EFFICIENCY OF "GRAIN" TECHNOLOGY FOR FATTENING DAIRY BREEDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF SOUTHERN UKRAINE AS A RESERVE AND PROSPECTS FOR INCREASING BEEF PRODUCTION IN THE STATE


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UDC: 636.2-053.2.084.52.085.53:637.5’62(477.7)

DOI: 10.37143/2786-7730-2025-5-6(83-84)10

REFERENCIS АРА style: Stulnyk, I. I. (2025). Efektyvnist «zernovoi» tekhnolohii vidhodivli buhaitsiv molochnykh porid v umovakh pivdnia Ukrainy yak rezerv ta perspektyvy zbilshennia vyrobnytstva yalovychyny v derzhavi [Efficiency of "grain" technology for fattening dairy breeds in the conditions of southern Ukraine as a reserve and prospects for increasing beef production in the state]. Svynarstvo i Ahropromyslove Vyrobnytstvo [Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production]. Poltava, 5–6(83–84), 147–163 [in Ukrainіаn].10.37143/2786-7730-2025-5-6(83-84)10


I. I. Stulnik, PhD Student at the Department of Technology for the Production and Processing of Livestock Products
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4444-2881
E-mail:i.stulnik@gmail.com
Odessa State Agrarian University, 99, Kanatna str. , Odessa, Ukraine, 650039 ROR: https://ror.org/000kkaz97

Manuscript was received/ 20.11.2025

Received after review/ 05.12.2025

Accepted for printing 20.12.2025

Available online/ 30.12.2025

Abstract

The objective  of the study was to determine the technological feasibility, economic efficiency of the"grain" technology for fattening dairy bulls (ensuring free access of animals to specialized feed, straw and water) as a reserve and prospects for increasing beef production at the state level in the conditions of regions of Ukraine suffering from the growing problem of global warming. Methods. The scientific and economic experiment was conducted in the conditions of the FOP "Sporysh R.B" of the Bilhorod- Dnistrovskyi district of the Odessa region according to generally accepted methods in cattle breeding and animal husbandry. Calves were provided with free access to starting feed containing 18.8% crude protein from the first day after purchase. After the young animals reached a live weight of 100 kg, the animals were fed the same type of feed containing 18.0% crude protein; 18.2% neutral detergent fiber. Animals were provided with free access to cereal straw and water. Young animals were weighed individually with an accuracy of ± 0.5 kg in the morning before feeding on the first day of each month until the moment of sale when the animals reached a live weight of 500 kg. Results. Young animals under intensive growing technology reached an average live weight of 102.9 ± 0.28 kg at the age of 3 months and were subsequently transferred to intensive growing and fattening technology with planned average daily gains of 1000-1300 g. During the entire period of growing young animals to a live weight of 80 kg, 200 l of prepared substitute was consumed or 25 kg of dry substitute/head/period, which in monetary equivalent corresponds to 2150 UAH per 1 head. The over-repaired young stock of the Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed, under intensive technology of growing, rearing and fattening, reaches a live weight of 500 kg in 415 days or 13.6 months. During the entire period of growing young stock to a live weight of 80 kg, 200 l of whole milk replacer was consumed, or 25 kg of dry whole milk replacer and 80 kg of starter feed per head per period. During the entire period of rearing and fattening young stock, 500 kg of straw and 2075.2 kg of feed per head are required. The role of straw is to stabilize the function of the rumen, prevent metabolic disorders and ensure physiologically complete digestibility of concentrated feeds. In our scientific and economic experiment, the consumption of straw and feed was observed in the ratio of 19.4%: 80.6%. The use of the so-called "grain" technology for fattening young cattle should be a good alternative to traditional Ukrainian types of fattening, which have practically become economically impractical in the South and other regions of the country due to climate changes in the direction of global warming. Conclusions. The cost of one day of feeding using the "grain" technology for fattening varied from 37.05 to 117.36 UAH per day per head, feeding costs for the entire period amounted to 30,479.82 UAH per head. Given a sales price of 115.0 UAH per 1 kg of live weight, gross revenue amounted to 57,500 UAH per head, profit - 17,876.24 UAH per head, the level of profitability reached 45.11%, but it is worth noting that the calculations were made without taking into account the costs of purchasing young cattle and the cost of straw for bedding.

Keywords: cattle breeding, grain technology, fattening, cattle, beef, feeding, straw, compound feed.

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