Red steppe breed of cows: description and characteristics, content

Red steppe breed is very different from other types of cows. Animals endure the unbearable heat of the southern sun, go without water for a long time and, if necessary, are content with meager food. Nurseries are well known as producers of quality milk. Cows are known for their mobility. The milk yield of cows depends on the regularity of walks.

History of Breeding

The history of the emergence of an unusual breed of cows has been around for 3 centuries. The steppe part of sunny Ukraine became the homeland of cows. In those distant times, German settlers lived on the territory of the city of Melitopol.Zealous colonists crossed local steppe cows with representatives of the Simmental, Wilstermarsh, East Frisian, Red Danish and Angler breeds.

Livestock breeders were specially selected for crossing dairy individuals. All cows were genetically and metabolically similar. If earlier local cows were mainly used as a draft force, now the situation has changed. A red, steppe breed of animals was born. Dairy cows are distinguished by a rare unpretentiousness to the diet and conditions of detention. They instantly adapt to any climate and rarely get sick. A few years later, the red steppe beauty received official recognition. Cows could be found on farms located in Western Siberia, the Volga region, the Kuban and the Stavropol Territory.

Today, animals have become widespread in Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova and the Caucasus. In the era of the USSR, red cows were bred everywhere. In some parts of the country, the stock of red steppe nurseries occupied 80-90% of the total number of cattle.

Detailed description and characteristics of red steppe cows

The unique qualities of the breed are not limited to the ability of animals to adapt to any climatic conditions. Cows are able to do without water for a long time and survive the drought without loss. With good care, animals give 4-4.5 tons of milk per year. The fat content of the product is 3.7%.

Cow characteristics:

The chest of cows is not wide, deep. The girth of the chest of the animal reaches 185-190 cm. On average, the pet grows up to 127-132 cm.
The skeleton of the animal is graceful, light. The muscles are poorly developed.
The mass of adult sires easily reaches 800-900 kg. Females weigh less - from 450 to 560 kg. He althy calves gain weight well, and by the age of six months, bulls gain 150-170 kg.
A well-developed loin, powerful legs and a straight strong back testify to the origin of animals. Their ancestors were used as draft animals to transport s alt.
The length of the oblong body of the animal reaches 165 cm.
The angularity of the outlines of the pet's body is compensated by the beautiful lines of the dry neck.
A small oblong head of a cow is crowned with a pair of sharp horns. They are directed forward and are a formidable weapon for people and animals. Because of this feature, the horns of pets are removed.
Skin has a firm, smooth texture. It does not sag on the animal even with severe weight loss. Red steppe cows often lose weight for various reasons, even changes in the weather affect the condition of the animals.
The udder of the pet reaches medium size. It has the shape of a rounded bowl, unevenly developed. When filled with milk, the organ swells greatly. After the milking procedure, the udder drastically decreases in size, and its surface gathers in folds.
The skin of a cow is colored red, brownish or reddish-cherry. Some individuals are marked with white spots on the chest, head or udder.
There are skin folds under the animal's neck.

Good and bad sides

The red-steppe cow has a lot of advantages and is simply created for dairy farming. However, for successful breeding and production of dairy products, it is necessary to take into account the shortcomings of the breed.

Pros and consCows are surprisingly easy to endure the hardships of a hot climate. All they need is shading canopies to hide from the midday sun. These awnings are easy to make yourself.Pets are not afraid of winds and rains.Even in conditions of complete drought, cows retain their fattening body weight.Being the owners of strong immunity, animals rarely get sick. Not only adults, but also small calves are resistant to various infections and ailments.Cows are excellent mothers. They take care of their babies on their own, without causing unnecessary trouble to the owners.The red-steppe breed is resistant to leukemia. This quality is appreciated by livestock breeders, because the disease adversely affects the milk yield of cows.Due to the fragility of the skeletal system and weak muscles, animals often injure their limbs. Especially often the trouble happens on pastures with hilly terrain.Milking a cow with a machine in most cases leads to mastitis. Trouble happens due to the design features of the device. Cup caps pinch the nipples and prevent milk from escaping. You can avoid an unpleasant phenomenon with the help of a special massage of the animal's udder. The procedure is done after each milking.Cows don't give much meat.

Is it possible to let the red steppe for slaughter?

