In our magazine number 3 in June of 2012 we described Ltd. «Vitchyzna» in Sumy, and its owner and manager Sergei Chyzhyk. In particular, how in 2005 he bought neglected farm in the village of Shpotivka (Konotop district) where 300 cows were kept. In seven years new owner and his team have created at this place successful and modern farm, building the entire infrastructure from scratch. This year the magazine «Milk and Farm» again visited the farm in Shpotivtka to make sure that an efficient infrastructure can be created without the crazy investments, «cheap» does not mean «bad». It was the ideology which governed the «Vitchyzna» when building feedlots — grounds for keeping heifers.

Ukrainian milkmen used two basic ways to keep cows. The first, more common — animals are kept indoors, the second — in the open areas.

It may seem that the first option is preferable. However, to understand, one must consider two important points. First, to build new barn «from the scratch» clearly requires more money than to equip open areas. However, it is preferred by most barn owners of dairy farms. The reason is quite obvious: these buildings inherited from the «old days», and therefore do not require much investment. Second, to create the proper conditions (including climate) in the barn is more difficult than in the open areas. Heifers feel perfectly at low temperatures down to −22°C, so during cold weather the barn is more needed by people who work with them.

More information you can read in the magazine «Milk and Farm» # 1 (14), February 2013