Holstein-Friesian breed of cows: description and characteristics, content

The Holstein-Friesian breed is highly productive and is the most common in the US and Canada within its direction. The Holstein-Friesian breed of cows is bred mainly for milk production. The second direction is meat, but on the condition that the animals are provided with proper care, including a properly composed diet. As a result, it is possible to obtain significant volumes of quality meat.

History of Breeding

This variety is obtained by crossing the Dutch and Black-and-White breeds. The Germanic breed was brought in the 1st century AD.e. to Frisia, which now occupies the territories of North Holland, Friesland and Groningen. Local cows had a light color, and those brought were black. As a result of their breeding, motley calves were born, which were called Holstein-Friesian.

The starting point for the active breeding of cows was the purchase of a Dutch cow by an American named Chenery. It was he who began to carry out the first selection work since 1852. The breed has become widespread due to its high productivity and ability to adapt to new habitat conditions.

Cows were not improved in Holland, but in the USA and Canada they paid special attention to this. The main direction is to increase the volume of milk yield and meat products. A few years later, the Society of Breeders for Breeding Holstein-Friesian Cattle was created, the head of which was the aforementioned Chenery. A year later, the breed became widespread in another twelve states. At the same time, the pedigree book of the breed was released.

The weight indicators that could be achieved through active feeding were about 1500 kilograms. Variation is due to different soil composition and forage quality.

Appearance and characteristics of the Holstein breed

The breed has striking features - both appearance and character. The main difference is in the variegated color, large size and power. Most often there is a black and white suit, less often - with an admixture of red. The latter option was previously undesirable, and such cows were culled. However, later they were recognized as meeting the standard and began to breed.

Description

The exterior of the animal is distinguished by the following features:

1. Large wedge-shaped torso.
2. Wide sternum.
3. Long limbs.
4. Massive pelvis.
5. Voluminous waist.
6. Curved back.
7. Elongated neck, elongated head (larger in males).
8. Large udder with small teats.
9. Color black and white or red and motley (in Germany).
10. Lack of horns.
11. Having a small hump on the back.
12. Height - 145 centimeters for a cow, 160 centimeters for a bull.
13. The male weighs about 900 kilograms (maximum 1.5 tons), females, on average, weigh 800 kilograms.
14. Good he alth (if containment conditions are appropriate).
15. Wonderful eating (requires a well-designed diet).

The breed does not differ in endurance - animals do not feel well in hot weather. In such conditions, milk yield decreases. Thanks to selection work, it was possible to achieve an increase in endurance. Improving the qualities of the breed continues to this day.Animals are demanding on the conditions of detention: regular airing and ventilation, thorough cleaning of the premises.

The breed is capricious. For example, under the influence of stress or if the rules of care are not followed, milk may disappear in cows. If the animal is dissatisfied with something, then it may well overturn a container of water or food. The most important characteristic of any breed is its productivity. The Holstein-Friesian produces both meat and milk, so the productivity indicator is divided into two types.

Especially good results in milk yield, for which Holsteins are especially valued.

Milk productivity

Milk yields reach 20 liters per day with proper care and a balanced diet. The maximum figure is 45 liters of milk per day. Up to 7.3 thousand liters of milk are produced per year. The fat content of the product is 3.8%.

The amount of milk depends on several factors:

• cow nutrition;
• age;
• number of births (very young heifers show low results, since their udders are not sufficiently developed, while good performance lasts until the sixth calving);
• feeding period;
• habitat;
• genetics;
• seasonality;
• coat color (red-and-white cows produce less milk than their black-and-white cousins).

Meat productivity

Young individuals up to a year grow up to 65-70% of the mass of adult cows. By the age of two years, the weight of bulls is approximately 500 kilograms (if there is a properly composed diet). The mass of an adult bull varies from 850 to 900 kg.

Disadvantages and advantages

Pros and conshigh milk yield;obtaining quality meat;cleanliness;good he alth;the ability to adapt to new living conditions;bulls are used to breed other types of cows.capriciousness in food;the need for comfortable content;poor endurance;capricious character;susceptibility to stress.

Features of maintenance and care

In order for cows to feel comfortable, not get sick and show good results in milk yield, they need to provide normal living conditions:

1. Regular and thorough cleaning of the facility where specimens are kept.
2. Availability of ventilation and air conditioning.
3. No drafts allowed.
4. Do not stress animals.
5. Recommended free-box content type.
6. Proper care of a newborn. Careful hygiene (immunity is weak, so the body is susceptible to infections).
7. The first two weeks of calves adapt to external conditions. The place where the birth took place must be treated with disinfectants.

Meeting plan

Depending on the age of the animal, the type of its nutrition also differs:

• month-old calves feed on colostrum;
• at two months old, young animals eat root vegetables, oatmeal, boiled potatoes;
• calves are switched to hay and grain mix at four months;
• half-year diet consists of hay, root crops, silage and concentrates.

The diet of lactating cows includes:

• dry food (grain, bone and meat meal, concentrates);
• vegetables, silage, green grass, root crops;
• hay, straw, cake, bran, haylage (improve the functioning of the digestive tract).

To improve the fat content of milk, cows are given sunflower meal and compound feed. To increase milk yield, add carrots, molasses, potatoes to the menu.

Breeding

Before breeding, you need to equip a room for cows. Its area is determined depending on the planned livestock and the availability of free space. The barn should be located fifteen meters from the residential building and twenty meters from water sources. A rational solution is to place the barn next to the garden so that it is easier to dispose of the manure.

It is desirable that the room has an attic. The barn area for one individual is eighteen square meters. With more cows, six square meters per animal is sufficient (nine with calves).

The room should have feeders, a passageway, a drain for waste, ventilation. The walls of the cowshed are built of bricks. The concrete floor rises ten centimeters above the ground and is located at a slight angle to drain the waste. The optimal air temperature for animals is 10-15 degrees.

The Holstein breed is bred both in its pure form and mixed with other colors. The bottom line is that milk heredity is transmitted through the male line. On a large scale, cows are artificially bred, and in private farming, crossing occurs naturally.The average weight of calves is 38 kilograms (heifers - 35).

Diseases and their treatment

The breed has strong immunity, but if the rules of care are not followed, diseases such as:

• necrobacteriosis;
• leptospirosis.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed for treatment. If drafts are observed in the barn, mastitis develops in animals. Antibiotics are also used for treatment, which are injected into the affected areas using a catheter. The Holstein-Friesian breed is famous for its productivity - both meat and dairy. The maintenance of these cows requires labor and financial costs, but with good care, high milk yields will more than make up for the costs.

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