How long bulls live: average life expectancy in wild and domestic conditions

When understanding how many years bulls live, it should be borne in mind that in captivity the animal is provided with good feed, a barn, and veterinary supervision throughout its life. That is why the life expectancy of cattle on farms and especially in personal farms is significantly increased compared to the wild. Although bulls in captivity rarely live to old age, since feeding an aging animal for several years is economically unprofitable for the owner of the livestock.

How long do bulls live on average

The lifespan of cattle is 17-20 years, this is the lifespan of cows.Bulls are kept for no more than 15 years. High-quality care, vaccinations, timely treatment of diseases prolong the life of bulls up to 35 years. Of course, keeping livestock for so many years is impractical, the life expectancy of animals directly depends on their productivity.

By country

The lifespan of an animal depends on the country of habitat and the climate in which the animal lives. In India, bulls and cows die a natural death, because the animal is considered sacred there. A warm climate, an abundance of food and a ban on killing increase the lifespan to 35-40 years.

In the northern regions, for example, in Russia, animals live no more than 8-9 years, with a decrease in productivity they are sent for slaughter, replacing them with younger livestock. The bulls are kept on the farm for 16-20 months, then they are slaughtered, the inseminator bull is left for 12-14 years to reproduce the livestock.

Depending on breed

The life expectancy of animals depends on the breed of cattle.Representatives of the dairy direction of animal husbandry live 3-5 years less than their meat, dairy and meat relatives. The production of milk requires significant energy costs. The age of a cow or bull when buying can be determined by the teeth or annual rings on the horns of the animal.

Home and farm

On a private farmstead, cows and bulls live much longer than on a farm. This is due to the best conditions of detention. Animals in a private backyard move more, they are provided with the love of their owners and constant interaction with them.

Farm livestock, despite good nutrition, move little, animals do not receive affection, they are sent for slaughter immediately when productivity decreases. Large farms cannot afford an individual approach to each cow.

In nature

In nature, if the bull did not die of illness and was not eaten by a predator, he lives up to 15-20 years. Of course, only if in the winter he does not die from a cold or other diseases, or from a lack of food.

Important: in countries with a cold climate, the life expectancy of cows and bulls is much less than in warm regions.

Factors affecting life expectancy

In nature, bulls and heifers suffer from helminthic invasions, lack of food, can be poisoned by poisonous plants, be eaten by predators. Animals in private households receive a balanced diet, high-quality feed, necessary supplements and vitamins. During the cold period, animals are protected from rain and snow, cows do not have to look for food on their own, they drink clean heated water.Bulls and cows in a good owner do not suffer from colds.

The barn is cleaned daily, the animals are washed, the udders and hooves are inspected to prevent the development of inflammation.

Livestock from calf age is vaccinated against infectious diseases, calves up to 1 month old are examined daily, from 1 to 3 months - every 10 days, then - monthly. Animals receive rough and succulent feed, additives (s alt, fish oil, bone meal, chalk), for animals this is an additional source of essential minerals.

To rid the livestock of worms, animals are quarterly given special drugs on the recommendation of a veterinarian. Before releasing animals to the pasture, they must inspect the grazing area and remove poisonous plants.

How to increase lifespan

To increase the lifespan of cows and bulls, it is necessary to provide them with quality feed, the diet should include:

• hay;
• ripe roots, free of dirt and rot;
• silo;
• compound feed, including mineral supplements.

In the summer, hay and mixed fodder are replaced with fresh meadow grass. Animals need free access to clean water and walking to maintain physical activity and he althy hooves. There should be enough space in the barn (up to 15 square meters per individual), this allows bulls and cows to move, lie down, the room should be clean, bright and well ventilated.

Crowding of animals, high humidity in the room, dirt on the floor, in feeders and drinkers should not be allowed. The room is cleaned daily of manure, the drinkers are rinsed. The feeders are cleared of debris. Animals should not be given frost-bitten, frosted or wet grass, frozen vegetables, this can cause inflammation of the abomasum.

Do not graze animals in dew or immediately after rain. Animals should be systematically washed, cleaned of dirt with brushes.

Bulls are kept separately from the rest of the livestock. In the stall, chains are needed to secure the animal. The livestock of cattle should walk 1-2 kilometers daily. It is necessary to examine the udder of animals, to massage the organ. Animals should be fed and milked at the same time. It is necessary to protect cows and bulls from stress (sharp sounds, roar, strangers in the room).

In order for cows and bulls to live long and not lose productivity, they must be walked daily, for 1-2 hours. The exception is severe frosts. Nutrition, quality content, the availability of walks and veterinary control provide animals with he alth, strong immunity, endurance and fatness.

Optimal age for slaughter

If calves are purchased for fattening purposes, 6-month-old calves should be purchased. They are no longer given milk, they are fully adapted to adult food. Gobies are sent for slaughter at 16-20 months. To ensure a set of muscle mass, bulls are not castrated until 10-12 months. Heifers are culled with underdevelopment of the udder, he alth problems.

Before slaughter, animals are fattened - enhanced nutrition for rapid weight gain.

Bulls and cows in households live longer than those on large farms or in the wild, but only if they are carefully looked after. The affection and good attitude of the owners significantly increase the lifespan of the animals, but the decrease in productivity makes it necessary to send bulls and cows for slaughter in order not to waste feed and replace the livestock in a timely manner.

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