In the 17th century, the Kholmogorsky breed of cows appeared, which is especially beneficial today. Milk milk yield and delicious animal meat are still highly regarded. Moreover, the "hillocks" are easy to maintain and maintain, more on this will be discussed later in the article.
History and distribution of the breed
The Kholmogorsk breed of cows was bred in the Dvinsky district, Arkhangelsk province, hence the name. In the north of the country, hillocks were in demand due to their unpretentiousness in food and care, their adaptability to a cold climate, while maintaining high milk yield and excellent offspring.
When Tsar Peter the Great began to actively trade with Europe, foreign ships also began to import cattle, which the locals of the northern provinces willingly bought and then allowed to access their burenki. Dutch bulls were especially valued, and already juicy herbs helped to grow the strongest calves, which improved the new breed Kholmogorok.
Initially, the hillock cows had a uniform color, and only at the end of the 20th century, after crosses with Holstein bulls, the view began to differ. And in different areas - in its own way:
- In the central regions of Russia, the so-called "central varieties" appeared.
- In the Arkhangelsk region - "northern".
- In the Komi Republic - “Pechora”.
Kholmogory breeds make up about 9% of the total number of cattle throughout the country. This species, whose main feature is the ability to easily tolerate cold, was officially introduced to society and registered only at the end of the 19th century. The breed quickly became popular with business executives in the northern regions.
Today hillocks are the most common in Russia, they are bred in 24 regions.
Selection attempts of the 20th century
At the beginning of the last century, the development of this breed reached the all-Union level, in 1934 a breeding factory was opened specifically for Kholmogory cows. After a couple of years, they tried to cross these burenki with German ostfreezes to raise milk yield and improve the exterior. But the test failed, the cows only reduced the milk yield, and their appearance did not change at all.
Then the attempts stopped, and continued only at the end of the century by modern scientists. I even managed to breed 2 inbreeds:
- Istobenskaya.
- Tagil.
Such indicators as the shape of the udder and the rate of milk output are being improved, and options for improving the physique, increasing milk production, and fat content of the product are also being considered. One of their main goals is breeders call 4% milk fat and even higher.
An attempt to cross the hillock with imported gobies led to the loss of Y-chromosome gallotypes in northern cattle. And according to the autosomes and X-chromosome, the gene pool of the Kholmogory breed retains its identity. Today, purebred hillocks are given less attention and conditions than holstein hillocks. Although scientists do not consider such an approach to be correct.
Appearance
These cows did not acquire large sides. Their limbs are proportional, but curved. Sometimes there are cows with a third pair of nipples, but they are not considered culling. The standard color is black with white spots, but others are also found: red-mottled and black.
The following short video will help you better consider this breed of cows:
Characteristics of hillocks:
- powerful physique;
- round, broad chest;
- elongated torso;
- wide, raised back;
- crooked hind legs;
- a small, goat-shaped udder, similar to a bowl, with well-developed lobes;
- high growth - up to 1 meter 35 cm at the withers;
- weight - up to 500 kg, in adult gobies - up to 850, and breeding bulls pull more than 1 thousand kg;
- strong physique;
- chest round, medium width;
- the body is elongated, angular in shape;
- the sacrum is raised above the body, although there are specimens in which it can be higher than the withers;
- straight spine.
Since hillocks were bred for northern latitudes, in the southern regions they are not so productive, for the probable reason of poor fitness for heat. Cows are “obliged” to the origin of their appetite, especially in summer, because it was then that a lot of herbs grow in the north.
Productivity
Cattle have always been evaluated by different characteristics, some breeds went only for slaughter, others for high milk yield, and others as producers. Kholmogorsk breed excelled in all respects.
For which they appreciated:
- Milk yield. The more the cow gave them, the higher the price was for her. Kholmogorsk healthy burenka could please with the amount of milk up to 4 thousand liters per year. And with good content - up to 6 thousand liters. There were records in history, which gave about 10 thousand liters a year, to the delight of the owners. Kholmogorsk breed milk has always been characterized by high fat content - about 4%, and the same - 4%, a record amount of protein.
