Prospects for the development of dairy cattle breeding in «Siberian Switzerland»

The article provides data review of relevant publications, presenting issue of current state of the dairy cattle breeding in Western Europe and Mountain Altai. The intensification of milk production and milk quota abolition weaken milk from mountain farms with regard to direct competition with milk produced on the plains. The consequence is the declining number of mountain farms in the Alps that has negative influence on the ecological and economic situation. There are difficulties in promotion dairy products in the market despite the fact that dairy products are produced in the mountains from grazing cows and have an increased biological value in human nutrition. As a mountain region, Altai Republic has dairy cattle breeding that developed successfully throughout the XX century similar to Swiss concept. However, in recent years the industry is also in crisis due to the low animal productivity and the high costs of fodder production and purchase. The article describes some ways to increase economic efficiency of the industry in the region, considering foreign experience and local specifics.