Veliša might be the biggest bull, but the ten-year-old Lara, a Simmental cow, is this year’s champion. She has delighted the visitors to the 89th International Agricultural Fair, who have learnt that she produces up to 50 l of milk daily. Her previous owner, Milan Milanković from Mratišić, says that it is unusual for this breed to produce so much milk. However, that is not Lara’s only quality.
– Lara has already won numerous awards at regional and national exhibitions and she is now the Supreme Champion of the Novi Sad Fair, says Milanković. – She has already given birth eight times and she is currently pregnant for the ninth time. All Lara’s good characteristics have been passed on to her six daughters. Her physical and health status would allow her to give birth three or four times more, which would be in line with the standards for her breed.
According to Milanković, a machine can milk Lara in four to five minutes, while it would take around half an hour to do that manually. He points out that the quality and quantity are both affected by three key things: genetics, nutrition and living conditions.
– On my farm I have cows that produce as much as 60 l of milk. It’s all about selection, says this proud farmer. Also, nutrition is important, because a meal has to be well balanced. For example, in summer, when the temperatures are high, Lara eats up to 45 kg of feed and drinks up to 100 l of water!
All ten exhibits sold
What definitely brought joy to Milan Milanković at this year’s even is the fact that yesterday he sold all 10 head of cattle he had exhibited and made EUR 35,000. The cows and heifers will be transported to Nova Varoš after the fair.
– My farm is full, we have 70 head of cattle, so there is always a lot of work to be done, especially since we are constantly trying to improve. There are always buyers, regardless of how many head I have, Milanković concluded.
