Varieties of dairy cows

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For a newcomer to animal husbandry, it may be news that cows come in different breeds and different trends. So, there are breeds that are kept exclusively for slaughter, the most valuable in them is meat. The article will discuss such a group of cattle as dairy cows. They differ both in terms of appearance and in terms of productivity. Each of the breeds has its own advantages and benefits, which will be discussed below.

Dairy cows

What you need to know about raising dairy cows

On the territory of Russia, dairy cow breeds are quite widespread. They are distinguished by a calm disposition and unpretentious content. These are animals that prefer to lead a calm measured life with a minimum of stress and walking. A favorite place for dairy ruminants is a green meadow, densely populated with herbs. Cows can graze in such a rich area for hours, moving to areas where the grass has remained untouched.

It is noteworthy that the cow, despite the fact that she is considered a herd animal, will not blindly follow instinct. She may well separate from the herd, relying on her own experience and intuition, if animals have any in principle.

Every person, even a small child, associates an animal cow with milk, and only then with juicy beef. Milk flow rates directly depend on what and how the cow eats. That is why veterinarians confidently state that the cow has the most complex digestive system among all cattle. It is noted that the ruminant type of cattle eats about a centner of grass or mixed feed per day, while giving about 20 liters of fresh milk per milk yield.

If you believe the reviews of the breeders, then a dairy cow is just a godsend for a farmer, because she does not require increased attention to herself. The most important condition that will have to be met unquestioningly is the constant availability of fresh juicy feed. If it is fulfilled, it will most likely not be possible to see the sick cow, because dairy cows are distinguished by good immunity. We now turn to a description of the most common characteristics of the breeds of dairy cows.

Dutch breed of cows

This species of dairy cows developed about 1000 years ago. It is safe to say that it was the Dutch cows that gave birth to many modern breeds, which will be described below. There are recent studies that have documented the fact that the genes of the Dutch cow are present in absolutely every breed of dairy type and even in some beef cattle.Despite such popularity, cows cannot boast of record milk yields, their average rate is only 6 thousand liters per calendar year.

Outwardly, this animal bears a direct resemblance to another dairy breed - the Kholmogory cow. However, if you look closely, you can see that the spots on the coat are clearer and more accurate. This type of cattle has undergone some changes in appearance over the entire period of the breed's existence. So, the back remains straight and wide, the back of the body is powerful, well deployed, the limbs are symmetrical, without obvious muscle mass.

It is worth mentioning separately that representatives of the Dutch breed are considered early maturing, that is, they gain weight quickly enough. Already at the age of 6 months, a female can weigh about 160 kg, and a year - at least 300. The first time the females of the Dutch breed are covered at the age of no earlier than 15-20 months, only during this period the animal can be considered sexually mature. At this time, a cow can weigh about 580 kg, a bull can reach a weight of at least 750 kg. At the same time, the calf is born quite fragile and miniature with a weight of about 35 kg.

Quite often, a Dutch cow and a bull are allowed to eat. From one carcass, you can get up to 53% of the meat product, and if you're lucky, then 60%.

Holstein cow breeds

This breed originates in America. Breeding works were carried out in the distant 17th century, the Dutch cow served as the basis for the development. The breed is distinguished by excellent indicators of milk productivity, as well as genetically based milk fat content (not less than 3.8%). In one calendar year, you can milk about 7 thousand liters of excellent milk, provided that the cow is provided with normal conditions.

What other features does this breed have?

• High live weight.
• Fast weight gain in young animals with normal maintenance.
• Excellent health - these animals rarely get sick.

It is also worth saying a few words about the external characteristics, that is, the exterior:

• This is a fairly large type of cattle with a developed muscular system.
• The skeleton is large and weighty.
• The color of the coat is white with large dark black spots.
• The head is light and narrow.

If you are thinking about purchasing such an animal, it is worth finding out what indicators of milk yield can be expected. A milk yield of about 5100 liters can be harvested per year.

Black and white cow

This subspecies was born relatively recently, it is considered one of the youngest varieties. The work was carried out in the recent twentieth century, with the Dutch cow interbred with local breeds, improving their productivity. The result of the development was a black-and-white cow, which pleases with good milk yield.

It is also worth saying that, due to the fact that the work was carried out in different climatic zones of the former USSR, there are several species of animal that are usually found for keeping and breeding in such regions:

• Center of the Russian Federation;
• Siberian District;
• Ural.

At the same time, it cannot be said that the differences between the three subspecies are colossal; we can only talk about a slight difference in size. However, if we talk about adaptability to new feed, living conditions and other changes, it is the black-and-white cow that endures these periods most easily.

Steppe cow

This cow can be found in many territories, but most often - in the Donbass, in the south of the Urals, as well as in the Rostov region. If you buy such a cow, milk will be produced practically without effort, because the animal is extremely unpretentious.

The steppe, or red-steppe, type of cows appeared, thanks to the work of Ukrainian zootechnicians, that is, on the territory of Ukraine. After that, Western scientists were already engaged in crossing Ukrainian animals with local breeds, improving their milk flow rates.It cannot be said that dairy yields are record-breaking: it is usually possible to harvest about 4000 liters per year, this is not the highest indicator of productivity.

