Miory Regional Executive Committee
JSC "Shaiterovo", which recently celebrated its 95th anniversary, ranks among the best in the northern region in terms of crop yields, gross grain harvest, and livestock farming. The agricultural enterprise has been listed on the Board of Honor of the Verkhnedvinsk District, multiple times on that of the Vitebsk Region, and twice on the republican Board of Honor. In the first four months of the year, the enterprise achieved a net profit of more than 400 thousand rubles. The profitability rate from sales of pork products is 11 percent, and for milk it is approximately 30 percent. There is always room for growth, as noted by the farm director Mikhail Gusnenkov, referring to expanding processing capacity, systematic modernization, and the commissioning of new promising facilities.
Comprehensive approach
The staff of JSC "Shaiterovo" comprises over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of the same name. According to the head, the enterprise specializes in the production of meat, dairy products, and grain:
— Our agricultural land covers more than 5.7 thousand hectares, including approximately 3.7 thousand hectares of arable land. There is enough grain and legume crops to meet the needs of livestock farming: a complex for 24 thousand pigs, 2.4 thousand head of cattle, of which 815 are milking cows.
This substantial herd, whose density per 100 hectares of agricultural land is one of the highest in the region, must be well-fed. A pressing issue is addressed by the enterprise's own feed mill. Mikhail Petrovich notes that the ration is balanced using premixes containing the necessary vitamins, minerals, and trace elements:
— We modernize the facility whenever possible, understanding that this is not just about profitability, but primarily about quality. We are confident in our own feeds: we see the results daily in weight gains and milk yields. In
2023, the average annual yield per cow reached 8.5 thousand kilograms. Over the past four months, a representative cow produced 2,578 kilograms — an increase of 100 compared to the same period in 2022. Average daily weight gains at the pig complex have also increased: over 800 grams during fattening.
By the end of the year, JSC "Shaiterovo" anticipates a landmark event — the commissioning of a farm near the village of Zhiguli. This is the first dairy complex in the history of the enterprise. With proper management and care, it will raise the farm's output to over 9 thousand kilograms per cow annually. More than 11 million rubles will be invested in construction. Of this amount, 8 million will come from credit resources, while an additional 3.3 million in budget funds will be directed toward infrastructure for the facility: roads, electricity, and gas supply. By August, the Shaiterovo team will put into operation two buildings for housing the milking herd, and by the end of the year, a milking parlor. Nearly half of the herd will actually relocate to the complex, which is being built ahead of schedule.
The head cites the 24-thousand-head pig complex as the driver of the enterprise's growth. In 2023, with an increase of 300 tons, they obtained over 4.8 thousand tons of meat in live weight from it. Despite all the difficulties, pig farming continues to advance, Mikhail
— We are investing substantial funds into the development of the pig complex, performing much of the work using our own resources. This work may not be highly visible, but it is absolutely essential. The same applies to the construction of a breeding facility for 1,500 sows. The project, approved by regional leadership, should become a true breakthrough for the enterprise, shaping its future and enabling us to operate and generate revenue in new ways.
It is evident that such a large-scale initiative cannot be realized solely through internal funding. The farm relies on state support. After all, this facility represents an investment in the future for both JSC “Shaiterovo” and the region, as well as for the local residents employed at the enterprise.
— We are investing substantial funds into the development of the pig complex, performing much of the work using our own resources. This work may not be highly visible, but it is absolutely essential. The same applies to the construction of a breeding facility for 1,500 sows. The project, approved by regional leadership, should become a true breakthrough for the enterprise, shaping its future and enabling us to operate and generate revenue in new ways.
Maximizing Harvest Yields
In 2023, the average yield of grain crops at JSC “Shaiterovo” was approximately 50 centners per hectare. The farm won silver at the regional Dazhynki, and Chief Agronomist Viktor Golovach is pleased:
— Spring wheat yielded the best results, reaching nearly 60 centners per hectare. This year, out of 2,600 hectares of winter crops, more than 2,000 survived until spring, including 400 hectares of winter barley, which is twice as much compared to last season. As an experiment, we sowed approximately 80 hectares of alfalfa, which will be ensiled. We also sow triticale alongside winter wheat, whose growing season perfectly suits our northern region. To ensure balanced nutrition for our livestock, we strive for maximum yields.
Viktor Viktorovich emphasizes:
— This year, we should see the returns from the grain drying complex built in 2023, with a drying capacity of 60 tons per hour. The machinery fleet has also been updated, replenished with grain and forage combine harvesters, a “Belarus” tractor, and mounted equipment.
Delicacies with a Quality Mark
The delicious products of the meat processing workshop of JSC "Shaiterovo" require no introduction. More than 150 of its product varieties are sold in the enterprise's branded stores in Novopolotsk, Polotsk, Verkhnedvinsk, Vitebsk, and the agro-town itself. Mobile retail operations are organized not only in the Verkhnedvinsk district but also in the neighboring Polotsk and Miory districts. The daily shipment volume amounts to approximately 5 tons of meat semi-finished products and 3 tons of finished goods.
Various smoked products, a range of head cheese, saltyson, ham, pâtés, and raw semi-finished products — all are natural, produced from their own raw materials, and thus bear the quality mark. This is precisely why they have gained popularity among consumers. Since this year, JSC "Shaiterovo" has launched the production of boiled sausages, frankfurters, and small sausages, notes Dmitry Sinyavsky, Head of Production at the meat processing workshop:
— To remain competitive, we are expanding our assortment and introducing new seasonings and spices. We recently acquired specialized equipment for vacuum packaging, marking another step in our development. We do not prioritize large volumes: preserving consumer trust is far more important. This is supported by both fresh raw materials and production methods that still adhere to traditional principles. For smoking, we use natural alder rather than liquid smoke; pickles and sausages are manufactured exclusively with salt and natural spices (garlic, cumin, coriander). There are absolutely no GMOs, soy, or starch!
By the way, the delicacies from JSC "Shaiterovo" have been appreciated not only by Belarusians. Among the regular customers of the new branded store opened this year in the agro-town are citizens of Russia and residents of the Baltic states.
For Ourselves and for the People
At JSC "Shaiterovo", there are quite a few multi-generational families. Mikhail Gumnenkov, himself a descendant of an agricultural dynasty, fully understands that all conditions must be created to attract young people to work on the land:
— We guarantee decent wages, housing, and a social package. Under the presidential program and through our own resources, we are constructing housing for employees, purchasing and refurbishing dilapidated homes in the agrotown. Last year, our housing fund was supplemented with two apartments in a newly completed five-story building in Verkhnedvinsk.
It has become a longstanding tradition for JSC "Shaiterovo" to provide patronage to local infrastructure facilities, including the rural House of Culture, school, and kindergarten. The enterprise also takes pride in its own recreation center, which opened over ten years ago. In addition to farm employees, anyone wishing to do so can use the fitness and gymnastics halls or play billiards and table tennis; visitors even travel from neighboring villages.