In livestock farms all over the world, the red steppe breed of cows is valued. In terms of the number of livestock, it is the leader in Russia. The breed has taken root well in Siberia and drought-prone regions of the Caucasus. By the number of heads among the regions, the south of the Russian Federation is distinguished.

From the history of the red-steppe breed of cows

The red-steppe breed of cattle has been famous since the 18th century. The breeding of animals began on the territory of the present Zaporizhzhya region from the crossing of various breeds: Wilstermarsh, gray Ukrainian, Angler and East Friesland red.

The population was based on local animals, which were distinguished by low productivity, but increased endurance. The development of dairy qualities coincides with the importation of red-colored cattle from Holland and Germany.

The goal is to replace unproductive livestock. But meteorological conditions and maintenance did not contribute to an increase in milk yield and an improvement in reproduction. The red steppe breed appeared as a result of selection of crossbreeds of cattle species.

Red steppe breed of cows

Further, the formation of breed properties is carried out imperceptibly and self-improving. In the middle of the 19th century, the species spreads over the territory of Ukraine, later in the southern Russian regions: Stavropol and Kuban, Kalmykia and the Volga region, Western Siberia. In the territories, red steppe cows were mixed with local cattle, the parameters of productivity and exterior changed.

The next stage of development falls on the XX century. In 1923, the bred breed is included in the State Register. They are engaged in breeding for a tribe in the agricultural sector of the former Soviet Union. During this period, they are trying to improve the animals, using re-mating with German (Angler / Angel) bulls in the 60s of the last century. This breed of bulls is preferable due to:

  • related genetics;
  • possession of a similar type of metabolic processes;
  • a similar direction of productivity;
  • milkiness of angel animals, percentage of fat content, high live weight, good suitability for machine milking.

Interesting. Then the most productive livestock is selected. A subspecies of the red animal is brought out in Siberia, thanks to hybridization with Dutch cattle. Breeding work allows you to increase milk yield, maintain longevity of productivity and resistance to external influences.

Red steppe breed: characteristics

The characteristics of the red steppe breed of cows are as follows:

  • milk type of productivity;
  • powerful constitution;
  • bulls weigh up to 850 kg, cows - up to 500 kg;
  • the weight of bulls at the hotel is up to 40 kg, heifers - up to 30 kg;
  • the age for mating a heifer comes to 1.5 years.

Bulls weigh up to 850 kg, cows - up to 500 kg;

External appearance

Distinctive features of the breed:

  • oblong head;
  • flat chest;
  • strongly developed loin and straight back;
  • elongated dry neck;
  • strong limbs;
  • wide ass;
  • voluminous, but not saggy belly;
  • poorly formed muscles;
  • with folds on flexible skin.

On a note. The cupped shape of a large udder sometimes has a breed defect - uneven lobes.

The color is red or deep red, often with white markings (on the udder, trunk).

Overall dimensions

The compact body of a cow reaches 165 cm in length. The girth of the animal's chest ranges from 184 to 190 cm.The red cow at the withers is up to 132 cm high.

Productive qualities

The good keeping of cows is reflected in the milk yield, the average indicators of which vary in the range of 4000-4500 liters per year. The record is 8000 liters. The fat content of milk ranges from 3.5-4%.

Milk yield is influenced by climate, pasture conditions and grazing duration. The best results are achieved in the steppe zone. Fertility is characteristic of cattle: it is possible to obtain 4 offspring within 3 years from one female.

Note! The meat properties of animals are low, the yield at slaughter is 50%. The purposeful feeding of young animals increases the meat yield, but not significantly. Raising animals for meat is not profitable.

Breeding and caring for cattle

For red-steppe cows, it is important to organize a daily food and drink regimen - 3 times. Under normal conditions, the cow calves every year. To develop properly, females must rest or run. At this time, the milking of the cow is stopped. Emaciated individuals are given at least 70 days of rest. For fairly well-fed representatives, the launch lasts up to 2 months.

Reducing dead wood is fraught with:

  • deterioration of the animal's well-being;
  • decrease in milk yield;
  • a decrease in the fat content in milk;
  • stillborn calves.

