Limousine cow breed: description and characteristics, content features

Cow limousine - one of the animal breeds of meat productivity. She is unpretentious in care. She has developed immunity. However, some farmers are wary of the limousine look. This animal sometimes shows aggression, and so that no one gets hurt, you have to be careful. You must not lose vigilance when feeding the calves, and while walking.

Origin story

The name of the breed comes from the administrative region of Limousin in France. Here the breed was first bred and continues to be grown for several centuries. For the first time, an attempt to create this meat type of animal of exceptional quality began in the 18th century.

Breeders set themselves the task of creating a breed of cows with endurance, unpretentiousness in maintenance, maximum weight gain with minimal feeding. For work, many types of cattle existing at that time were used, but the result was demonstrated by animals of the Aquitanian breeds. It was they who became the ancestors of the limousine cows.

Thanks to many years of work we have achieved good results. The fat content of the meat has decreased, a unique marble texture has appeared. In 1856, the limousine received a personal stud book. In the same year, representatives of the breed began to appear at exhibitions. Selection research on the limousine breed continued in the future. In 1925, a closed stud book was created. Decades later, several lines and related groups of Limousin bulls and cows appeared.

Habitats

Limousine cows are considered a national treasure of France. Until now, the sale of beef brings a huge income to the budget of the republic, being a serious item in the export of meat.

In addition to France, limousine cows have become widespread in the USA and Canada, Australia, and Portugal. On the territory of the former USSR, an attempt to breed cattle of this breed dates back to 1961. Then several animals were brought to the territory of the Priozersky breeding farm near Brest.

Appearance of the breed

Animals of the Limousin breed are distinguished by a weighty body and a well-formed strong muscular system. They also look different:

• small neck, head and wide frontal bone;
• golden-brown wool;
• tight skin;
• medium-length limbs;
• compact but shaped udder;
• up to 1.4 meters tall;
• chest with a girth of 2.5 meters.

Gobies have light-colored horns that stand out against a background of darker wool.

Characteristic cow limousine

Animals of this breed are endowed with unpredictability of character. Sometimes they show aggression. Therefore, when caring for cattle, you should be vigilant.

Good and bad sides

Farmers note such advantages when breeding cows of this type:

• calf growth;
• strengthened immunity, disease resistance;
• increased degree of reproduction;
• hassle-free calving;
• simplicity in animal care;
• results in low-fat meat.

Among the disadvantages in dealing with animals is aggression. Also, with regard to reproductive function, then with artificial insemination, difficulties may arise. Limo cow needs some extra stimulation.

Subtleties of maintenance and care

Limousine cows are meat breeds of cattle. They are bred for marbled meat. In order for the products to be of high quality, attention is paid to the maintenance of animals. Despite the fact that limousine cows are unpretentious in their care, they need certain conditions. Improper care entails a negative impact on the he alth of animals, will affect the taste characteristics of meat.

Summer walking area

Regular walks in the fresh air will help increase milk production. The presence of a summer walking area will be an excellent substitute for a pasture. The arrangement of a walking area is recommended if there are no pastures nearby; suitable for seasonal cattle farmers.

The summer playground is fenced on all sides. It is recommended to equip canopies that will protect from rain, adverse weather conditions. Stalls should be installed around the entire perimeter of the site, and each animal should have a separate place.

When arranging a summer playground, do not forget about drinking bowls so that animals quench their thirst if necessary.

Building a barn

According to the recommendations of experienced breeders, one cow should have at least 7 square meters. m area. This space is enough for the animal to feel comfortable.

There are two ways to equip a suitable place for cows:

1. Dividing the barn into separate stalls. This method is suitable for farmers who have a large barn area. Zoning will keep each animal in comfort.
2. Free movement. All barrier elements are removed from the barn so that the cattle can move freely inside the premises. At the same time, a separate stall is organized for each animal.

