Animal Husbandry
The main direction in the multi-sector agricultural production of Kyrgyzstan was the intensive development of public animal husbandry. The share of sectors and crops in the agriculture of the republic on the eve of the Great Patriotic War (1940) was characterized by the following figures (in %):
Crop production, total: 65.6
Including:
grains 24.1
industrial crops 14.7
Of which:
cotton 5.8
sugar beet 3.8
Animal husbandry 34.4
Forage crops 21.2
The data presented indicate that in the agriculture of the republic, crop production was the predominant sector, and when comparing all the various sectors of agricultural production, the dominant position belonged to public animal husbandry.
The combat program in the struggle for the further rise of public animal husbandry was the resolution of the USSR Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) dated March 11, 1942, "On measures to preserve young livestock and increase the livestock population in collective farms and state farms." It defined the tasks of animal husbandry in connection with the increased needs of the country and, above all, the Red Army for animal products, as well as the necessity to compensate for the losses incurred by animal husbandry due to the temporary occupation of part of the regions and republics of the country by German invaders. The resolution noted that the Kyrgyz SSR achieved successes in the development of animal husbandry in 1941.
The number of cattle increased by 25% that year, and sheep and goats by 28.9%. Plans for the development of animal husbandry for 1942 were defined.
In March-April 1942, a front month for animal husbandry was held. Its goal was to organize all work in collective farms and state farms for the successful completion of the wintering of livestock and the breeding campaign. The VII Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, the plenums of the regional and district party committees, held in May-June 1942, defined specific tasks for strengthening the forage base.
In Kyrgyzstan, where more than 3/4 of the developed lands consist of natural mountain pastures and hayfields, the increase in livestock and the production of cheap animal products played a significant role in the herding of livestock, especially under winter conditions. According to the data from the People's Commissariat of Land of the Kyrgyz SSR, the area of natural forage lands was 10,856 thousand hectares. In addition, a significant territory of the republic is covered with shrubs, which could also be used as pastures of secondary category.
The wartime situation, the territorial location of collective farms, and the centuries-old life experience of the Kyrgyz people dictated the need for maximum use of pasture lands.
The total reserves could support at least 2.5 million heads of livestock in winter and over 15 million heads in summer grazing periods.
By the winter of 1942/1943, 1,487.6 thousand tons of rough and 235.7 thousand tons of succulent feeds were harvested, which was significantly more than in 1941. 1,019 livestock buildings of simplified type were built, and 8,282 were repaired. The provision of collective farms with stables was 76%, with premises for cattle - 73%, and for sheep and goats - 70%. For livestock and horses sent to grazing pastures, insurance reserves of feed were created and delivered to wintering locations.
A total of 908.3 thousand heads of livestock from collective farms and state farms of Kyrgyzstan wintered in the grazing mountain pastures in 1942/43, including 64.3 thousand horses, 32 thousand heads of cattle, and 812 thousand sheep and goats.
To stimulate material interest in preserving livestock and increasing its productivity, according to the resolution of the USSR Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) dated March 11, 1942, "On measures to preserve young livestock and increase the livestock population in collective farms and state farms," collective farmers servicing livestock and horses in grazing pastures were credited with labor days amounting to 50% above the established payment norm. Zootechnicians, veterinarians, and paramedics servicing pastured livestock at seasonal pastures received an additional 50% to their basic salary.
The working people of the village, overcoming enormous difficulties, ensured the growth of livestock in 1942. The following figures eloquently speak of this (thousand heads):
1940 1941 1942,
Horses 318.5 324.6 327.2
Cattle 242.3 285.2 332.3
Sheep and goats 1840.3 2294.5 2542.5
From the data presented, it is evident that from 1941 to 1942, compared to 1940, there was a noticeable increase in the number of cattle, sheep, and goats. The same picture was observed regarding the number of horses, despite the increased supply to the army. As for pigs, due to the lack of compound feeds, their population sharply decreased. The number of camels also noticeably decreased. Overall, the livestock population in the public economy of the republic increased by 504.2 thousand heads, or 20.6%, in 1942 compared to the pre-war 1940.
In 1942, the collective farms and state farms of Kyrgyzstan prepared more basic animal husbandry products for the front and the country compared to 1940: meat - by 62.5% (76,829 centners), milk - by 27.0% (38,000 kg/liters), wool - by 55.0% (9,310 centners); compared to 1941: meat - by 27.7% (38,329 centners), milk - at the previous level, wool - by 29.4% (5,960 centners), brine cheese - by 54.9% (2,536 centners). Meat supplies from the collective sector in 1942 were fulfilled at 100.6%. A total of 199.8 thousand centners of meat were delivered compared to 101.2 thousand centners in 1941 and 68 thousand centners in 1940. Additionally, 63,374 centners of meat were delivered in advance for 1943. Raw materials for fur were harvested for 1,194 thousand rubles (103.3% of the plan), raw hides - 734.7 thousand units, eggs - 5,379 thousand pieces.
The party and government highly appreciated the selfless work of animal husbandry workers. Based on the results of the All-Union socialist competition in agriculture for 1942, the USSR Council of People's Commissars noted the good work of the Kyrgyz SSR in raising public animal husbandry.
The workers of Kyrgyzstan, like those in all rear areas of the Soviet Union, guided by the party, honorably endured the trial of the first, most difficult period of the war. Through their selfless labor, they demonstrated boundless loyalty to their native Soviet power, the collective farm system, the great achievements of socialism, and made a significant contribution to the uninterrupted supply of the army and the urban population with necessary food, as well as to the industry with raw materials.
The Impactful Labor of Collective Farmers of the Kyrgyz SSR in 1942
