers from Moscow. "Finally, they decided that they should build a project farm to prove that it would work – that's why we're here."
Construction of the farm commenced in 2002, and the first cows arrived in 2003. Today they have around 530 milking cows, plus another 400 young stock heifers. Dmitrov Dairy Farms operates with two milkers per shift, milking three times a day; each milker works seven shifts a week. The parlour is a Double 12, expandable to a Double 20. "That's for when we move from 900 to 1200 cows in the near future," says Shan. The Holstein-Fresian herd is housed in a 6-row loose housing system.
Last year, the operation sold about 8000 kilograms of milk per cow. The farm uses ALPRO to measure daily milk weights, and this year Dmitrov Dairy Farms hopes to sell 9.5 – 10,000 litres per cow.
At the moment they run a 12-tonne cooler, so there are 2 collections a day, and the two truck-loads are shipped directly to Moscow.
Shan and his wife Nancy say the fact that they are Americans living in Russia has gained them media attention both locally and abroad. The farm's modern and successful milk production approach has proved just as interesting to the international farming community.
Learn more about cow comfort on Dimitrov farm. Read the full story on www.Milkproduction.com
