KSG AGRO : Interview of the chief technologist of KSG Agro Viktor Nechmilov in The Ukrainian Farmer magazine

To Observe in order to Improve

Viktor Nechmilov

Chief technologist at KSG Agro agricultural holding

A technologist's job is to see what can be improved.

Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences Viktor Nechmilov for some time advised the pig complex of KSG Agro agricultural holding on technology. And a year and a half ago, he became its chief technologist. We talked with him about changes and achievements at the pig complex during this period, as well as about the peculiarities of work during the war.

- In 2021, the pig complex announced the change of genetics to Canadian genetics. Did it live up to your expectations? What results were obtained from its implementation?

- We tested the genetics for the number of piglets born, for the average daily growth, compared with the indicators of the available European genetics. And then the small Canadian herd that was "passed" through our meat processing plant.

We were satisfied with the fertility of sows: 15 newborn piglets. The gains turned out to be a little larger than we had: 515 g against 476 g. But the meat processing plant was simply delighted: after the collapse, they got a larger yield of meat there. I note that for a pig farm technologist, a meat processing plant technologist is a litmus test. So we understood that the decision to replace genetics was correct.

- The transition is still ongoing. When do you plan to finish it?

- Yes, the replacement of livestock has not yet been completed, because it is a very expensive process. We have purchased breeding pigs, we will breed them and gradually replace the rest of the European herd. It will take about 1.5 years.

- What changes in technology and approaches have been implemented since you started working at the pig farm?

- We start weaning piglets on the 21st day: Canadian genetics allow us to obtain animals with a live weight of about 6.5 kg during this period. We can also use the sow more intensively, increasing the efficiency of every square meter of the farm in which we have invested.

The boiler room was also reconstructed in order to receive more heat. There were also small but important changes. For example, replacement of heating mats. This is a story about animal welfare. And with pigs, everything is simple: it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for them, and they will reveal and give all the potential that the geneticists-breeders laid in them. And if you didn't finish, didn't get enough, you will immediately see it in the lower profitability of the business. We are increasing livestock. There were 4,800 sows on the farm. With the transition to weaning on the 21st day, we increased the herd to 6,000 sows.

In February of this year, they took over the management of a farm in the de-occupied Kherson region. There were 3,300 heads, and we will increase this number to 4,000 sows. So, the total number of sows will be 10,000 heads.

The occupiers quickly fled from the Kherson region, so they did not have time to cause serious damage to the farm, its condition is quite acceptable. But the people who worked there during the occupation... When we got there, they had glassy eyes, no emotions.

In order to minimize the impact of wartime realities on business, we purchased five diesel generators. Yes, the site in Kherson Oblast worked on generators until June. Fortunately, the solar panels there were intact, and for a time they helped on clear days. Of course, the generators increased the cost of production, but it was compensated by the cheaper grain group.

- Did changes occur in the rations of pigs during the war? What do you focus on in feeding?

- Feed raw materials were not changed during the war, but additional full-fat soy was introduced.

We purchased a full-fat soybean production line for our feed mill, and it is about to be installed. This is a significant change on the way to better raw materials in pig diets.

Experiments were previously conducted with full-fat soybeans, and they obtained 10-15% better average daily gains in the fields of the agricultural holding. However, considering this novelty of the compound feed plant, our growers will try to introduce it into the crop rotation.

- The hot season is always a test for both animals and workers of the pig complex. What do you do to help pigs tolerate the heat?

- In the heat, pigs eat less, so they gain weight more slowly. All pig farmers face this... Yes, next year we plan to reconstruct the cooling system, because the microclimate plays a big role in ensuring that the pigs eat their rations with appetite.

Even despite the various additives we add to feed to help animals survive the heat, there is still a problem. Additives, development of rations - in this direction, we closely cooperate with the Cargill company . They have their own quality system, and we are confident in the excellent quality of their products.

- You mentioned pork processing. What kind of meat comes from pigs of Canadian genetics?

- I know from my experience that European genetics have leaner meat that retains moisture worse. That is, such pork quickly loses its marketability on store shelves. American genetics - both Canadian and American - are juicier, because they have more intermuscular fat and, accordingly, retain moisture better. In my opinion, after all, the Ukrainian consumer prefers fatty pork: that the kebab should be juicy.

In Ukraine, industrial technology is not set up to raise pigs weighing up to 170 kg. Farmers fatten them up to this weight at home. Muscles in pigs grow faster up to 110-115 kg, and then the carcass begins to fill with fat.

In industrial conditions, this is plus an additional 10 weeks of cultivation. But the market also needs such pork. Yes, we have a contract with the "Silpo" network for a certain amount of such fatter and more expensive meat - we have the opportunity to grow animals of this weight.

- What are the current health indicators of pigs? What diseases are the most cause for concern? Are you experimenting with novelties on the veterinary market?

- In principle, our pigs are more or less healthy. We rely primarily on disease prevention . I can say that all indicators of the preservation of pigs are within the norm.

It is necessary to understand that all diseases are caused by abstinence. Thus, the boiler house mentioned above is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature for animals in winter, when respiratory diseases spread more actively. In summer, the addition of acids prevents intestinal disorders.

The vaccination system has been developed for years - it is unchanged. We chose the best vaccines, we prefer foreign ones. Globally we do not change veterinary drugs . Although if there is a new product on the market that the supplier advises us, we conduct experiments to make sure of its effectiveness.

- Biosecurity is one of the main directions at the pig complex, which should not be skimped on. Are you introducing or planning new technologies in this area?

- We reviewed our biosecurity system. Analyzed and optimized the movement of internal transport through the farm. Now we are building an additional large car wash.

Disinfection mats were replaced with deo baths last year. The advantage of the latter is that it is impossible to step or jump over them - only to disinfect.

We pay great attention to work with personnel. After all, biosecurity should be in the head of every employee - a kind of toggle switch that turns on automatically. Frankly speaking, many of the average employees of pig farms (and not only ours) do not fully understand why he needs to wash and change clothes at the entrance to the farm.

- What tools help to analyze the needs of the pig complex?

- We are constantly making small changes. After all, the work of a technologist is an observation that can still be improved. The " AgroSoft " program helps us in this , where we enter data (primary accounting is set up very well). There are a lot of reports in this program. We analyze them every week, identify weak points and pay more attention to them.

AN EXPERT SPEAKS

Serhiy Dobryanskyi, head of strategic marketing and technology at Cargill

- We have been closely cooperating with our strategic partner, KSG Agro , for the past few years. We support him in matters of feeding and the technological process of fodder production. The company's continued progress with Canadian pig genetics is encouraging , and work is ongoing to ensure that feeding levels maximize the animals' genetic potential.

KSG Agro is always open to innovation and new fodder solutions, maintains a high bar for production efficiency, and never stops at what it has achieved. If it is economically expedient to implement applications to combat heat stress in animals, it will be implemented immediately when high temperatures occur. If we see the potential in the introduction of full-fat soybeans into diets, we apply this decision in practice and have a result. Thus, the economic efficiency of fattening pigs increases due to the increase in average daily gains of animals and improvement of feed conversion.

Strategic planning and its step-by-step implementation, a constant desire for growth, the introduction of innovations, leadership and professionalism in working with genetics new to our conditions are the drivers of KSG Agro , which make the company a leading player in the pig breeding market of Ukraine, even in today's difficult conditions. Of course, many new challenges and difficult tasks await them, but I am absolutely sure that they will succeed in everything.