A cow can be distinguished by its characteristic skin tone, which ranges from red to deep crimson. The animal is quite unpretentious in keeping and breeding.

Yaroslavl breed of dairy cow

This variety is considered one of the most popular among dairy cow breeds in Russia, as it gives record milk yields. Having spent one time on the purchase of an animal, you can expect to receive more than 6,000 liters of fresh fresh milk every year. In this case, you do not have to specially feed the animal or select a special food. Moreover, such a cow consumes a record small amount of feed.

The appearance of the animal assumes a black coat with bright large spots of red or brown color. His body has an elongated structure, although the limbs are more mundane and short. Also, upon closer examination of the udder, you will notice that the teats in front are set more widely in comparison with those in the back.

Ayshir breed of cows

The first distinctive characteristic and, at the same time, the advantage of the breed is that these animals are considered early maturing. The first time dairy calves are born to females at about 2 years old, this is a fairly early age for a cow. Thanks to genetics. the ideal place for the Ayshir cow to live will be in the region of America or in the north of Europe, it is this climate that is ideal for this breed.

Often cows and bulls of the Ayshire breed are bred not only for milk production, but also in order to be further used for meat, that is, for slaughter. There is a completely logical explanation for this, because representatives of this breed are rapidly gaining weight, already at the age of one year, a calf can weigh about 3 quintals. Also, animal meat has good taste characteristics and has a beautiful structure. As far as milk is concerned, the heifer brings in about 5,000 liters per year, provided that it receives adequate feeding all year round and that its diet is enriched with vitamins and trace elements.

Latvian brown

The direction of this animal was determined even at the stage of breeding, although at present it is still customary to classify the cow more as a mixed orientation, that is, to the meat and dairy type, since the meat obtained is really juicy and tasty. The breeding animal has a reddish color, while the presence of a black tint on the ears, hooves, and also closer to the sternum is allowed.

Throughout the year, you can count on a harvest of at least 5 thousand kg of milk. It should be said that the taste indicators are considered to be one of the most successful and pronounced. As for the fat content, its indicators range from 3 to 3.7%.

Tagil cow

A cow appeared on the territory of the Urals as a result of crossing of local and, of course, Dutch dairy breeds of cows. In dairy production, these animals are popular for the reason that they produce milk much longer than other breeds. On average, a cow is considered to be working for about 2 decades, during the same period she can bring calves.

One of the features of the described suit is that the cow brings rather fatty milk - at least 5%. Milk yield can be fantastic, which is why this is one of the dairy farms out there. There is information that one Tagil cow gave more than 9 thousand liters per year, although not everyone can achieve such a record. If we talk about average indicators, then the annual milk yield can be about 4.5-5 thousand liters of milk.

Jayser suit

The breed was discovered at the end of the 19th century in France; it ended up in Russia after the Second World War. The standard exterior indicates that the color of the cow can range from gray to brownish-brown, this can be seen in numerous photos and videos.

A distinctive feature of the Jayser tribe is that animals are aggressive and unsociable. It can also be noted that cows are quite whimsical in care and feeding in comparison with other dairy breeds. The reason this dairy breed lives in Russia is that its milk has a high fat content - up to 8%.

Also among the jeyser cows there are record holders in the number of milk yields. Thus, the American Jaysian cow gave as much as 11 thousand liters of milk per year, while the average cattle has a productivity of no more than 500 liters.

Comparative analysis of indicators of dairy cow breeds

Here is a visual comparative characteristic of the most popular breeds of dairy cows, or, as it is called, grading:

In addition, it is worth knowing about the ability to adapt to certain living conditions, this is important for those who decide which breed is most suitable for a business plan.

Dairy cow vital signs

The table presents data on resistance to diseases characteristic of this type of cattle, as well as how the animal relates to feeding a normal diet. The information is presented in the form of points, where 5 is the best result and 0 is the worst.

Summing up, or how to choose the best cow

How to choose the best cow? As mentioned earlier, it is important to be responsible when choosing a cow in order to get the most out of it. You need to carefully and carefully evaluate what the animal looks like:

• The back should be flat, without bending.
• The body is oblong.
• The limbs are symmetrical, powerful.
• The neck should be wrinkled.
• The belly should not sag.

In addition to all these criteria, it is worth paying close attention to the main organ of the cattle, which will be profitable. The udder should be large, free of inflammation or extraneous neoplasms. Different sizes of nipples are not allowed, both lobes should be symmetrical, and the pressure should be even and uniform. It is better if a specialized veterinarian can assess the health of the animal, who will use effective methods of assessment.

It is worth giving preference to a cow with a calm character and one that is unpretentious in nutrition: it will be easier to take care of the cattle, the purchase will bring a minimum of hassle, and building a business on cows will be a sheer pleasure. The best cow is the one that was chosen wisely and taken care of, only under these conditions will she please the owner with productivity and will give a lot of milk.