Technical Solutions for Mechanized Livestock Production under Alpine Pasture Conditions

Abstract

The production of drinking milk under alpine pasture conditions presents a number of specific features and challenges. The lack of specialized technical equipment for milk collection and primary processing can lead to economic losses, even in regions with ecologically clean environments and abundant natural forage resources. (Research purpose) To develop technical solutions and a closed-cycle technology for the production of drinking cow’s milk under alpine pasture conditions. (Materials and methods) The study examines the key aspects of organizing a closed-cycle milk production system that employs technical equipment for milking and primary milk processing, powered by a renewable energy source – mountain glacial rivers. The proposed technical solutions are patent-protected, and prototype units have been successfully tested on mountain farms in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. (Results and discussion) The proposed milking equipment is specifically designed to ensure gentle handling of cows’ teats during the milking process. Freshly collected milk is transferred to a cooling unit that utilizes the natural cold of glacial mountain rivers. The initial quality of the milk met Group 1 sanitary standards, with an average fat content of 3.65% and a bacterial count of 280,700 microorganisms per milliliter. The average daily milk yield was 12.5 kilograms per cow in a herd of 100 cows. The milk is cooled within 25 minutes, and its temperature is maintained until further transportation or processing. This approach provides optimal storage conditions for milk production in mountainous regions. (Conclusions) The implementation of the proposed technical solutions significantly improves the profitability of cow milk production under alpine pasture conditions. In addition to milking and primary milk processing, the technological system also incorporates operations aimed at maintaining soil fertility and pasture sustainability through the utilization of livestock waste at the milking center.