Ayrshire breed of cows: description and characteristics, pros and cons of cattle and care

The Ayrshire cow is a well-deserved leader among dairy cattle breeds in terms of milk yield, quality and beneficial composition of milk. Not only high-quality dairy products have led to the popularity of the Ayrshire breed, the advantages of the breed also include non-capriciousness in maintenance and nutrition, adaptability to cold climates, trouble-free calving, strong immunity, and beautiful color.

Origin story

Ayrshire breed is of Scottish origin, the name is given from the county of Ayrshire, in southwestern Scotland. The breed was officially registered in the 1960s.The progenitors are Scottish wild bulls, representatives of the Dutch, Alderney, Tiswater breeds. Aishirs appeared in the USA in the 1860s, in Canada they started breeding the breed in the 1870s.

Since Ayrshire cows are adapted to cold climatic conditions, they are most widespread in the northern temperate regions: Scandinavia, USA, Canada. Calves were brought to the territory of Russia from Finland, today large livestock are in Karelia and the Leningrad region.

In Russia, there are large breeding farms specializing in the Karelian breed: FGU "Novoladozhsky" (Volkhov district of the Leningrad region), FGBU SGC "Smena" (Sergiev Posad district). In terms of livestock size, the Kashira breed in Russia is second only to Finland.

Habitats

Finland is a country with ideal climatic conditions for Ayrshire cattle, the number of livestock here exceeds 150 thousand individuals. Finnish farmers managed to organize the cultivation of Ayrshire cattle so well that cows live up to 20 years, and the annual milk production reaches 11,000 liters of milk per individual.In Russia, the Ayrshire breed is bred mainly in the northwestern and western regions of the country:

• Karelia;
• Komi Republic;
• Moscow region;
• Leningradskaya;
• Novgorod.

The Russian population of the Ayrshire breed is about 90 thousand individuals. Average annual milk yield - 8000 l. The cost of 2 kg of live weight is 200-250 rubles. For an adult animal, you will have to pay about 100 thousand rubles, and breeding bulls and cows are valued higher.

Description and productivity of the breed

Ayrshire cows are medium-sized, have a harmonious physique.

A detailed description of the Ayrshire breed is shown in the table: 125 cm

body lengthup to 155 cm weight head body limbs short, straight, hooves strong, stable, adapted for movement on mountainous terrainhorns large , pointing upwards, widely spaced, curved, yellowish in color (in large farms, the horns of born calves are immediately cauterized, which is why a large percentage of the world's livestock is polled)udder neat, regular cupped shape, the skin is soft and elastic, the nipples are conical or cylinder ic, widely spaced, convenient for attaching a milking cluster (milk output rate - 2 liters per minute)color white with red-brown spots or brown with white spots

bull - up to 800 kg, cows - 450 kg
small, elongated, standard shape
stocky, not massive, wide, a dewlap hanging from a narrow chest, a straight back, a thin skeleton, with movable joints, well-developed muscle mass

Ayrshire is a dairy breed. The duration of lactation is high, reaches 305 days. A breeding cow remains productive until the age of 15-17. Moreover, older cows do not lag behind young relatives in terms of milk yield.

Milk values from an Ayrshire cow:

• average annual milk yield - 8500 l;
• milk fat content - 4.2%;
• protein content - 3.5%;
• percentage of tissue particles is minimal.

Due to its high protein and nutrient content, Ayrshire cow milk is suitable for the production of cheese, cottage cheese, butter, and baby food. For meat, mainly males are grown.Bulls quickly gain muscle mass, average productivity - slaughter weight - up to 50% of the animal's weight. Also, Ayrshire cattle are often used in breeding for crossing with other breeds in order to obtain offspring with high milk production.

Pros and cons of Ayrshire cows

The Ayrshire breed is popular with farmers because cows have many virtues:

• quickly adapt to climatic conditions in the growing area (not suitable only for hot regions);
• not capricious in care, maintenance, feeding;
• hardy, easily overcome long distances between pastures;
• live long, are distinguished by good he alth and lively, active behavior;
• have no genetic pathologies;
• puberty early;
• have high milk yield regardless of the season.

There are few shortcomings in the Ayrshire breed:

• susceptibility to heat (especially combined with high humidity);
• willfulness and aggressiveness of bulls;
• fearfulness and obstinacy of females in the process of milking;
• need for an active lifestyle (year-round stalling is unacceptable).

Conditions and care

You can keep an Ayrshire cow both in the stall and on the pasture. The method of maintenance does not affect milk yield. But with stall maintenance, regular walking in the paddock is necessary. In the summer, a canopy is pulled over the paddock so that the cows do not suffer from the sun. Ayrshires endure cold temperatures, but the heat is unbearable for them, because of it milk production is significantly reduced.

