OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2014. In Kurzeme, Ventspils district, “Ugale Agro” Ltd. have established a new type of cattle-shed or so-called “green shed”, which was built with Citadele Bank and European Union co-financing.

The total cost of construction of the new type of cattle-shed was 640 000 euro, of which 60% is the support of the European Union or co-financing of the Rural Support Service. The remaining funding was provided by Citadele Bank. According to “Ugale Agro” owner Erling Vang Mathiasen: “Two years ago we planned the construction of the new cattle-shed, as the new herd grew, and it was a logical new step of the business development. Negotiations with the other banks were protracted, so we started the construction of the cattle-shed at our own expense and, after negotiating with Citadele Bank, we were glad to find a quick solution”.

Erling came to Latvia in 2000, to look at the land first. This happened after his property in Denmark, where the household is situated, was used as a location for a motor highway, therefore Erling decided to find out what are the farming possibilities in Estonia, Poland and Latvia. The choice was made in favour of a place in Latvia – Ugale. “At the time I transported my technical equipment and 60 cows to Latvia by ferry, to Liepaja, and established a cattle-shed at the Soviet type farm,” said Erling. “We have been developing step by step, by cultivating the fields, which were overgrown, by extending the grazing area up to 500 hectares, of which about 100 hectares is own land, and the rest of the land we have taken on lease”.

Erling has acquired the education of agronomist in America, and he continually thinks of innovative farming: “Finally, we will be able implement (in the new cattle-shed) a loose cattle keeping, which creates savings from the farming point of view. Milk yield depends on the well-being of the cows, thereby by improving conditions; we plan to increase the amount of milk yield. The new cattle-shed will have a natural ventilation – the fresher is the air, the more milk we can get; it is a fact”.

The property owner reveals that “the cows have a special menu. We are one of the few farmers, who breed sugar beets specially for cows. It is an important part of the diet, in order for cows to have energy and a good health. In the new cattle-shed, the door is open and the cows are able to go to pasture by themselves or to return to the cattle-shed”.

“Ugale Agro” farm is another success story of rural entrepreneurs, which confirms that Latvian countryside is a place of growth and development for the entrepreneurs. We see that more and more farmers create and implement innovations that help not only to improve the production rate, but also to promote the quality, and to ensure the well-being of the farm herd. “Ugale Agro” Ltd. is developing purposely and annually, as well as it increases the size and value of the farm, and Citadele Bank has the honor to participate in this process”, says the member of the board of Citadele Bank Santa Purgaile.

The farm provides 8 job places. The main key industry is the production of milk. In addition to milk and cattle-breading, “Ugale Agro” grows crops, colza and sugar beet. Currently, the farm has 120 cows, but in a new cattle-shed, it is planned to increase a herd up to 160 cows.