Red steppe cow refers to dairy cattle, but in some cases the animal is sent for meat. Such use of animals can hardly be called profitable, because the net yield of the product is only 50%. However, the taste of meat is highly valued.

Subtleties of content

Representatives of the red-steppe breed do not tolerate keeping on a leash. Animals need constant movement outdoors and indoors. The physical activity of cows will help to avoid postpartum complications and swelling of the udder. Loose keeping of pets contributes to an increase in milk yield and fat content.

Basic care

Basic care for red steppe animals does not require much effort. In winter, cows are kept in a warm, dry room. For normal well-being of pets, it is necessary to maintain an air temperature of + 12-22 degrees. The barn is equipped with natural or artificial ventilation. The room must be lit. Windows should occupy 15-20% of the wall area.

In winter, the floor in the stall is covered with an impressive layer of bedding. Periodically it is covered with a fresh portion of hay. In the barn, pets are kept in a common herd or individually. In group keeping, sires are separated from relatives and sent to personal apartments.

If a large number of calves are born, the young animals are divided into age groups. The senior category of bulls corresponds to the age from 1.5 to 2 years. The middle age category is from 1 year to 1.5 years, the youngest - from 6 to 9 months.

For babies, they make an irreplaceable warm bedding consisting of sawdust and straw. This pillow is treated with a drug to inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms. The tool prevents the rotting of straw. Already 3 weeks after birth, calves need active movement, so a special walking area is equipped for them. Calves are regularly washed and brushed to keep them free of insect pests.

Before each milking procedure, the udder of the cow is carefully washed. Animals are regularly treated with drugs to prevent diseases caused by intestinal and lung parasites, as well as drugs against gadfly larvae and ticks.

Drying period

Drywood is a temporary period of refusal to milk a cow. Depending on the physical condition of the animal, "holidays" last from 50 to 70 days. The pet needs such a rest, because she spends a lot of energy on bearing and feeding offspring. Otherwise, the cow's he alth will be undermined. It is impossible to shorten the dry period. Lack of rest leads to poor milk quality, lethargy, or a non-viable calf.

Breeding

Red steppe cows mature quickly, so already at the age of 16-19 months the cow is inseminated. For breeding, he althy individuals are selected that do not have obvious, external defects. During pregnancy, the cow is fed and watered 3 times a day. It is forbidden to give the cow cold and poor-quality food.Representatives of the breed rarely experience difficulties with labor activity.

A newborn calf is cleared of mucus, rubbed with a piece of soft cloth and returned to its mother.

In the first hours of life, the baby feeds on maternal colostrum. Feeding of the animal is carried out at least 5 times in 24 hours. After a day, the calf is given warm water. The allowable daily water intake for a baby is 3 liters. After 14 days, the calf begins to accustom to solid food. The best food for an animal is hay brewed with boiling water. Before use, the food is infused for 6-7 hours.

The he alth of a newborn calf depends on good hygiene. Excrement must be immediately removed, the dishes should be treated with boiling water. After a successful calving, the horned beauty is provided with clean bedding and plenty of water. The diet of the animal includes all the necessary vitamins, proteins and trace elements.The cow is taken for a walk every day. An animal needs exercise at any time of the year.

Food

In the summer, cows forage in the pasture. If grass is not enough for animals, cows are supplemented with vegetables and concentrates.

In winter, the daily diet of cows consists of 12 kg of hay, 5 kg of potatoes, 4.5 kg of feed, 6 kg of carrots and 15 kg of fodder turnip. S alt must be added to feeders.

Diseases

Animals of the Red Steppe breed are famous for their strong immunity, but in some cases it is not possible to avoid the disease. In these cases, it is important to diagnose a dangerous disease in a timely manner and start treatment.

Pets are amazed:

Leptospirosis. A dangerous infectious disease threatens the animal with a fatal outcome. The infection affects the mucous membranes and internal organs of the cow.
Demodekoz. The culprit of the disease is a tick. The disease manifests itself in the form of small bumps covering the head, neck and back of the cow.
Poisoning. Trouble happens as a result of eating poisonous plants by animals.

What you need to know when buying?

When buying a calf, you need to get information about the weight of the young animal. The weight of the pet must correspond to the age norm. At 6 months, the bull weighs from 120 to 145 kg. The calf is gaining up to 90 kg. The animal must be energetic, mobile. When buying an adult cow, pay attention to the udder. It should not be deformed or hardened.