In the winter months, the barn needs to provide optimal conditions: temperature from +15 to +18 °C, ventilation, but without draft.

Stall

The barn should be well lit, but the light should not hit the animals in the eyes. The floor in the stalls is made of plank, straw is laid on top. The stall must match the dimensions of the cow. To tie cattle, pipes 10 cm in diameter are installed.

Feeders

If the cows are in a stall, then a feed pelvis is installed in front. If the cattle move freely around the barn, then the feeders are made mounted so that the animals do not accidentally knock them over.

Care after calving

The birth process is easy, newborn calves almost always survive. An Ayrshire cow is ready to give birth to her first calf as early as 2 years old. A born calf weighs about 30 kg.

After calving, the owner must remove the afterbirth. After 30 minutes, give the woman in labor hay and warm water. A calving cow should be milked 4-5 times a day.

Cleaning the stall

To keep the aishirka he althy, it is important to regularly clean the barn and stall. Animals are taken outside before the procedure. The owner must remove the manure, change the rotten bedding, wash the feeders and drinkers.

Diet

During the summer months, Ayrshire cows forage in the pasture. In winter, stall management is applied.

The basis of the winter diet is hay, supplemented with cereal husks, cake, meal, husks to increase milk yield and improve milk quality. Compound feed should be given in moderation, as excessive consumption causes disruption of the digestive tract. Especially carefully it is necessary to give compound feed with a high content of starch, the daily portion should not exceed 2 kg.

Cow silage consumption should also be moderate. It is better to add juicy plant foods to the diet: potatoes, beets, carrots, pumpkins. An approximate winter daily ration for an Ayrshire cow weighing 500 kg is:

• 2 kg of hay;
• 4 kg feed;
• 25 kg silage;
• 2 kg barley grains;
• 6 kg of beer dry grains;
• 2 kg wheat bran;
• 3 kg beet pulp.

As a source of minerals, a cow is given 80-100 g of table s alt daily, the animal should receive vitamin supplements in the same amount. The daily intake of water is 40 liters. The transition from winter stabling to summer grazing should be gradual. Due to a sudden change in diet, a cow's scar can swell.

Features of breeding

If a farmer plans to breed an Ayrshire breed for the sale of dairy products, then the herd should consist predominantly of females. If breeding events are planned, then it is necessary to carefully control the pedigree line of bulls that appeared from one progenitor.

There are 2 breed lines:

• genealogical - including bulls with different pedigrees, but related by a common ancestor;
• factory - including animals carefully selected to maintain the quality characteristics of the breed.

The breeding process looks like this: the breeder chooses a bull, evaluates the calves born from him, chooses the best calf for breeding. From the selected bull, offspring appears, from which the best calf for breeding is also selected. This method works up to 4 generations, then the qualitative characteristics of the breed disappear.

Diseases and methods of dealing with them

Ayrshire cows have strong immunity, but there is no 100% protection against bacterial and viral pathologies. The he alth of representatives of the breed may also deteriorate due to improper care and maintenance.

Common diseases:

1. Leukemia is a deadly tumor disease caused by a cancer virus that affects the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
2. Actinomycosis is a fungal pathology that requires surgical intervention in an advanced case. At the initial stage, antifungal medicines are effective. A pathogenic fungus develops on the skin wounds of a cow, which gradually forms a fistula.
3. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects the soft internal organs. Antibiotics are used for treatment.
4. Brucellosis is an infectious pathology leading to miscarriage. The infection is also dangerous for the human body. Treating a cow with antibiotics.
5. FMD is a viral infection dangerous for animals and humans, accompanied by fever and ulceration of the integument. With a malignant course, the cow dies. Treatment is symptomatic, using agents to support the heart and relieve ulcers until the surviving cow develops immunity.
6. Rabies is a deadly viral disease. The animal is slaughtered, the carcass is burned.
7. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease associated with improper maintenance in the winter, manifested by fever, cough, heavy breathing. There is no medicine, sick individuals are slaughtered.
8. Inflammation of the lungs occurs under adverse temperature conditions in the barn. The disease is accompanied by fever, heavy breathing, pulmonary rales. Animals are treated with antibiotics.
9. Mastitis - inflammation of the mammary glands, accompanied by swelling and soreness. For treatment, the veterinarian prescribes antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, udder massage.

An infected cow must be isolated from the herd during the treatment period. Prevention of viral diseases - vaccination of livestock, competent care and provision of comfortable living conditions.

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