Before buying a cow, try to calculate not only the possible costs and possible profits, but also your capabilities. A good “dairy” cow gives substantial profit, but care requires a lot of effort: cleaning, milking, cleaning, fodder (for one cow 20 h of hay, concentrates, succulent feed are required), construction of a warmed barn (per 20 square meters for one cow).
Can cattle become your strength? If the difficulties do not frighten, determine the breed. Which cattle breeds are preferred? Of course, from the existing 250 breeds it is difficult to choose. Personal preference is important here . But when choosing, take into account the main indicators of a healthy dairy animal: thin and elastic skin, a straight back, a light head, strong limbs, and hind legs widely spaced. The shape of the udder is crucial. It should be voluminous, bowl-shaped. You should not take a cow with a “goat” (saggy) udder - do not expect big milk yield here.
Black-and-white cattle are especially popular throughout the country. It is worth paying attention to it already because of such a high prevalence. Here, high adaptability to the vagaries of the weather, and high milk yield, and "decent" weight (up to 500 kg). Red steppe cows are identical in productivity (more common in the south). Of the old dairy breeds, Yaroslavl and Kholmogorsk are well recommended.
But Schwyz and Simmental breeds related to meat and dairy milk yield twice as much (up to 12,000 liters).
Cattle can usually be milked until the 15th lactation (less commonly, to the 17th). The peak falls on the fourth and fifth lactation, then the milk yield slowly decreases.
Physical maturity begins at seven months, but you can not happen to heifers. The first mating is recommended from a year and a half. Pregnancy lasts up to 295 days. One calf (or heifer) is born, rarely two.
Cattle require special attention in winter. By the beginning of winter, the cow is usually pregnant, but it can still be milked (milking stops two months before the expected date of birth). Keep the cow clean and dry in the stable. Good ventilation and lighting are important. Some livestock farmers prefer to open the door for ventilation. In winter, this is undesirable. Firstly, such a "ventilation" for a long time is not enough, and secondly - all the accumulated heat will come out. Therefore, take care of ventilation. But note: it will be effective only with insulated walls. If you leave the walls "as is" (do not insulate), dampness in the stable will be provided (and at the same time diseases). The simplest ventilation is from plank pipes, separated along their entire length by two cross-shaped partitions. The width of the pipe is 50 cm. Fresh air enters the first two openings, and contaminated air into the other two.
Another way of ventilation is less preferable - the frame opens in the window (on the side of the stall and behind). With this arrangement, cold air will not greatly cool the animal.
Windows located on the south side will become an additional source of not only light but also heat. By the way, arrange the doors also from the south.
Do not place feeders on the floor. It is better to hang them half a meter from the ground (or to build separate racks under the feeders). The feeder should contain at least a single serving. Designs should not interfere with the cow (she should lie down and stand up freely).
For drinking (and the cow should drink plenty and only fresh water) put a separate barrel. The water is completely renewed every day, because water can become rotten due to food debris from the cow’s muzzle, resulting in poisoning of the cow.
In winter, the optimum temperature in the barn is 6-11 ° C.
If the room temperature is minus, then bring water several times a day in a separate bucket.
Cattle, in a friendly, affectionate treatment, become attached to the owner and even easily master elementary skills of “decent” behavior. And how useful is fresh milk and milk products! But it must be borne in mind that the maintenance of cattle requires both money and effort ...