What are the advantages of grain-fed cattle?

In Buryatia, beef cattle farming is an important source of employment and income for both large farmers and ordinary residents of the republic. Intensive grain feeding allows beef cattle to gain weight faster - in 14-16 months they can reach a weight of 450 kg or more. Unlike traditional grazing, which requires up to 3 years of age to achieve comparable results, intensive livestock farming provides greater efficiency. At the same time, the MEAT remains tender and contains more nutrients, rather than accumulating excess fat and connective tissue.

“The young animals give the greatest weight gain in the first year. This is physiology. Maximum weight gain can be achieved during this period. When conducting intensive fattening, the feed supply is important. Everything here is decided by a properly selected diet, a combination of succulent and roughage feeds, concentrates,” explainsMinister of Agriculture of the Republic of Belarus Galsan Dareev.

Intensive feeding of livestock brings economic benefits due to a reduction in fattening time and an increase in herd turnover. Livestock farmers are aware of this and actively use this strategy. For example, livestock breeders from Dagestan and other regions of RUSSIA often purchase young animals in Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal Territory, despite the difficulties and possible losses when transporting livestock.

In 2022-2023, Buryatia livestock breeders visited Dagestan, Kalmykia and the Chelyabinsk region to learn best practices in the field of livestock feeding. Feedlots are successfully used in these regions; their products are in stable demand and at favorable prices. Various feeding technologies are used in all three regions, which makes it possible to achieve high daily weight gain of young animals of up to 1.5 kilograms and more.

Today in the Republic of Buryatia there are already 6 farms that use the technology of intensive grain feeding. These are Kuitunskoe LLC, Uula LLC, Pobeda LLC, K(F)Kh Tsyrenov S.D., K(F)KH Purbuev T.A., K(F)KH Khazagaev S.Sh. 

More than 1,000 heads of cattle are already being fattened throughout the republic, using existing premises for this purpose. Several other large agricultural enterprises also plan to build specialized feedlots, purchase calves from farmers and the public and produce meat.

From 2024 , the state has provided a new support measure, which involves reimbursement of part of the costs of producing cattle up to 24 months of age for slaughter. Farmers will receive 500 rubles for every kilogram over 420 kg of live weight. For example, if livestock is delivered for primary processing with a live weight of 450 kg, then the subsidy will be 15 thousand rubles: (450-420) * 500 rubles = 15,000 rubles.

Galsan Dareev emphasized that in Buryatia, pastoralists have extensive historical experience in animal husbandry; many enterprises are engaged in breeding purebred and highly productive beef cattle and their hybrids. With the right approach and strong desire, republican farms have every chance of successfully implementing feedlot projects. The use of industrial technology for beef production can significantly increase the income of agricultural producers.