27 January, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The upcoming frosts promise the rural residents of Glubokoye a good ice harvest, which they intend to stock up on again for cooling milk, the Department of Agriculture and Food of the Glubokoye District Executive Committee told a BELTA correspondent. Last year, the residents of Glubokoye tried the traditional method for the first time and became convinced of its effectiveness and cost-efficiency. During pasture-based keeping, milking is carried out using mobile units and lasts about two and a half hours. During this time, in hot weather, milk sours, losing its taste qualities, and farms incur losses. Not all agricultural enterprises can afford to purchase mobile refrigeration units, but stocking up on ice in advance for cooling purposes is feasible and affordable. For instance, in May 2010, from the moment of round-the-clock grazing in the field, 40 tons of milk were returned to farms due to souring, and every tenth kilogram was rated second grade. In May of last year, when ice was used to cool the milk obtained, these indicators decreased fivefold. Furthermore, the district as a whole managed to save about 40 thousand kWh of electricity per month. Currently, farms are hopefully awaiting frosts so that the ice on water bodies "grows," but they have decided to abandon the practice of freezing water in plastic bags, as this ice melts faster. The mass harvesting of ice blocks is planned to begin at the end of February. The reserves will be stored in clamps, under a layer of sawdust, brushwood, straw, and polyethylene. -0-

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