The black-motley cow belongs to the category of purebred pets and is in high demand among farmers. High milk productivity is the main quality of the breed. In this article we will consider the features of breeding and keeping a black-motley cow.
Breed description
Black-motley cows are bred by crossing several Dutch
breeds. Black-and-white
cattle have a good physique, strong bones and are very large. The body of the animal is proportional, the back is straight, straight legs are straight. The average weight of a cow is 500-650 kg, and a bull - 950-1000 kg. Calves are usually born with a weight of about 40 kg. The meat qualities of the animal are acceptable. Milk is the main goal for which a black-motley cow is bred. The productivity of this breed is very high. So, the average annual milk yield per cow can be from 4000 to 6500 kg of milk. Moreover, its fat content is more than 3.5%.
Variegated black cows can easily adapt to different climatic conditions and have extremely good health. Due to the rapid acclimatization, such animals take root well in different countries. Among dairy cows by the number of livestock they occupy second place. Nowadays, scientists are working on improving black-and-white animals by breeding pure breed, taking into account the climatic conditions of different territorial zones. To improve physical parameters and increase productivity, the Dutch and Holstein-Friesian bulls are used.
Breed history
Black-motley cows were bred during the Soviet Union. So, in 1930-1932. a large number of black-motley animals were brought into Russia from the Netherlands, the Baltic states and Germany, which were placed in different regions of the country. Since then, cows have been actively bred, both pure breed and cross-bred with other species that were kept separately. Thus, as a result of long work under different conditions of keeping, feeding, breeding, it was possible to breed a heterogeneous breed of cattle, which in 1959 was approved under the name "black-mottled cow."
Species of breed
As a result of breeding, several types of black-and-white cows were obtained, which differ in milk yield, milk fat and adaptability to climatic conditions:
- Black-motley cow of the Central regions of Russia - bred as a result of crossbreeding of the Dutch breed from Kholmogorsk and Yaroslavl. Animals of this type are quite large and produce large milk yield (up to 6000 kg per year), but they are inferior in milk fat content to no more than 3.6%.
- Black-motley breed of the Urals - formed by crossing Tagil cows with ostfreezes and partially with rocks from the Baltic. Such cows are less productive (3700–5500 kg of milk per year), but surpass other varieties in terms of fat content - 3.8–4%.
- Black-motley cows of Siberia - created as a result of crossing the Ostfzris breed with local Siberian cows. This livestock is smaller and slightly inferior to previous species in productivity. So, the average annual milk yield is from 3,500 to 5,000 kg of milk. The fat content is average (from 3.7 to 3.9%).
Cow Breeding Areas
Breeding of black-motley breed of cows is observed in all regions of Russia. The largest number of cattle is in the northwestern regions of the country, in Western and Eastern Siberia, in the Urals, the North Caucasus and the Far East. The breed is especially popular in Moldova and in the south of Ukraine.
Breeding Features
The maintenance and breeding of black-mottled cattle is almost the same as other types of cows. But before you get these animals, you should calculate the possible costs of its maintenance and planned profit. A black and motley dairy breed of cows with proper care can provide a good income, but in return will require a lot of effort. So, livestock maintenance consists of many procedures: milking, feeding, cleaning the barn, harvesting hay, etc.
When breeding black-and-white cattle, it is important to think about the place in which it will be. It must be dry, warm and spacious (at least 20 m²). Special attention requires winter maintenance. Usually, by December the cow is pregnant, but they continue to milk it. The body of a pregnant cow is in great strain due to intensive milk production. During this period, the animal needs more care. So, the cow needs to provide a well-ventilated, lit stable. The room temperature should be optimal so that the animal does not get cold. Ideal temperature is from 5 to 12º.
Lactation and milking
Black-motley cows are milked according to the same pattern as other dairy cows. So, they give good milk yield up to 12-17 lactation, although up to such a period they are kept in rare cases. The maximum amount of milk can be obtained between 4 and 5 lactations.
Productivity is greatly influenced by the care and quality of the environment in which the black-and-white breed of cows dwells. Milking can be big if you follow the basic rules for keeping cattle. When calm and gentle handling, the cow becomes attached to the owner and easily learns behavior skills.
Cows have puberty at 6 months, but it is too early to happen to bulls. Economic maturity occurs at 16 months, when the live weight of the animal is at least 70% of an adult cow.
Feeding Features
Owners of a black-motley cow should remember that due to its large size, it requires more feed. So, for a year the animal needs at least 20 centners of hay and, in addition, concentrates and succulent feed. The quality and quantity of milk depends on the nutrition of the cow .
In winter, a feeder should be put in the stable. In size, it should hold one serving of hay. Also in the room you need to put a barrel of water so that the cow can get drunk at any time. If the water in the stable does not freeze in winter, then the barrel can always be kept full. It is advisable to renew the drink at least every other day, since a lot of food gets into the water from the animal's face and it quickly goes dry. If in the winter the thermometer shows minus temperature in the stable, water should be given fresh each time.
Depending on the size and age, the amount of feed for the winter may vary slightly. To have enough food, it is advisable to procure about 30 centners of straw and hay and 55 centners of succulent feed. This is the main food that the black-and-white breed of cows should eat. Feeding with compound feed is recommended at 100 g per 1 liter of milk yield. If the amount of milk baked is large, the dose can be increased.
If there is young growth, winter food supplies should be 15 centners of rough and 9 centners of succulent feed per head.
Possible breed problems
Black-motley cows are characterized by excellent health and high milk production. But even a high-yielding cow can produce insufficient yields. And this may be due not only to poor heredity, but also to external factors. So, livestock productivity is influenced by circumstances such as the season, nutritional value of the feed, climatic conditions, age, live weight, and length of rest before calving. Also, black and motley cows require careful care and quality maintenance. Scientists conducted an experiment during which two cows from the same mother were kept in different conditions. One was in a well-equipped crib, and the other was kept in a harsher environment. In the first case, a highly milking nurse grew out of a burenka, and in the second, an ordinary cow.