1/9/2009 4:18:00 PM Not your average shipping day Whitestone-Krebs cattle at home in Russia
Ty and Eldon Krebs along with herd vet Dr. Jeff Erquiaga watched the cattle get loaded on to the plane.
By Lyn Messersmith
September 9th and 16th , 2008 weren't ordinary sale days for Whitestone-Krebs Angus of Gordon, Neb. The shipment of two hundred fifty heifers and ten bulls to Russia had involved months of preparation, which culminated in two short days.
Eldon Krebs and Sergey Nitsenko were introduced through the University of Minnesota Extension Beef Team. Nitsenko, a private investor who hopes to build a Russian beef industry patterned on the US system, was looking for the best in Angus genetics and some sound advice. He found both at Whitestone-Krebs, and the Krebs got first hand knowledge about global marketing.
"I used to think of neighbors as the folks down the road," says Louisa Krebs. "This has given me a whole new perspective on the cattle business. "
It also built a working relationship between people of totally different backgrounds.
Nitsenko has worked with Dairy Management at the University of Minnesota to build a 600 head dairy operation near Moscow, using Holstein cattle purchased in Europe and managed by dairy experts from Holland.
After researching Angus cattle from several parts of the US for his new venture, he decided on Whitestone-Krebs genetics. Nitsenko spent considerable time at the Krebs ranch learning practices to make his operation sustainable. "He was interested in everything; feeding, putting up hay, even the fence stretchers," Louisa recalled. "Eldon showed him all of it."
The heifers were chosen by Eldon Krebs, with input from the buyer, and it was decided to breed them before shipping. They were quarantined at the ranch for 21 days, while health testing was done. A Russian veterinarian was involved during the process, as well as the Krebs' regular vet. Nitsenko is fluent in English, but the Russian official was not. An interpreter was present on the first day of his visit, but communication was difficult after Sergey and the interpreter departed.
No other livestock, including horses, could be in contact with the cattle going to Russia, so the herd was handled on foot and with four wheelers. Handlers wore protective boots. Feed tractors and pickups couldn't be used interchangeably between the regular herd and cattle to be shipped overseas, and corrals and chutes were unavailable for normal activity during quarantine, so alternate arrangements for weaning and other fall work on the ranch had to be made. Fortunately, a pasture was available to isolate the Russian herd so they didn't need to be in a dry lot.
Originally, delivery was set for April of 2008, but because of former restrictions on beef imports to Russia there were no health protocols in place, so dates for delivery changed several times as both governments worked to develop guidelines.
The cattle were trucked to Chicago in early September and quarantined at a USDA approved facility for two days. After inspection by a USDA veterinarian, they were put in crates and taken directly to the airport where the crates were loaded on airplanes. Each crate was on rollers and could be easily moved around. They were lifted to the plane with a specially built scissor like apparatus.
The Krebs traveled to Russia in April, and again when the cattle shipped from Chicago. They stayed in Moscow on the first trip, and in September at the farm where the cattle are. This enabled them to experience a bit of how Russians live in both rural and urban settings. They were housed in a small cabin on the farm, the sort of structure we would call a bunkhouse. A woman walked five miles every day to cook two meals for them. The food consisted of rice or some sort of grain, with vegetables, and sometimes a small portion of chicken.
In the country they saw small farms, but very little livestock other than perhaps a milk cow in a back yard, or a few goats. No one has tractors or other farm equipment. The work is done with a hoe. Markets in small towns offer many kinds of goods besides food, and are simply booths tended by the person selling his or her wares. There are many fresh fruits and vegetables available, but little meat. Everything is out in the open air. Louisa said it was cool when they were there, but she asked what it's like on a hot day. "Lots of flies," her companion replied!
The Krebs don't speak Russian, but found the people friendly, and said that someone was usually available to help with communication. They noted that children are taught English from about fourth grade on, so many of them speak our language quite well.
Apparently there isn't much protein in the Russian diet, but beef is in great demand by those who can afford it, though it is seldom offered on restaurant menus and rarely available in stores. A small rib eye would bring about $90.00 in American money.
Louisa recalls that when Sergey was here to learn about the beef business from Eldon, he wanted to eat steak every day because it's uncommon back home. An eatery in Gordon is called The Italian Inn. Upon learning they would be going there for a meal, Sergey wondered if he could get a steak, and was assured that would be possible. After the meal he proclaimed it the best steak he ever had in Italy!
Nitsenko's property was formerly a collective farm, and later the site of a meat packing plant operated jointly by a private party and the Russian government. That enterprise went bankrupt, along with most agribusinesses in Russia at that period. After remaining vacant for a number of years, many renovations were needed. Much of the land has lain fallow and resembles our CRP acreages, but there is some wheat and alfalfa.
The climate and terrain at Kaluga, which is located about 90 miles south of Moscow, is similar to that of southern Minnesota or northern Iowa, so the Krebs cattle should have no trouble making adjustments to the environment.
Russia has virtually no infrastructure for beef production though the government is very supportive of agriculture. Nitsenko will be building from the ground up, but he has the help of herd managers Erik Burken and Jamie Jallo, of Cozad, Neb. The long term plan for a Russian beef industry includes crop production and possibly an entity similar to our Extension Service. Eventually, cattle from other American producers will be brought over and they will expand into commercial herds. Still, it is mind boggling to consider developing not only the cattle and genetics, but feeding and packing facilities, as well as marketing to a population which may desire the product but be hard pressed to afford it.
Eldon Krebs continues to be in contact with Nitsenko and may make other trips to Russia. Nitsenko plans to attend the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January.
Here in the West, neighbors are traditionally available to help out, and it seems that the Krebs' neighborhood has expanded considerably. They never dreamed of such an experience in conjunction with raising registered cattle, but learning about other cultures while sharing their expertise has created a win-win situation for all.