At times, this leads to a barren cow. Animals with incorrectly formed udder lobes are not bred.

A distinctive feature of the breed is early maturity. Insemination of a red-steppe cow is carried out for the first time at the age of 15-19 months. Heifers who come into the hunt are constantly monitored and immediately driven to the farm, where manual mating or artificial insemination is carried out. If the female has defects, a manufacturer is selected without congenital anomalies.

On a note. When feeding red cattle, refrain from cold and unusable food. Red steppe cows are not demanding on the diet. They use residues of plant origin: cleaning vegetables, bread.

They constantly change the bedding, monitor dryness.

The hotel requires that the cow room be warm to avoid unpleasant consequences for young animals and mastitis.

The steppe cow needs a daily walk in the fresh air. A paddock in the yard for walking is good.

Young animals are kept separately, depending on age. Gobies and calves are combined by growing in a group:

  • from 6 to 9 months;
  • from 9 months to 1 year;
  • from one to one and a half years;
  • from one and a half to two years.

 

Attention! Correct care and feeding of animals allows calves to gain weight 200 kg by 6 months, by 12 months - 300 kg.

Disadvantages and advantages

The pluses of the red steppe cow include:

  • vitality;
  • unpretentious care;
  • adaptability to climate;
  • immunity to underlying diseases;
  • the speed of mass gain.

When picking up a cow for a private household, they focus on vulnerabilities in the udder and physique. They are often responsible for the health of the animal, the successful outcome of calving and milk yield.

The red steppe animal, which was bred in the dry Ukrainian steppes, is distinguished by adaptive properties and adapts to any weather conditions.

Red steppe breed of cows does not require special care

An undemanding animal will eat green grass in the Black Sea region only with the arrival of the spring season and autumn. The complete burnout of vegetation in the summer does not allow eating herbs. The red breed gains weight until the vegetation burns out. During the heat, livestock retains the accumulated kilograms and eats insufficiently nutritious dried grass cover.

Cattle copes well with heat, which exceeds +30 ° C, and cold in winter. Animals can graze in the sun and go without water all day. In addition, the red steppe cattle have strong immunity.

When description disadvantages are noted:

  • udder defects;
  • drooping croup;
  • the thinness of the skeleton;
  • undeveloped muscles on the legs are the cause of injuries when grazing on slopes.

Important! The horns of the red steppe cow are directed forward and serve as an additional threat to the livestock owners.

Areas in which it is recommended to breed steppe breed, except for the Russian Federation:

  • Uzbekistan and Belarus;
  • Kazakhstan and Moldova.

Breeders and veterinarians advice

Experts recommend:

  1. Feed the young and adult horned individuals on schedule. Animals anticipate the hours of taking food, and they begin to produce gastric juice. This process is a catalyst for the digestion of food.
  2. When the calves are 2 or 3 weeks old, they are walked in the yard for a short time. Walking of young animals is organized in special enclosures, which are equipped with feeders with hay. The optimum temperature in the barn is + 12 ... + 22 ° С.
  3. When there is a shortage of food for cattle, feed or root crops are used as feeding. In winter, they are fed with hay, straw, silage (25% of the diet), mineral supplements. The menu includes fodder beets, potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, rutabagas. The inclusion of rotten food in the diet is not allowed.
  4. It is necessary to graze in the summer on a pasture, which is located at a maximum of 2 km from the farm. It is important to organize a watering hole and equip with a canopy. Summer camps are set up where cows are milked.
  5. Livestock are kept in the barn with or without a leash during the winter stall period. Observe sanitary standards during maintenance.
  6. Vaccination of cows against infections is required.
  7. Systematically comb out contaminated crowded wool. Before milking, the udder is carefully washed. Hooves and horns are trimmed before grazing.

Many private traders prefer the red-steppe cow. Choosing a nurse in the courtyard, they note the features of the breed:

  • the speed of acclimatization;
  • a strong immune system that protects against leukemia;
  • unpretentious content;
  • viability;
  • milk taste and nutritional value.