Dairy Cattle Feed Mill in Bulgaria: 20% Lower Feed Costs and Higher Milk Yield

Producing their own feed gives Dobrev full control over feed quality, costs and animal health

Dobrev is a successful family-owned dairy company in Bulgaria with a complete farm-to-table concept. The company produces and sells a wide range of dairy products, including fresh milk, yoghurt and cheese through its own dairy stores and webshop.

As part of its continued development, Dobrev built a new high-quality dairy farm in Bulgaria with 700 dairy cows. The modern farm combines advanced equipment, efficient production methods and a strong focus on controlling production costs.

A key part of the new farm is a complete SKIOLD feed mill, giving Dobrev full control and traceability of the feed produced for its cows.

Full control of feed production

When planning the new farm, Dobrev's supplier GV Agri recommended investing in a SKIOLD feed mill.

For owner and CEO Rossen Dobrev, having control over the complete feed production process was an important reason for choosing an on-farm feed mill. Producing feed on the farm allows Dobrev to control the raw materials, feed formulations and quality while adapting the feed to the needs of the herd.

The goal was clear: increase milk yield, reduce feed costs and improve animal health.

“For me, it is the right decision to have complete traceability of the feed for my cows. My goal was to increase milk yield, lower feed costs and, very importantly, improve animal health. I am very satisfied with my SKIOLD feed mill.”
— Rossen Dobrev, CEO & Owner, Dobrev, Bulgaria

20% lower feed costs and higher milk yield

The results have exceeded the original expectations.

Since installing the SKIOLD feed mill, Dobrev has reduced feed costs by up to 20%, while average milk yield per cow has increased from 26.0 to 28.3 litres per day.

The investment is expected to achieve a return on investment within just seven months.

For a dairy farm with 700 cows, these improvements have a significant impact on the overall profitability of the operation.

“The feed costs have been up to 20% lower than before and the yield per cow has increased from 26.0 to 28.3 litres per day. My return on investment is expected to be seven months.”
— Rossen Dobrev, CEO & Owner, Dobrev, Bulgaria

Precise feed formulations for better animal performance

Dobrev selected a SKIOLD Disc Mill SK5000 because of its precise grinding performance.

The Disc Mill makes it possible to control the particle size of the grain according to the individual feed formulation. This gives the farm greater flexibility when producing different feed recipes and helps ensure consistent feed quality.

Accurate grinding and mixing are essential when producing feed for high-producing dairy cows, where small differences in feed composition can affect feed intake, animal health and milk production.

An easier working day

Dobrev had never operated an on-farm feed mill before and initially had concerns about how the investment would affect the daily work on the farm.

The experience has been positive.

The automated feed production process has made the working day easier and more efficient, while giving the farm greater control over its feed production.

For Dobrev, the feed mill has therefore not only improved the economics of feed production but also simplified the daily operation of the farm.

“I had never had a feed mill before, and I was anxious about how it would change the working day at the farm. But the working day is now easier and more successful.”

Complete SKIOLD feed mill solution

The Dobrev feed mill has a capacity of approximately 1 tonne per hour and includes raw material storage and automated process control.

The grain is processed in a SKIOLD Disc Mill SK5000, equipped with a double-pipe magnet that removes magnetic metallic impurities before the raw material enters the mill.

The ground ingredients are accurately dosed and gently mixed in an inclined mixer before being transferred to ready-feed silos.

The entire process is controlled and monitored by the SKIOLD FlexMix Pro process control system. FlexMix Pro can manage up to 40 different raw materials, 50 recipes and 50 delivery points, providing a high level of flexibility and traceability.

A profitable investment in on-farm feed production

For Dobrev, investing in an on-farm feed mill has provided both greater control and measurable economic benefits.

By producing its own feed, the farm can control the quality and composition of the feed while reducing feed costs and supporting better animal performance.

With lower feed costs, higher milk yields and an expected seven-month return on investment, the SKIOLD feed mill has become an important part of Dobrev's modern dairy production.

“I can only recommend others to have their own feed mill, and I have already encouraged other farmers to go the same way.”
— Rossen Dobrev, CEO & Owner, Dobrev, Bulgaria

The SKIOLD feed mill includes:

• Raw material silos
• SKIOLD Disc Mill SK5000
• Double-pipe magnet for removal of magnetic impurities
• Accurate dosing and proportioning
• Inclined feed mixer
• Ready-feed silos
• FlexMix Pro process control system

Results

The SKIOLD feed mill has helped Dobrev achieve:

• Up to 20% lower feed costs
• Milk yield increased from 26.0 to 28.3 litres per cow per day
• Expected ROI of just seven months
• Full traceability of feed production
• Precise control of grain particle size
• Consistent feed quality
• Greater flexibility in feed formulation
• An easier and more efficient working day
• Greater control over feed costs and raw materials

Facts

• Location: Bulgaria
• Herd: 700 dairy cows
• Feed mill capacity: Approx. 1 t/h
• Feed mill: SKIOLD Disc Mill SK5000
• Feed cost reduction: Up to 20%
• Milk yield: Increased from 26.0 to 28.3 litres/cow/day
• Expected ROI: 7 months
• Application: On-farm dairy cattle feed production

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