Restructuring of milk quality, production and milk recording in Lithuania

Lithuania started to implement its economic reforms in 1990. Former state owned collective farms were radically restructured. Almost three quarters of all cattle and the most part of pigs are reared by farmers and household farms. This situation hampers the introduction of advanced methods of animal husbandry and does not allow the production of higher quality milk because farmers have a lack of income for acquiring equipment and reconstructing buildings. The State supports the efforts of farmers which are aimed at restructuring the livestock sector in order to produce marketable products and maintain farmers' income. In order to upgrade local breeds and to produce high quality milk, Lithuania imports milking cows and supports for new technologies. The years 1998-1999 witnessed an increased milk yield of recorded cows. Average milk yields were 4 250 kg with 4.26 percent fat and 3.16 percent protein per cow per year. The milk yields were higher by 125 kg and fat higher by 0.01 percent in comparison to the 1998 milk recording year. At the end of 1999 one third of purchased milk was of the highest quality while in 1997 it was only 10 percent.