1-5 February 2010, Dutch dairy experts conducted SWOT-analysis on the dairy farms in Chernigiv region in the context of Dutch-Ukrainian project Infomoloko. The Dutch (Jan Bakker, one of the leading dairy experts in the Netherlands, and Rudie Brock, dairy consultant and assistant manager of international projects of the Friesian) closely investigated strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and possible threats of milk production at three farming enterprises – PISKIVSKE, SHEVCHENKO and NYVA – which are the members of the Association of Ukrainian Milk Producers.

During the SWOT-analysis the Dutch focus was on:

-    feeding (ration formulation, balanced rations, feed quality)
-    housing (cow comfort, hygiene)
-    management of groups of cows
Additionally, Ukrainian producers together with Dutch consultants discussed a set of questions that are specific for each individual enterprise.

SWOT-analysis experts worked out recommendations to solve the problems taking into account specific features of the farms - animal health status, cow productivity, barn design etc.

Obviously, experts’ advice and recommendations are only one little step to achieve the goal and obtain the result. The Dutch specialist said, “We will go home and you will stay here to implement everything we have been talking about. The future depends on the people working on the farm.”

milkua.info:
Jan Bakker – dairy business consultant, project manager and trainer in forage production, cattle nutrition, preventive healthcare, farm building design and farm set up, cow comfort, dairy farm management (technical, economical) business plan development. Practical periods and work on dairy farms in the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, and Bolivia. Has been advising Ukrainian dairy producers for more than eight years. At III Ukrainian Dairy Congress he will make presentations on optimization of production costs on a dairy farm and prevention and treatment of hoof diseases.

Private farming enterprise PISKIVSKE - 650 cows, increased milk yield from 12 liters to 25 liters per cow a day during a year; the participants of the III Ukrainian Dairy Congress can visit the farm on 26 February according to the program of technical visits.

Milkua.info