MSU Extension Helps Ukrainian Dairy Producers

By Phil Durst and Barry Bradford

In March 2024, just weeks past the second anniversary of the February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a representative of the Association of Milk Producers (AMP) in Ukraine reached out to Phil Durst, Michigan State University Extension Dairy & Beef Educator for help. The previous year, Durst, along with colleagues Phil Kaatz, Stan Moore and Barry Bradford presented a dairy webinar for AMP producers and advisors. Now, AMP was asking for systematic cooperation in which MSU Extension would provide a series of dairy webinars in 2024.  

Ukraine is a largely agricultural country, with agricultural products making up 20% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) prior to the war. Dairy was a large part of that contribution as the country looked to grow its production and exports of dairy products to be at the level of world-leading countries.

In one regard, dairy production in Ukraine is very different from the American model of the dairy industry. Farms in Ukraine are labelled either as “industrial”, which we would call commercial, or “backyard”. Backyard farms, generally with only a few head of cattle, are primarily the result of the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992 and the privatization of collective assets including cows, land and equipment – with everyone sharing in the distribution of assets. 

Pre-war (January 1, 2022), Ukraine had 1.56 million dairy cows and a total of 2.67 million cattle. Of those dairy cows, 72% (1.13 M) were backyard cows, with 425,000 cows on commercial dairies. That number of commercial dairy cows is similar to the Michigan population of dairy cows.  

AMP was established in 2009 by ten farmers and now has more than 150 member farms that produce 40% of the commercial milk in Ukraine. Besides handling member milk, they have (according to information from the association president) worked with their farmers to double milk production averages. They employ advisors in what they call the largest consultancy center in Europe and host the annual Ukrainian Dairy Congress (https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/a_great_dairy_conference_a_world_away) among other educational outreach. 

The war with Russia has severely impacted every aspect of agriculture including production, processing, markets and transportation. Millions of Ukrainians, including friends of Durst, have fled the country, millions more are behind enemy lines, killed or in the service. This has impacted the domestic market for dairy. Russian artillery has hit infrastructure including farms, processing and transportation.

The effects have been devastating. Information from AMP states that more than 100 dairy farms have suffered partial or complete destruction and the lives of around a half million head of cattle (all cattle) have been lost, including more than 240,000 backyard cows and 50,000 commercial dairy cows, losses of 27% and 11% respectively.  

Ukrainians understand the need to rebuild their economy – including their ability to feed themselves and export agricultural products. Oksana Galak, program manager at AMP, said in an email, “We have a lot of work ahead of us to rebuild the affected dairy industry and Ukraine as a whole. Our farmers are a driving force that, despite losses, destruction, mined fields, mobilization of personnel and many more challenges that they have to deal with every day, continue to work and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” 

AMP requested webinars on a variety of subjects including the cost/benefit analysis of feed additives, Q fever management, dairy farm economics, attaining high milk production and dairy farm construction. Durst and Bradford agreed to organize webinars on these topics.  

Bradford discussed feed additive evaluation and Durst presented a webinar on dairy farm economics and analysis. For some topics, they have recruited experts who can address specific issues. For the webinar on Q Fever, a disease not currently found in U.S. cattle herds, Dr. Georg Eller, a German veterinarian, was recruited. Attaining high production of milk (they suggested 55 kg/cow/day or greater than 121 lbs. per cow in the herd), the subject was broken down into four areas: nutrition by Dr. Barry Bradford, cow comfort by Phil Durst, genetics by Dr. Chad Detrow (Penn State) and reproduction by Dr. Richard Pursley (MSU). Dr. Joe Harner (Kansas State) will present a webinar on building a dairy farm.  

Webinars are conducted via Zoom on the first Monday of each month for an audience of dairy advisors and leading farmers. They are sequentially translated so teaching time is essentially doubled. Each webinar, with questions, is about 2.5 hours in length.  

These webinars are intended to provide leading information on subjects so that the Ukrainian dairy industry can leap forward as they are able to rebuild. Already, dairy farmers in Ukraine have responded to the crisis situation despite the setbacks. Milk production, which in 2023 was down 6% because of the war, has not only recovered on commercial farms, but has grown from 2.75 M metric tons (tonnes) to 2.8 M tonnes per year, even though commercial herd cow numbers are lower by 50,000.  

The spirit of the Ukrainians was evident during the August 5 webinar when Bradford and Durst recognized the accomplishments of Ukrainian athletes competing at the Olympics and winning 12 medals during the war.  

On the July 4 Independence Day holiday in the US, Durst and Bradford received an email from Olena, editor of the Milk & Farm magazine in Ukraine, with this message, “Accept my congratulations on Independence Day. You know exactly what it means to be independent, we know exactly the price of independence. I wish prosperity to your country. Thank you very much for the support we have from the USA and from you personally.” 

Durst and Bradford of Michigan State University feel that it is a privilege to share information with the Ukrainian dairy advisors and farmers and to strengthen the ties of Michigan State University with this country, and AMP members in turn appreciate the tangible support during their time of crisis.