26 January, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Robotic milking machines will be installed at new farms in the Vitebsk region within the next four years. This is stipulated by the regional programme for the development of the dairy industry for 2012-2015, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. For further development of production potential, it is planned to construct dairy farms with automatic milking installations in four agricultural organisations. Such a complex has already been built and is operational at the "Zaozerie" branch of OJSC "Lepel Dairy and Canned Goods Plant". In 2011, the average milk yield per cow on the farm was 6662 kg, compared to the regional average of 3968 kg per cow. In 2012-2015, nine farms are planned to be affiliated with milk processing enterprises, where new dairy farms using modern technologies will be introduced. Currently, seven processing enterprises in the region have agricultural branches, which form the main raw material base for meat and milk production. To increase capacity and modernise fixed assets, modern dairy farms utilising the latest scientific advancements have been built in the agricultural branches, and existing facilities are constantly being reconstructed. Overall, within the period of 2012-2015, it is planned to construct 102 dairy farms and reconstruct and technically re-equip 228 farms in the region. -0-

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