Analysis of the breeding and productive qualities of the Black-and White breed of cattle in the Russian Federation

The purpose of the study is to monitor and analyze the breeding and productive qualities of Black-and-White cattle in the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was digital data on the number, economically useful traits, breeding qualities of cattle and cows of Black-and-White, Holstein and other dairy breeds bred in the Russian Federation. The main method is monitoring and analysis of data in a comparative aspect with Holstein and other breeds of the Russian Federation.

Results. Analysis of the relative number of livestock by breed showed that among the 25 breeds assessed, the Black-and-White breed in this aspect takes second place (17,62%), and 4th in milk productivity. Animals of the 1st and 2nd lactation of this breed make up 62,4 % (n=161302), which indicates that this population is quite young. The average age of cows is 2,5 calvings, and the number of heifers transferred to the main herd is 32,8 % (n=84783). The milk flow rate, with the desired indicator (from 2,0 kg/min. and above) was detected in 56,8% (n=51652). An analysis of 526 farms for insemination of 258,543 cows and 114,745 heifers showed that only 88,8 % of them were inseminated (n=331,685), including 97,7 % artificially. 43,6 % of cows and 46,6 % of heifers were inseminated with improvement bulls. The average live weight of cattle at the first insemination was 386 kg. The average days open of the assessed livestock was 132 days. Extended days open (121 days or more) were detected only in 37,2 % of animals (n=82,536), which indicates good reproductive qualities of Black-and-White cows. The average dry period is 61 days, that is, it has an optimal value, but in 13 % of animals an extended dry period of more than 71 days was detected. The yield of live calves per 100 cows was 76 %. In total, during the reporting period, 4,686 heads of breeding cattle of the Black-and-White breed were sold, of which 4,616 heifers and 50 bulls were young animals.

Conclusion. The monitoring of the state of the breeding and productive qualities of Black and-White cattle in the Russian Federation showed that this population of dairy cattle is not only the second largest among all breeding dairy breeds, but also makes up almost half of the dairy cattle of the remaining 24 breeds, with the exception of Holstein. In terms of milk yield, Black and-White cows exceed the average for 23 breeds, except Holstein, by 300-500 kg of milk, but are inferior in quality indicators.

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