The Yaroslavl breed ranks first in terms of milk yield and fat content, their life expectancy is about 20 years. But after 10 lactations it is no longer profitable to keep cows, because the amount of milk is reduced, as well as fertility.
Origin history
The Yaroslavl breed of cattle was bred in the 19th century in the province of Yaroslavia. In the history of the appearance of this breed of cows, it is impossible to see any breeding work. Breeders simply took into account past experiments on the selection of breeding animals. Then the basis was the milkiness of the animals, and the breeding bulls were well fed. The Yaroslavl breed was officially entered into the book in 1933, but to this day work is underway to improve both the appearance and milk and meat productivity.
A little bit about the breed
The grown Yaroslavl breed grows at the withers to 127 cm. The calves weigh 30 kg at birth, but then they rapidly gain weight. At six months of age, their weight reaches 180 kg, and at one year old - 350 kg. An adult heifer can weigh 500 kg, and a bull 650 kg, producers are usually larger and their weight is from 800 to 1200 kg of live weight.
Character and exterior
Basically, the Yaroslavl cow is black, but can also be red-motley and black-motley. The main differences between these cows are thin and low hooves, light horns, and at the end they are dark. The face is white with the presence of dark "glasses". The head is narrow and at the same time dry.
The structure of the Yaroslavl cow, pronounced, milky, strong backbone, elongated body, the general forms are angular. There is a thin layer of subcutaneous fat, the muscles of both cows and bulls are not very well developed.
In addition, there are other features of the Yaroslavl cattle:
- narrow but deep sternum;
- quite wide ass;
- the neck is long and creased;
- the withers are high;
- the stomach is large, where the ribs are widely spaced.
The face, belly, tip of the tail and legs are white and the nose is mostly black.
Spread
In former times, the Yaroslavl breed of cattle was popular in the following areas:
- Yaroslavskaya
- Ivanovo;
- Kalinin;
- Volgograd;
- Kostroma;
- Tyumen.
As of January 1, 1985, the state had 800 thousand Yaroslavl cows and bulls. The breed was bred due to the high demand for milk and beef by the skeleton of the following cities in Russia:
- Moscow;
- St. Petersburg;
- Yaroslavl
Productive qualities
Productive qualities of Yaroslavl cows at a height, especially milk. In addition, the cows perfectly copes with reproductive function and after childbirth becomes a good mother.
Milk
The main advantage of this breed is its high milk yield. The udder of these representatives is well developed, it has a round shape. One cow can produce from 3000 to 6000 liters of delicious milk in one year. As for the champions, you can get as much as 12,000 liters of milk per year from them. The heifer who gave birth for the first time gives 2200 kg of milk in 12 months.
The milk fat content is 4.5% and this is not a bad indicator. The product is often used not only in fresh form, but also make cheeses, kefir, cottage cheese, butter, both in home and industrial conditions. If the milk yield exceeds 6000 kg, then the fat content of milk rises to 5.20%.
Meat
The weight of representatives of the Yaroslavl breed is considered to be large, but if we talk about meat signs, we can say that no breeding with this breed was carried out. For this reason, the meat yield after slaughter is only 45%. The amount of meat may increase, if you feed the animals a large amount of protein (grain, good bran).
Yaroslavl cows have good reproductive functionality, as well as high calf productivity. Cows have no problems with offspring and in 90% give birth to healthy cubs. A newborn calf has 30 kg of live weight. While breastfeeding, and receiving good care, he will add 800 grams per day. At the age of one year, a goby can weigh 400 kg.
Cow maintenance
Yaroslavl cows do not require close attention, special conditions of care and maintenance. But still it is worth noting some recommendations regarding the content:
- at the end of autumn, the barn should be insulated and disinfected;
- it is necessary to ensure that there are no drafts in the room;
- windows set high;
- hygiene of cows is important, namely washing the whole body and adjusting the legs;
- so that animals do not get sick, you need to daily clean the room;
- in order to avoid mastopathy, the litter should be regularly changed in females;
- in the barn you need to monitor the air temperature, you can not allow high rates;
- milk the cow at a certain time;
- near the walk there should be a lake or a river;
- the first days the animals graze for 2 hours, gradually increasing the time to 16 hours;
- Once a month, it is necessary to call a veterinarian to examine the animals and systematically carry out the necessary vaccination.
