Polesian rhythms (part I): letting the cows out to pasture. Tsjerablichy 2015. Палескія рытмы (частка І): на пашу. Цераблічы 2015 г.
Ownership of a cow, a source of protein and a hedge against crop failure, has traditionally been central to the health and survival of Belarusian small-holders. Now, the number of privately-owned cows in Belarus continues to fall as younger generations choose to forego the chores of early-morning and late-evening milking and mucking out as well as the risks and uncertain results associated with insemination and breeding.
However, in the central Prypjats’ (Pripet) region of Polesia a fair number of families still own a cow, and the private production of milk remains an important source for the dairy-products industry. From May (traditionally Orthodox St. George’s Day, May 6) until mid-October, after the early morning milking, Belarusian small-holders let their cows out to graze all day in common pastures.
