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A working meeting

On January, 16 the All-Russian Research Institute of sheep breeding and goat breeding held a working meeting of managers, scientists and specialists of the NASB and the Institute.

As noted by V. M. Egorov, Director General of the NASB, the interaction of the NASB and the Institute is close and productive. The most important result of 2016 was the development of a new sheep breed – the Russian Meat Merino. Further work in this direction is to improve livestock through the selective breeding of the flock.

At Egorov’s suggestion, it was decided to hold a meeting with the authors of the new breed, including experts of the NASB, scientists of the Institute, heads and specialists of six Stavropol breeding stud farms. The meeting is scheduled for January, 20.

Dr Marina Selionova, also the Director of the Institute, suggested considering and amending "Arrangements of valuation of stud fine-wool sheep breeds" in accordance with the requirements to the Russian Meat Merino.

Also there were discussed issues concerning the visit of one of the most authoritative Australian sheep breeders and holding the 19th Russian exhibition of stud sheep.

Developing a new breed

Specialists of the Kalmyk Research Institute of agriculture started working on a new breed of sheep by crossing Dorper and local Kalmyk breed. The experiments started in the Kalmykia Republic last summer.

Though Dorpers are quite expensive in Russia, their breeding is a profitable and promising business. Purebred Dorper rams reach a liveweight of 90-120 kg and ewes 50-80kg. The Dorper carcass has a good conformation and fat distribution. Dorper lambs have an inherent growth potential (ability to graze at an early age). They grow rapidly and can attain a high weaning weight.

The Dorper breed originated from the crossing of the Blackhead Persian sheep- a hardy desert breed, and crossed it with the Dorset Horned Ram- rapid growth and high quality meat. The Dorper sheds its fleece avoiding the need for mustering for shearing, crutching and fly control.

The Kalmyk breeders plan to get the first yield by the middle of spring, 2017. If the first experiment is successful, scientists will continue to develop the breed.

Coordination of the draft law

Alexander Tkachev instructed to accelerate work on coordination of the draft law on the strengthening of veterinary control

On 11 January, 2017 the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Alexander Tkachev held a working meeting with the heads of the Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian Federal fisheries Agency, the Deputy Minister and Directors of departments of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Minister announced the preliminary results of the previous year and gave instructions to the Deputy Minister and heads of departments of the Ministry of Agriculture for the main tasks of the current year.

"In 2016, the agricultural production grew by more than 4%. This is unprecedented growth. We received one hundred-nineteen million tons of grain. We observe positive dynamics in the production of livestock and fish products", – said Alexander Tkachev. According to the Minister, it’s necessary to focus on improving measures of state support of the industry and the implementation of new measures: concessional lending and single subsidies. "We need to actively engage in applied science in agriculture, development of selection and genetics, land reclamation and processing of agricultural products", he added.

During the meeting the participants discussed the issues of preparation for the sowing campaign of 2017, the mechanisms of regulation of the grain market, including intervention, the situation in animal breeding, trends in different markets of agricultural products. The Director of the Department of crop production, mechanization, chemicalization and plant protection Pyotr Chekmarev reported the results in the production of crops in 2016 and the preparation for spring field work.