In the territory where cattle will live their lives, 3 buildings should be built:
- The cowshed. It is built from adobe, brick or ordinary logs. If you build a brick shed, the building will be cold, animals in the cold season can get sick.
During construction, it is necessary to calculate the area per cow, then multiply this number by the number of all cows. 6 square meters are needed per head, if heifers are supposed to be raised, then 10 square meters should be allocated here.
It is recommended to insulate the floor or at least lay out a thick layer of the litter, it should also be under a 3-centimeter slope. Inside, you need to separate a place for a stall measuring 1.7 by 1.1 meters, in front of which a feeder and a drinking bowl are installed. - Manure storage. To do this, it is enough to make a square 2.5 by 2.5 meters, given that in one year about 10 tons of manure will be carried out from one livestock.
- Shed for storing feed. It can be built from ordinary boards. A stock of hay is placed in a room whose area is 10 by 4 by 3 meters. Hay can be stored and simply stacked under a small canopy.
Care
Special care is needed for a newly-born cow. Feed should be increased every day, gradually reaching the previous amount. The first 3 days, the animal should be fed 5 times a day. Before each milking, the udder is washed with warm water and massaged with exceptionally warm hands, otherwise mastitis may appear.
To obtain high milk production, milking should be carried out at the same time, previously stroking the udder with your hands. It is necessary to extrude to the last drop in order to avoid problems, and at the end again, do a light massage.
Nutrition
As for the nutrition of Yaroslavl cows and bulls, voluminous forms of food are important here, but the amount of food consumed must be controlled. The diet is composed of those feeds that are available.
In the diet of dairy cows of this breed, half of the voluminous feed of the entire dacha can be present, in summer and even more - 68%. Rough feeds (hay, straw, sex, chaff) can be fed from 30 to 50%.
The table describes the difference in feeding depending on the time of year, productivity, pregnancy, freshness, milking, etc.
Season (winter and summer) | Features of feeding associated with reproduction | Features of feeding during pregnancy and lactation | Feeding newborn cows | Cow feeding during milking | Grazing Feeding |
In winter, cows and bulls should be given 33% silage and 33% haylage, as well as 10% sugar beets. In summer, green fodder should account for 2 3 parts of the total. | The amount of feed or meal is determined by the amount of main feed in the diet (grass or hay) and the amount of milk given. For example, if the milk yield is 4.5 tons per year or more, then the cow is fed with combined feeds (loose feed). | One and a half months before the expected date of birth, the Yaroslavl breed is transferred to dead wood. This must be done gradually and also slowly change the diet. Juicy feeds are lowered - this is grass, silage, beets and concentrates (meal, compound feed) until complete failure, leaving only hay. The amount of water is reduced, if the cow gives a lot of milk - then you can give 3 buckets of water per day, and if not enough, then 2 buckets. | 7 days before delivery, succulent feed, root crops, silage and preservatives are completely excluded. What can be fed during this period - so this is a mixed grass and meadow hay. Three days after birth, the cow is gradually given silage, haylage, and root crops, constantly increasing the dose. | The feed continues to be increased during breeding until the moment the cow increases the amount of milk delivered. Hay, silage and haylage can be given in unlimited quantities. With average milk yield, the animal is fed twice a day, with high rates - three times a day. | The transfer of animals to grazing should be gradual, in order to avoid a decrease in milk production. Initially, the cow is kept on a walk for 2-3 hours, after feeding it half of the total feed. |
Read about the features of feeding calves from birth here.
Disease
The most important characteristic of a Yaroslavl cow is good immunity. They almost never get sick and can even prevent leukemia infection. Experts believe that it is the representatives of this breed that are most rarely exposed to this pathology. If one animal gets sick from all over the herd, the rest will not get infected anyway. An infectious cow is not treated, it is immediately sent for slaughter.
