OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2009. Milk total output in the Gomel oblast made up 52,400 tonnes in January, up 15% as against the same period last year.

The highest gain in milk output was registered in the Zhlobin, Zhitkovichi, Rogachev and Buda-Koshelyovo regions with 30%, 27%, 25% and 24% respectively.

Milk sales grew 22.2% to reach 44,100 tonnes. The average milk yield totaled 289 kilos per a cow, up 33 kilos from the previous year.

According to Alexander Lazuto, milk total output in the oblast increased due to the well-provided forage reserve. Thus, as for February 1 the fodder storage in the agricultural companies of the region was 27% up from the same figure last year.

Milk total output is planned to increase by 16.5% to 1.025 million tonnes in 2009, the average milk yield should make up 4,250 kilos per a cow as against 3,770 kilos last year.

Twenty-one dairy farms are set to be built in the oblast this year. The dairies will be equipped with up-to-date equipment including computer systems.