- The farm valued not only cows, but also bulls, which were kept as producers and for slaughter. Kholmogorsky breeds gave a slaughter yield of more than 60%, and younger cattle - and even more.
These animals excelled in reproductive performance. For the first time a cow brings calves in 2.5 years. If you take good care, after a year the calves gain weight up to 300 kg.
The table shows the average mass of hillocks, depending on age and gender.
Age | Weight |
Goby | 40 kg |
Chick | 35 kg |
Adult bull | 1000 kg |
Adult cow | 500 kg |
Modern breeders continue to improve the breed in terms of structure, milk yield, and characteristic exterior.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Although Kholmogorka was withdrawn with a strong adjustment, and it has more pros than cons, there are still some problem points. And they should be considered.
Advantages:
- hardy;
- unpretentious, well developed in any conditions;
- quickly gain weight on pastures;
- practically do not get sick;
- often give birth to calves;
- retain strong immunity;
- grow fast;
- give a lot of meat and milk.
Disadvantages:
- not very presentable appearance;
- reduce milk yield if there is little grass on the pasture;
- Reduces milk yield in hot climates.
Content (adult and young)
Kholmogorok is advantageous to breed not only because of milk, but also because of meat, it makes up more than half of the total weight of an individual. In order for the bulls to gain weight better, they try to castrate them, then with good feeding and care they gain 1 kilogram per day. Then the slaughter yield is higher: from 58 to 65%. But veterinarians recommend that the animal be subjected to surgery no later than 18 months, then it is unprofitable and dangerous. Most often, individuals intended for slaughter are neutered at 6 months.
But when the animal is 1.5 years old, the gain decreases sharply, and there is no sense in further feeding for slaughter. Moreover, keeping a bull on purchased feed in winter is very expensive. The exception is rejected manufacturers who are older in age, but are not suitable for slaughter.
If they try to keep chickens and other small animals in cages, then cows need:
- Leash.
- Free movement.
Containment conditions also play an important role, so scientists today are exploring not only ways to increase the amount of milk, but also:
- options for daily routine and its effect on milk yield;
- different rations;
- ways to reduce the cost of milk production;
- the use of modern building materials for the construction of livestock complexes.
Kholmogoryki well tolerate double milking, which increases the yield of milk and reduces the cost of production.
Cowshed conditions
A good room is very important for the Kholmogorsk breed, since their dimensions are impressive. And in order for them to be comfortable, they need to make a lot of efforts to equip their homes.
It's important to know:
- A place for a barn is chosen taking into account winds and runoff of spring waters. Do not place them near residential premises, wells, rivers and springs.
- Material for the construction site must be bought durable, heat-insulating, taking into account heating, ventilation and lighting.
- Take into account the dimensions of the animals. One cow needs about 6 square meters, and if with a calf - then more than 10.
- Slate is placed on the roof, it is advisable to build a room with an attic, which will help to keep warm in the cold and give a place to store feed. If there is no attic, then the roof should be additionally insulated.
- A paddock for walking is always set outside, the track should count at least 500 m. On the one hand, it is desirable to make a canopy so that the animals have a place to hide from the sun and rain.
- Correctly put the drinkers. If the stalls are arranged in 2 rows, then the feeders are better placed outside, it is more convenient to serve food and water. You can not place them along the wall, otherwise moisture from the breath of animals will settle on the feed.
- The shape of the feeder should be like an inverted trapezoid, so it is more convenient for cows to eat, and for the owner to clean.
- When equipping a stall, the size of the cows and bulls must be taken into account, and the hillocks are very large. The cattle should face in front of the feeder, and back to the gutter. The size of the stall is chosen medium: not too spacious so as not to rotate, soiling feeders, but not too narrow so as not to stagnate.
- For manufacturing bulls, it is better to buy mating machines, this will help pay off the producer’s large weight.
Crib Features for Adult Animals:
- Temperature. In winter, it should be at least 15 degrees, you definitely need to take into account lighting and ventilation.
- Windows for daylight. Cows give poor milk yield under artificial lighting.
- Floor. It is more reliable to cover with concrete, with slopes for urine and gutters for manure.
- Wet bed made of straw and sawdust. Then the legs of the gobies and cows will not damp, which will protect against colds. And the lower litter with manure gives off heat, which additionally warms the barn in the winter.
