Angler breed of cows: description and characteristics, rules of keeping

Farmers value Angler cows and bulls for their quality products. The Angler breed shows good meat performance. Milk is in demand among cheese producers due to the high protein content in milk and the presence of carra-casein. Bulls are carriers of this gene, which provides good quality cheeses.

History

Mentions of a breed of cows called Angelic can be found in documents from the 16th century. Angeln is a German peninsula that has served as a breeding ground. As a result of selection, by improving the brown-red and shorthorn breeds, the Angler cow was bred.

Only in the 19th century did the Angler breed gain recognition from Russian livestock breeders. Breeding cattle was actively used to breed various "red" breeds: steppe, Polish, brown Latvian, Belarusian.

External data and characteristics of Angler cows

Representatives of the breed are distinguished by the exterior characteristic of dairy cows (narrow body, thin skin, underdeveloped skeleton). Features of the constitution of cattle of the Angler breed:

massive elongated body (at the withers the animal grows up to 1.3-1.45 m) with clearly defined ribs (due to thin skin), wide sternum, flat back;
Head of medium size, horns grow forward. On a long neck, the skin folds in a peculiar way;
limbs are not long, with well-defined joints;
cup-shaped udder with extended teats, which is convenient for milking (both manual and machine).

A distinctive feature is a uniform red color (there are cows with white marks on the udder and the tip of the tail). Adult cows gain weight 520-550 kg (the mass of bulls is 2-2.5 times more). After slaughter, the yield of meat is 50-55%. Calves are born weighing 30-36 kg. The annual milk yield of a cow is 5000-7500 liters of milk with a fat content of up to 5%.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

In Angler cows, the main advantage is high milk yield, which has a delicate aftertaste with light sweet notes. Demonstrates the breed and other virtues:

undemanding to the conditions of detention;
omnivorous (it's easy to make a varied diet);
high food value of milk (4.58% fat, 3.6-5% protein);
meat is juicy, tender thanks to thin layers of fat;
cows of a calm disposition, non-conflict with other pets;
Angler breed individuals have excellent he alth, resistance to viruses and diseases.

There are no clearly expressed minuses in cattle. Farmers note the wayward nature of individual individuals, but it is easy to get used to such features.

What you need to know about keeping and feeding?

Angler cows are undemanding and quite hardy. For full development, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness of the cattle in the barn, regular walking. To prevent infection, animals are regularly vaccinated.

Cows are not picky about their diet, but to get nutritious milk you need good nutrition.

Feedings in warm and cold seasons have nuances. In summer, animals feed mainly on pastures with fresh grass, and receive complementary foods in the form of 500-600 g of bran, 550-650 g of meal. Hay and silage form the basis of the winter diet. Example of daily winter feeding per cow:

vegetables (potatoes, beets) - 4.5-5 kg;
bran and cake - 1.5-2 kg each;
silo - 28-32 kg;
hay - 5.5-8 kg.

Food is divided into several doses. Moreover, in the morning it is recommended to feed roughage, and in the evening - the rest. It is advisable to feed at certain hours. The transition from summer to winter diet should be smooth. As an option, hay is added to freshly cut grass, gradually increasing its portion. Animals should have access to fresh water at any time of the day, since a cow can drink 65-70 liters of water per day.

Features of breeding

Angler heifers are actively growing and can bear offspring from the age of 18-24 months. The calving takes place once a year. One cow calves 15-18 times during her life (but after 14 calving the animal is considered old).

Cows usually calve without pathology or complications, so no intervention from the farmer is required.

Newborn calves stand on their own feet and can feed on mother's milk on their own. A calf drinks 7-8 liters of milk per day. Gradually introduce complementary foods into the diet of animals, starting from the age of two months. One-year-old calves are transferred to the general herd.

Disease resistance

Farmers note the resistance of Angler cows to viruses and diseases. However, isolated cases have been observed among animals:

leukemia;
tuberculosis;
brucellosis.

Infections are rare. Since diseases are a danger to people, all cattle must be vaccinated. A week-old calf is given its first vaccination. In order not to miss vaccinations, it is recommended to have a vaccination schedule.

Cows are susceptible to togovirus (viral diarrhea). The disease is not well understood, and there is no reliable information about the ways of transmission of the infection. The incubation period can stretch for 1-1.5 years, the lethality is 10% of the livestock. Animals aged 2-24 months get sick. The diagnosis is established on the basis of clinical studies. Prevention measures - isolation of sick individuals, daily disinfection of premises.

Due to excellent productive qualities and excellent he alth, Angler cattle are in demand among farmers. Resistance to infections increases the attractiveness of the breed for livestock breeders. No special conditions are required for breeding and keeping livestock.