Appropriate technologies for fodder production in the Kaluga Region, Russia

Background
Transition of Russian agriculture is a special challenge for fodder and pasture systems. Hardly any development took place in the area of species and cultivars for fodder production. The mixtures are the same as two decades ago. Fodder and pasture management also seems to be deficient. As a consequence, yields are low and nutrient content of the fodder produced does not meet the requirements of lactating cows. As of the end of June each year milk production therefore falls drastically. During winter milk production is often virtually zero.

Based on experiences from other regions with similar climate in Europe, it appears that with adapted germplasm, appropriate mixture composition and fine-tuned management of fodder plots and pastures, the fodder base of dairy cows in the Kaluga area could be improved dramatically, both in terms of quantity and of quality. Milk yield could thus be improved and could become more stable throughout the year.

First experiences with imported fodder cultivars have yielded encouraging results. The challenge, however, is to embark on a systematic research and development process involving Russian research institutes in impact oriented technology development.

Over the last ten years, the Swiss College of Agriculture has played a leading role in developing low cost technology in Switzerland and in synthesizing experiences from different parts of the world in pasture management and dairy production in more general terms. Switzerland has a long standing tradition of working with mixtures of species in fodder production, which gives it a cutting edge benefit in developing such concepts further.

Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to improve milk yield of dairy farmers in Kaluga through developing appropriate technologies for fodder and pasture production.

Specific objectives are:

• Identify cultivars, species and species mixtures, that are best adapted to the local context
• Develop strategies for fodder management
• Develop a pasture management system that is compatible with the local context
• Communicate the results in appropriate form to dairy farmers
• Strengthen the technical and methodological capacity of regional institutes to initiate impact oriented research and development

Partners
Timiriasov-Academy, Kaluga, Russia
Swiss College of Agriculture
Swisscontact, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation, Zurich, Switzerland

Methods

• On stations experiments to fine tune species and cultivar selection and mixture composition
• On-farm trials to optimize fodder and pasture management
• Action research to develop an appropriate pasture management system on one farm
• Joint planning and evaluation of research sub-projects
• Exchange of researchers and mutual working visits between Russia and Switzerland

Contact
Urs Scheidegger, Swiss College of Agriculture, Berner Fachhochschule, CH-3250 Zollikofen, Switzerland (E-mail: urs.scheidegger@shl.bfh.ch)