Miratorg Agroholding launching own horse-breeding farm

MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - Miratorg Agroholding, among Russia's leading agribusinesses, is launching a horse-breeding farm for the company's own needs in the Oryol Region, the holding said in a press release.

"The project, which was previously developed locally, is acquiring official status and reaching a new level. Reconstruction of the previously acquired horse-keeping facility is planned by the end of the year, which should allow the company to manage the herd of cattle more efficiently," the holding said.

Miratorg currently owns 1,600 horses, of which 90 are breeding stock. The offspring are already actively involved in the operations.

The company previously purchased horses abroad and in Karachaevo-Cherkessiya, though it has been focusing more on its own breeding this year.

"In 2012, Miratorg purchased quarter horses, namely horses that are indispensable in dynamic work with Black Angus bulls. They are easy to train, hardworking and smart. As a result of their crossing with Caucasian horses, it has been possible to obtain more obedient, adaptive and intelligent animals that are better suited for working on the company's farms. The main goal is to preserve the quarter horse breed with the necessary genetic features," according to the press release.

The new horse farm should replenish the herd with 70-80 heads annually, which should fully meet the company's needs for horses on the meat project farms in the Bryansk, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Oryol, Smolensk, and Tula regions.

Founded in 1995, Miratorg Agroholding's structure includes a crop-growing division, grain companies, feed and fodder mills, pig-breeding, poultry-breeding, livestock-breeding sites, enterprises for slaughter, processing and advanced processing of products, as well as a retail sales network, with the complete production cycle organized "from field to fridge". The main assets are located in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kursk, Moscow, Oryol, Tula, and Smolensk regions. Victor and Alexander Linnik are equal owners of Miratorg.