- Clean stalls completely you need twice a year, but you will have to constantly clean up the old flooring and add fresh straw.
Features of the calf barn:
- The first 2-3 weeks after the birth of the babies they are kept next to their mother, but then they need to provide a separate room where they learn five days. If the calf is healthy, it is transferred to the calf, and cages are equipped there. It’s better to keep the kids separate, it’s easier to care for, and they won’t push around at the feeder. Very often, stronger calves repel weak brothers and sisters from eating.
- Put individual boxes. They are made of polyethylene, in the form of a cylinder, with an entrance on one side. It is easy to wash, rearrange, such a dome is very warm and creates a sense of security for the little one. There are compartments for food and water, so calves can eat on the spot. In order not to jump out, a special mesh is provided.
- In cold weather, you need to hang a strong lamp so that newborns do not freeze.
You can teach calves to feed from 1.5 months, add potatoes, carrots, beets, apples, but only chopped ones to the hay. Surely - salt and chalk. And Kholmogorsk calves are very useful oatmeal jelly, which is steamed at the rate of 80 g of cereal per liter of water.
It is believed that a hillock should have only one calf; when breeding a breed, heifers with twins go to culling.
2 hours after eating, the calf should be given 0.5 liters of warm water.
Care
For milking, it is better to make separate stalls. You can milk on the ground, but not in the lying area. It is very important in what conditions to keep animals. There are 2 options:
- Free. It is introduced by large farms, so it is easier to care for the herd. But even one cow is more comfortable in free placement.
- Free, without a leash. Animals can freely move around the barn. They put common feeders and drinking bowls there, hay is easier to have in bales.
In good conditions, the hillock can live up to 25 years.
Nutrition
For hillocks, an optimal diet is required. They immediately respond to a lack of food or necessary vitamin supplements with low milk yield, and bulls - with poor weight gain. An unbalanced diet can provoke a short period of lactation. It is recommended to pay special attention to the preparation of cows for calving, when nutrition, supplements, and even proper milking are important.
Proper nutrition is also an indicator of the quantity and quality of milk. A Kholmogory cow can eat up to 80 kg of hay per day, so if you do not drive it out for grazing, you will have to stock up a lot of food.
Tips for feeding hillocks:
- Provide a clear diet.
- Add flaxseed, sunflower meal, a mixture of cereals and legumes.
- The intervals between feeding and milking should be the same.
Cows are fed three times a day, but this is based on the yield of milk - 20 liters per day. The hillocks give up to 30 liters, so you need to distribute food at least 5 times a day. Corn and root crops can be replaced by nutritious grain growing, this solution will help reduce the cost and effort of harvesting feed. At the same time, the quality and quantity of milk will not deteriorate.
Feeding Features:
- Summer and spring. Feed, vegetables, fruits can be complementary foods.
- Winter and fall. Hay, straw, compound feed, vitamin complexes.
- Drink. Water only with warm water, warm in the cold. In summer, the liquid should be air temperature. In the heat of water, a lot of water is needed, since animals remain at risk of dehydration.
About grazing
It is much easier to let a cow out for grazing, less fussing with feed. The main thing is to ensure a good pasture, because if the grass is small, milk yield will drop sharply. Many farmers come together to pay for the work of a shepherd, which is even an order of magnitude cheaper than purchasing large quantities of feed. But it is important to let the grass out not only for the sake of economy. Scientists are convinced that cows and hillocks, including, need to graze for communication. As already mentioned, bulls and cows are herd animals, they have their own system of signals in communication. And if a cow or a goby do not know how to behave in a herd, problems can begin.
Milking
For milking, it is better to make separate stalls. Kholmogorok is milked not only by hand, but also by hardware, they are non-conflict, do not be capricious with this approach. This is convenient if the stock is large.
It is important to remember that the fattest milk is in the rear lobes of the udder, therefore it is still better to milk manually, or at least check the quality of the hardware milking. Read more about proper milking here.