Cleaning in the barn is recommended to be carried out daily, this will keep the animals clean. The bedding is replaced as needed, straw or sawdust 30 cm thick is pricked onto the concrete floor. This is enough to organize an acceptable flooring. If a summer playground is provided separately for cows, then an exit is made in the barn through which the animals immediately get into fresh air.

The installation of feeders and drinkers depends on how the barn is organized. If each cow has its own stall, drinkers and feeders should be placed separately or placed along the stall. In the absence of free space, hanging containers are preferred.

Containment conditions

One of the key advantages of the limousine breed is unpretentiousness in care, lack of requirements for living conditions. Animals easily adapt to low and high temperatures. Despite this, there are a number of rules. It is imperative to follow them in order to get tasty and high-quality meat. The optimum temperature for keeping cows is 7 C. In winter, the barn is heated to this mark. At low temperatures, the taste of meat may change for the worse.

In the barn, be sure to equip the ventilation system. The constant circulation of air masses will reduce the risk of diseases in animals. In addition, the premises should be ventilated at regular intervals.

One of the conditions of detention is dryness in the room. In order for the animals to feel as comfortable as possible, the barn should be clean and dry. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of humidity in the room.Experts say that the most favorable conditions are a maximum of 50% humidity.

Limousines are considered robust animals, but they are prone to colds. To prevent their occurrence, it is necessary to limit the occurrence of drafts. The barn should be constantly checked for cracks and damage, and promptly disposed of.

Cleaning

High-quality barn cleaning is necessary to get rid of harmful bacteria and fungal growths. This is a kind of disinfection of the premises, the conduct of which will create ideal conditions for detention. Cleaning should be done according to the season. In the warm season, cows spend most of their time outside, so the level of barn pollution is minimal, and daily cleaning is not required.

During the cold season, cows spend all their time in stalls, so care must be taken to maintain cleanliness. Cleaning is carried out at least once a day.

First of all, it is necessary to get rid of excrement in a timely manner. The bedding should then be cleaned or replaced. It is recommended to pay special attention to feeders and drinkers. They should be washed at least 3-4 times a month. A potentially dangerous area for the development of harmful bacteria is water tanks. They need to be cleaned daily so that the water does not stagnate and mold does not appear in it.

Preparing for milking

Limousine cows were originally bred for meat production. Therefore, these animals have practically no milk. It is only enough to feed the young. True, this performance can be improved. To do this, the meat breed is crossed with the dairy.

Before experimenting with cattle breeding, it is worth seeking advice from a specialist so as not to harm the animals and future generations.

How to breed a breed

Spring and summer are the best times for mating animals of this breed. After birth, calves feed on mother's milk, and their diet can also be diversified with fresh grass. At the same time, it is important to observe a diet and adhere to a complete he althy diet. The ideal age for a Limousin cow to calve is 12 months. During this period, the animal becomes sexually mature, the reproductive function is most developed. If the calving happened in damp weather or cold, then the cow should be left for 8 days in a warm barn.

To understand when calving should happen, you need to monitor the condition of the cow. At this time, the animal, as a rule, shows signs of anxiety. The cow will get up and lie down again. Childbirth can take place without the participation of a specialist, but help is never superfluous, since it is important to observe that the calf is born with the forelimbs forward. The calf's head will be laid on its legs.The umbilical cord falls off on its own. If this does not happen, then he gets rid of it with a sterile instrument.

Diseases and their treatment

In the premises where cows are permanently located, it is necessary to regularly carry out disinfectant prophylaxis, as well as deratization measures. Farmers should keep strangers and animals out of the area.

If they want to add a new individual to the herd, then initially it is sent to quarantine. Animals are monitored for a month. It is imperative to control the possibility of mastitis formation, which appears after a cold or due to a bacterial background.

To prevent disease, it is worth providing the right care for the limousine cow. Nutrition will need to be supplemented with phosphorus-containing additives. It is also important to refer a female to an obstetric and gynecological medical examination.

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