Throughout the world, thanks to the work of breeders, there are more than 1000 breeds of cattle. All of them have different characteristics, productivity and directions. Cattle breeds can be divided into three groups: meat, dairy, universal (meat and dairy). When choosing an animal for your farm, pay attention to what kind of cattle is common in your area. Today we will consider the most popular breed of cows in our country - Sychevsky.
Origin history
This breed of cattle originates from the end of the 19th century. It was at this time that large landowners in the territory of the Sychevsky district of the Smolensk region launched the first Simmental. Purebred cows did not live up to the expectations of livestock breeders, but their offspring with local cattle kept the best indicators of breeding and local cows, in addition, the calves adapted better in climatic conditions.
Sychevskaya breed: characteristics of cows
Animals of this breed are distinguished by a strong physique and well-developed muscles. The height at the withers reaches 130-149 cm, the length of the body along the oblique 154-183 cm. The cows have a large head, wide forehead, very deep and wide chest, udder of volumetric shape, well developed. Animals quickly adapt to any new conditions. Most often, animals have the following color:
- pale yellow;
- fawn-motley;
- ginger;
- red-motley;
- red-motley.
Productivity
Cow Sychevsky breed can reach a weight of 550-590 kg, some up to 790 kg. An adult goby can have a live weight of 900 kg, and the weight of some of the most prominent individuals reaches 1 ton. At birth, the calf of the Sychevsky breed weighs 32-34 kg, in half a year already 184-200 kg. Cows of this breed have high milk productivity, milk yield is about 3000-4500 kg, with a fat content of 3.6% -4%.
Sychevskaya breed: types
By breeding by livestock breeders, several varieties of this breed were bred, photos of the Sychevskaya cow will be presented below. Professor M.I. Pridorogin was proposed to divide them according to anatomical and morphological characteristics and productivity into the following groups:
- Steppe. The animals are distinguished by a strong physique, good milk yield, which has an average fat content.
- Volga. These cows have a small physique, so they are often bred for dairy products.
- Ukrainian. This type of animal is the largest among the Sychevsky breed of cows.
- Ural. A characteristic advantage of this variety is a large meat yield.
- Siberian. The most adapted animals of all varieties tolerate even the most extreme conditions of keeping and temperature fluctuations.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Among the advantages of cows of the Sychevsky breed, the following characteristics can be noted:
- high meat and dairy productivity;
- adaptation to climatic conditions;
- high slaughter weight;
- disease resistance.
Among the shortcomings can be noted the choosiness of animals for food, heavy calving in heifers, the calves are especially sensitive to a lack of minerals, and voracity of young animals.
Breeding Sychevsky cows
In order to maintain and increase the productivity of livestock of this breed, animals are crossed with other breeds or brought together the best representatives of Sychevsky among themselves. Note that this breed has high reproductive functions. Difficulties with calving arise in primogenous cows of the Sychevsky breed, because the calves have a rather large head. It is noted that in small calves, immunity is not sufficiently developed, therefore, proper care must be paid to them. The main task of the owner is to comply with sanitary requirements and avoid infection in the barn.
Feeding
The main diet in summer consists of pasture grass, which animals eat in the required amount. In winter, cows are fed with hay and silage. During this period, the diet includes mineral and vitamin supplements, for example, Prelac, Trivit. Fattening calves are recommended to give 1-2 kg of feed per day.
Sychevskaya breed of cows: reviews
Breeders containing Sychevsky breed in their yard note that these animals are significantly superior in milk yield to other breeds of cows. They are distinguished by a calm disposition, quickly become attached to the owner and get used to the daily routine. Farmers point to the rapid growth of calves, which at 9 months of age can be slaughtered for meat. The product is non-greasy, of excellent quality. Some owners note that sometimes there are problems with insemination.