A. Klimonis: "The number of dairy cattle farms in Lithuania is growing, but partnership is important"
The number of beef cattle farms in Lithuania has been increasing in recent years as some dairy farms have switched to cattle farming. Almantas Klimonis, Director of the Livestock Purchasing Department at BIOVELA-UTENOS MĖSA, stresses that this change opens up many new opportunities for both farmers and processors, but that cooperation is essential to ensure the highest quality of meat.
As farms modernise, they look for reliable partnersLast week's livestock exhibition „Livestock 2024“, which took place for three days on the Akademija campus, brought together the sector's community, with the space of the event's main sponsor, &bdash; BIOVELA-UTENOS MESA –, being one of the exhibition's centres of attraction.
According to Almantas Klimonis, Director of the Livestock Purchasing Department of the company, livestock farms in Lithuania are modernising rapidly and farmers are gaining more knowledge, are interested in innovations and appreciate the cooperation with the meat processors based on professionalism and honesty.
„We strive to be close to farmers and are always ready to discuss, listen and find the best solutions together. Transparency, professionalism, trust and building long-term partnerships – are core values that we consistently uphold. That is why this exhibition gave us the opportunity not only to share our experience, but also to reinforce our commitment to our partners – farmers. We are the largest buyer of cattle in the Baltics, and by working closely with farmers we can successfully grow the entire livestock sector," says Klimonis.
Dairy farms interested in cattle farming
According to the company's Director of Livestock Purchasing, more and more dairy farms are switching to beef cattle, which not only offers new opportunities but also poses various challenges.
„While the number of beef cattle farms in Lithuania is growing, many livestock farmers are faced with questions about how to ensure that their animals produce the best quality meat. Meat quality is determined not only by the breed, age, conformation, conformation, fat content, but also by the conditions under which the cattle are fed and housed. We have many years of experience in this field, and we invite farmers to consult us so that we can help them make the right decisions when buying the right cattle or adding them to their existing herds. Our aim is not only to buy cattle, but also to produce the highest quality cattle that can match and meet the highest European standards," emphasises A. Klimonis.
Puts more emphasis on sustainability and animal welfare
The exhibition also discussed the latest industry trends and focused on sustainability and animal welfare issues. Klimonis notes that cattle farmers are increasingly looking into these topics.
„The livestock sector is being transformed by rising animal welfare standards, which are bringing new practices to farm operations. As a result, our responsibilities are also changing: we are focusing more on raising the animal, feeding it, and, once purchased, transporting it safely. We aim to keep the stress on the animal at all stages to a minimum. These practices not only ensure the ethical treatment of the animals, but also improve the quality of the meat," says the expert.
According to the company's Director of Livestock Purchasing, new sustainability standards are also changing the daily routines of livestock farmers and meat processors around the world, with the aim of reducing environmental impact by maintaining high production standards. „We are seeing a trend towards more sustainable farming methods. For example, farmers are speeding up the maturity of their cattle through a regular, balanced diet. This not only helps to achieve faster, but also better quality results," notes Klimonis.
