The head of state will visit the Ustensky Dairy Complex of the Ustye enterprise, which operates under the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB). For several years, specialists here have been working to breed a domestic red dairy cattle breed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko previously visited the Ustensky Dairy Complex in the autumn of 2021. Commissioned at the end of 2020, the facility was initially stocked with 1,200 heifers imported from Denmark.

The project aims to develop a highly productive domestic red cattle breed by 2030, serving as an alternative and complement to the Holstein and Black-and-White breeds. The produced milk features an increased content of fat, protein, and vitamins, making it ideal for cheese production. On average, each cow here yields 23 liters of milk per day, with some producing up to 50 liters. Furthermore, this milk is hypoallergenic and suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

As Chairman of the NASB Presidium of Vladimir Karanik recently told the media, the first phase of the project has been completed. This initial stage involved adapting Danish Red cows for use in Belarus’ agricultural industry, determining their genetic potential, and developing housing technologies. All of these efforts are aimed at ensuring the animals’ well-being and high productivity.

Breeding work is being carried out across several farms, including the Ustye experimental facility in Orsha District. Joint breeding sites have also been established in the Minsk Oblast, Brest Oblast, and Grodno Oblast.

The next phase involves clearly identifying genetic markers for high yield and strong animal survival rates, followed by breeding a distinct native breed. «This will entail crossbreeding with Belarusian and other breeds, including Holsteins, to establish our own breeding lineage that meets the needs of our agricultural industry,» Vladimir Karanik explained.