State and problems of forage production in the regional agro-industrial complex

The article analyzes the current state of forage production in agricultural organizations of the Oryol region, identifies problematic aspects and outlines development prospects. Studies have shown that forage production today is a key sub-sector of agriculture, influencing the development of crop production, livestock farming, food and processing industries, restoration of soil fertility, environmental protection and the ecological state of rural areas. Our assessment of the cost structure of livestock production in agricultural organizations of the Oryol region showed that the feed base accounts for 63% of all production costs. The feed base in agricultural organizations of the region is formed mainly at the expense of feed of their own production. Feed availability is a fundamental indicator for assessing the feed base in animal husbandry, reflecting the achieved level of feeding. The total feed availability of livestock (excluding pigs and poultry) per conventional head in 2023 was 89.4%, which is lower than the level of the previous year. The problem of unmet need for feed in physical units of measurement can be solved in two ways, on the one hand, by increasing the yield of forage crops, on the other hand, by expanding their sown areas. In general, in the economic entities of the Oryol region for the period from 2018 to 2023, there was an increase in the size of sown areas, but there is a significant decrease under forage crops from 102.5 to 72.9 thousand hectares. Along with a decrease in the production of own feed, feed consumption per one conventional head of cattle decreased. Thus, the insufficient level of formation of the feed base both in terms of sown areas of forage crops and their nutritional value is one of the restraining factors in the development of the livestock industry in the region. The reserve for increasing feed production is possible due to extensive factors in the development of forage production.