Common diseases that are rare but sick in Yaroslavl cows:
Disease name | Description |
Paratuberculous enteritis | The animal becomes infected by the gastrointestinal tract, it does not lose its appetite, but there is round-the-clock diarrhea. If the pathology is not cured in a timely manner, then the cow may die due to exhaustion. |
Vibriosis | This disease is chronic. When mating, the animal can become infected by the sexual partner and a miscarriage occurs. |
Stomatitis | This disease is an inflammatory process in the mouth. This can be due to the use of roughage or chemicals that can injure the mucous membrane. |
Esophageal obstruction | This pathology can affect when eating large pieces of root vegetables, severe fright while eating and cramping, the esophagus may be blocked by a foreign object. |
Scar bloating | The scar can swell if the cow consumes food after rain or after dew, as well as when eating poor-quality food. |
Calves
For a calf that has just been born, proper care is important:
- as soon as the cow licks the baby with its tongue, it is placed in a separate cage, it is placed on a thick layer of straw, and the room temperature should be at least 12 degrees;
- in the early days of calves should be fed with fresh milk about 7 times a day, starting with half a liter, and brought to 3 liters;
- the next day after birth, it is recommended to give about a liter of warm clean water;
- the litter changes every morning and evening;
- dishes for feeding are washed and boiled over with boiling water;
- the calf is in a separate cage for about 3 months, then transferred to the cow, but there must be a partition between them;
It is not advisable to bring calves to pasture with all animals, since there is the possibility of infection with worms. Calves grow up over time and they are called young growth, they should be followed by a slightly different phased care:
- Cow cleaning and calf washing.
- Litter change twice a day.
- Timely good nutrition.
- Cleaning feeders and drinking bowls after each meal.
It is necessary to feed young growth three times a day, they love juicy food and hay with concentrates.
Breeding
An important condition for the good productive qualities of the Yaroslavl breeds is the correct preparation for calving:
- timely launch of the animal (termination of milking), this should occur when milk yield is reduced to one and a half liters;
- proper feeding and proper care of the cow from the last milking and right up to the birth (2 months before the expected date of birth);
- in winter, heifers are allowed to drink water at room temperature only;
- it is necessary to carefully monitor the food, it should not have rot or diaper rash;
- two weeks before delivery, succulent food is excluded from the diet (this should be done when the udder has increased and the stomach has dropped);
- Before the very birth you should clean the barn well.
Immediately after giving birth, the calf is brought to the mother so that she licks it with her tongue. If the cow refuses to perform this manipulation, then you need to wipe it with straw yourself and put it in heat to dry. Half an hour after birth, the cow is offered pure warm water with salt added (100 g of salt per bucket of water).
Straw and manure after birth must be buried and burnt.
Pros and cons
Each breed of cattle has both advantages and disadvantages. Today, the Yaroslavl breed is considered the best in milk yield and fat content. Among the advantages of the Yaroslavl cow can be noted:
- unpretentiousness to feeding and keeping conditions;
- they do not eat much and remain healthy animals;
- able to withstand the negative factors of nature;
- a good immune system helps prevent dangerous diseases;
- record holders for producing large quantities of milk with high fat content and high protein content;
- good genes, when crossed with other breeds, they will inherit good milk production;
- high reproduction in cows; for the entire childbearing period, it can lead to 5 calves;
- You can buy animals of this breed anywhere, in particular in all regions and regions of Russia.
Now let's talk about the shortcomings:
- narrow and hollow chest;
- muscles are poorly developed;
- animals cannot graze and walk long distances for a long time;
- short stature;
- wide ass poorly proportioned, roof-shaped sacrum due to which the cow will not be able to give birth to a large calf;
- low and thin legs, due to which the animal can easily get injured, in particular fractures;
- immediately after childbirth, the cow falls, and for a long time is in a horizontal position, since it can not stand up;
- the breed is planted to obtain milk productivity, it is not profitable to keep it on meat.
Farmers Reviews
Bogdan, Exactly.Yaroslavl cattle is very popular in Russia, because milk production is good, if you feed the animal properly, then the meat yield will not be bad. These animals are not demanding on feeding, care and maintenance seems easy. They gain their weight by grazing all day in the pasture.
Vadim, Nikolaev region.The cons of the Yaroslavl breed of cows are practically absent, but there are many advantages. In extreme cases, the bones of the legs often break, but this corrects the farmer in a fairly quick time. This does not affect productivity in any way. These animals should not be grazed on pastures where there are many stones and irregularities. Another minus is that products cannot be made from their skins, since they are thin and easily torn.
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According to people, cows do not have much beauty, but this is not such an important criterion. The main thing is that their milk productivity is at their best, which can not be said about meat. Since their weight is not large and they do not consume much food, which is beneficial when breeding cattle. Moreover, they are not whimsical in food, which also positively affects the content of cows.
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