Disease
Farmers note that hillocks:
- almost do not get sick, they have excellent health and strong immunity;
- practically do not catch a cold, since they are bred for northern latitudes;
- rarely suffer from tuberculosis, rheumatism, udder diseases;
- resistant to leukemia - a characteristic feature of this breed.
Breeding
Now Kholmogorsky breeds are actively bred, especially in the Arkhangelsk region. Many farms try to keep hybrids with no more than half of the Holstein genes. The focus is on increasing the number of milk yields. Work is carried out on 2 technologies:
- Purebred breeding. The breed is improved by letting the bulls with the best performance. The pedigree enterprises of the Arkhangelsk region even have special stocks of bull semen for breeding families. Here the selection is conducted on the mother's side.
- Holsteinization. The amount of milk is growing. But there is a minus - Holstein breeds are finicky in feed, and age faster. And with milk it’s not so simple. Milking is higher, but they are fewer in number, if milk from purebred cows can be obtained by 5 lactations, then from hybrids - no more than 3.
Calves
Although it is much more convenient to keep young animals individually, it is recommended to do this no more than a month after the baby is taken away from the mother. Farmers who tried not to transfer calves to groups faced a number of problems. Since of the benefits - it is only more convenient to control the growth, weight and health status.
Minuses:
- They eat worse, because there is no competition.
- No active weight gain.
- Mental development is impaired, because cows are herd animals.
But to keep calves in groups, it’s not enough just to collect them in one herd. It is important that young animals become accustomed to the team in the "company" of 5-8 individuals - no more, and no less. It is also necessary to equip the room.
Requirements:
- Flooring - only of wood, each calf is allocated at least 1.5 square meters of space.
- Drinking bowls, feeders are placed on the number of goals, so that it is enough to feed everyone at the same time.
- Disinfect stalls daily, as small ones are more susceptible to infections, although quite resistant to ailments.
- Change the litter every day.
- For different groups you need to choose your diet. More information about feeding calves from the first days of life is written here.
- It is advisable to boil water for calves in the first month of life.
Kholmogorsky breed prices
Due to the fact that Kholmogorok is actively bred in Russia, their prices are quite reasonable. In the table, the cost of adults is calculated at the rate of 150 rubles per kilogram.
Representatives | Price |
Calf - 1 month. | 11 thousand rubles |
Calf - 2 months. | 13 thousand rubles |
Adults: Bull - 1000 kg Cow - 500 kg | 150 thousand rubles 75 thousand rubles |
Farmers Reviews
Most farmers respond positively to the hillocks, the unpretentiousness of the breed, in comparison with the more capricious, delights experienced managers.
Denis, 40 years old, Omsk. “I have my own farm, we keep cattle, we started with imported“ supplies. ” It was hard to grow, too greenhouse conditions were required. And then I saw Kholmogorsk cows at the exhibition, took several samples. Now we buy only them. Very picky, easily tolerate both cold and heat. True, a lot of feed is required, but this is solved. And the price is quite reasonable. I recommend to everyone!".
Vasily, 37 years old, Moscow region. “I learned about the Kholmogorsk breed when I visited familiar farmers in the Arkhangelsk region. They were very satisfied, I also decided to try and did not lose. I bought three cows and a bull, and it went so! Now I have about 70 heads of herd, and I’m thinking of buying more. Very hillsides are suitable for our climate, not moody, moreover.
Irina, 48 years old, Pskov. “My husband brought Kholmogorsk bulls-producers, very satisfied. They compete well with Istobensky, heifers cover well. All who turned to the calves are not overjoyed. "
Vladimir, 53 years old, farmer, Eagle. “For the first time I tried to get the Kholmogorsk breed 10 years ago. Soon he sold all the others, left only these cows. My household is kept on milk, and then the milk yield is excellent, the milk is tasty, fatty. Cows are hardy. What else does a farmer need? ”
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In all respects, the Kholmogorsk breed is one of the most profitable and successful, it has many more advantages than disadvantages. The main thing is unpretentiousness, excellent health, high milk yield, healthy calves. It is important that with “non-greenhouse” care they grow well, are not susceptible to disease. Such a purchase for the household is a very profitable investment. It is only necessary not to forget that certain conditions for cows and bull-calves still need to be provided, as well as solid stocks of feed.
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