Cow comfort = farm productivity. This is not theory, but the practice of STOV "Peremoga". On June 30, the team of STOV "Peremoga", a member farm of the AMP from Cherkasy region, hospitably welcomed the participants of another "National Farm Day" and frankly shared their own experience in developing modern dairy production.
The series of events "National Farm Day" is organized by the ASSOCIATION OF DAIRY PRODUCERS, the Ukrainian Agri Council, and the Dykun company.
The AMP sincerely thanks the entire team of STOV "Peremoga" for their openness and readiness to share not only successful decisions but also lessons that became the foundation of current results. And also all the partner companies that supported the holding of the event, made expert presentations and practical demonstrations. It is precisely such a frank professional discussion that helps the entire dairy industry of Ukraine to develop.
Opening the event, the head of the farm Dmytro Solomaha said: since 2021, the farm has doubled its herd to 900 cows, tripled the gross production of milk, and achieved a productivity of 38.5–39 kg of milk per cow per day.
"Most of all — almost by 30% — the productivity of the farm depends on the comfort of the cow," Dmytro quoted the global expert on dairy cattle breeding Gordie Jones. It was this philosophy that became the basis of all the farm's investments.
"It would be logical to expect the highest milk yields in April. However, in recent years we receive them precisely in July — in the midst of the heat. A paradox? - No! Constant access to fresh air allows cows to consume more feed, rest longer and, accordingly, produce more milk. After launching two stages of the ventilation and cooling system in 2024-2025, we received an additional about 6 l/day of milk per cow," Dmytro Solomaha shared.
The team of "Peremoga" works comprehensively on all components of animal welfare:
- Comfortable places: in April-October, sand bedding is used for milking cows; they started to implement bedding from the dry fraction of separated manure on top of rubber mats for even greater animal comfort.
- Sufficient water consumption: when the drinking front is at least 10 cm/cow, the water supply speed is not lower than 15 l/min, and the drinkers are heated — sufficient water consumption is guaranteed.
- More space: for cows in the pre-natal period, 12–15 m² of area per head is provided, which positively affected both the health of fresh cows and reproduction indicators.
The ambitious plans of the farm until 2030 are a new modern cowshed, 3,000 cows, and the construction of a biogas complex.
During the event, Ganna Lavreniuk, General Director of the AMP, presented an up-to-date overview of the situation in the dairy sector of Ukraine and outlined the urgent European integration challenges for dairy farms.
Among the most important: until January 2028 — full implementation of European requirements regarding the welfare of cattle and calves during keeping; until January 2029 — full transition to the supply of "extra" grade milk, with a step-by-step tightening of requirements for bacterial contamination and the number of somatic cells (07.2026-12.2027 - transition to TBC 300 thousand CFU/ml and SCC 400 thousand/ml; 01.2028-01.2029 - TBC 100 thousand CFU/ml and SCC 400 thousand/ml)
Ms. Ganna dwelt in detail on the legislative framework regulating the general requirements for the welfare of agricultural animals during keeping and the special one - regarding the welfare of calves aged 0-6 months, emphasized the indicators for self-control of farms regarding the proper fulfillment of animal welfare requirements, provided links to explanatory materials on the website of the SPSC and AMP.
The Farm Day turned out to be extremely warm not only because of +33°C, but above all thanks to the atmosphere of rich and professional communication. And during the tour of the farm together with the deputy director Karen Darchynian and the head of the farm Nadiia Prykhodko, the participants evaluated the effectiveness of modern cooling systems in cowsheds, canopies, and premises for raising calves.
Of particular interest was the presentation, during the operation of the milking parlor, of the innovative Skelex exoskeleton to ease the work of milkers — this solution from Global Agro Finance and the Consultation Center of the Association of Dairy Producers significantly reduces the load on the arms and back of machine milking operators, making their work safer and more comfortable.
Thank you to all participants for their activity, professional discussions, and desire to develop Ukrainian dairy cattle breeding together. Separate gratitude and warmest wishes to the head of STOV "Peremoga" Dmytro Solomakha, the chairman of the supervisory board and co-founder Yuriy Tkachenko, the honorary member of the supervisory board and manager who started the development of "Peremoga", Grygoriy Fedorovych Zinchenko, and to each and every one of the inspired and friendly team of the dairy farm STOV Peremoga!
See you again at the next "National Farm Days"!
See the atmosphere of the event in the photos that we attach to the publication:
