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

The history of the Bestuzhev breed of cows dates back to the 18th century. As a result of selection, a hardy, disease-resistant animal was obtained. Red Bestuzhev cows are perfectly adapted to the harsh continental climate of the Volga region, and today they are often found in private farmsteads and large livestock complexes in Bashkiria, Tatarstan, and the Middle Volga.

Description and breed standard

Cows of the meat and dairy direction were bred as a result of crossing the Dutch Black-and-White breed and shorthorns brought to Russia with local Volga individuals.The breeding was carried out by the landowner Boris Makarovich Bestuzhev in his own estate in Bolshaya Repyevka, Simbirsk province (now the Ulyanovsk region). As a result of the work, a strong, resistant to many diseases and unpretentious breed, perfectly suited to local conditions.

Description and characteristics of Bestuzhev cows:

1. Large animals, from dark red to almost cherry. There may be white spots on the abdomen and legs.
2. Small head with widely spaced white horns.
3. Short neck with skin folds.
4. The animal has a straight back and a large raised sacrum.
5. Wide 194cm bust with prominent dewlap.
6. Height at the withers - 130-135 centimeters. The weight of a cow is up to 600 kilograms, a bull is 850-950 kilograms.
7. Legs are short and strong.
8. The udder is not large, cup-shaped with widely spaced nipples.

Bestuzhev cows give less milk than thoroughbred dairy animals, but this is more than offset by the quality of the product. Milk with a fat content of 3.8-4.0%.

Pros and cons of Bestuzhev cows

Russian breeding animals easily adapt to difficult conditions.

Pros and consversatility of cattle (bred for meat and for milk production, high quality skin);disease resistance (especially leukemia and tuberculosis);rarity of gynecological problems after calving, excellent reproduction;unpretentiousness in nutrition;easily adapts to difficult climate;young growth is gaining weight well;does not require special conditions of detention.weakness of the hocks;saber legs;lower productivity compared to dairy breeds

Bestuzhev cows rarely give birth to calves with malformations, are able to gain weight well on roughage, are picky about pastures.

Rules of maintenance and care

The breed does not require special conditions of detention. It tolerates heat and frost well, easily adapts to temperature changes.

Summer playground

It is set up for the free range of animals in the summer during the daytime. The area is calculated so that each cow has 15 square meters. There must be a strong fence on the site so that the animals cannot jump over or break it. To enter, put a gate.

Additionally, the site is equipped with a canopy for animals to rest from the summer heat, feeders and drinkers.

The floors on it should be even, an earthen platform without holes and bumps is acceptable so that the animal is not injured. Equip a paddock on the south side of the barn to protect animals from the wind. Bestuzhev cows withstand heat up to +27 °С without stress.

Arrangement of a barn

The room for animals is made warm and bright, the floors are made even, with a slight slope for urine flow. Ventilation is required in the barn to eliminate moisture. Feeders and drinkers are mounted at a height of 30 centimeters from the floor and are provided with high sides so that the food does not crumble and water does not spill. Containers should not have sharp corners, otherwise the animals may get hurt. In the barn, separate pens are provided for the bull, calves and sick animals. Feeders and drinkers are made from materials that are easy to clean. Straw is used as bedding.

Containment conditions

In order for the livestock to be strong and productive, nutrition must be balanced, include vitamins and mineral supplements. Regular veterinary examinations and routine vaccination of animals are required. Cows are cleaned daily with a stiff brush, especially contaminated areas are washed with water. Do this 1-1.5 hours before milking. In the stalls, they are tied tightly, preventing the rope or chain from injuring the animal.

Important: for the animal to be calm, you should milk the cow at the same time, have special clothes for milking.

At each milking, the udder is washed with soap, wiped dry, smeared with cream and massaged. These actions are necessary to protect the animal from disease. Bestuzhev cows overwinter in a cowshed. If the frosts are not too strong, they are taken out daily for 1-2 hours.

Regular cleaning of stalls and equipment

Straw is used as bedding. It is changed as it gets dirty. Manure should be removed daily, preferably 2 times a day. With the accumulation of ammonia excreted by urine and manure, the humidity in the room increases and the risk of cow disease increases. Drinking bowls are rinsed daily, clean water is used to drink cows. Once every 3-5 days, feeders and drinkers are treated with a hot 2% solution of baking soda for disinfection.

Feeding and watering animals

The Bestuzhev cows are fed 3 times a day. Animals are provided with free access to water. During the day, a cow drinks 130-150 liters of water, a bull - up to 200 liters. You need to feed at the same time.

Summer pasture grazing

In summer, the livestock is on the pasture during daylight hours. Animals should have free access to a watering hole with running clean water.

Important: it is necessary to ensure that there are no poisonous herbs in the pasture (henbane, crow's eye, aconite, foxglove).

Animals do not graze in dew or immediately after rain, in autumn it is necessary to ensure that they do not eat frozen grass, as there will be problems with digestion. They are gradually transferring to the pasture regime over 7-10 days.

Winter feeding diet

In winter, cows are fed hay and silage. The diet includes vegetables (apples, carrots, potatoes), compound feed, food concentrates. Concentrates can be given dry or diluted with water. Mandatory mineral supplements (s alt, chalk), give bone meal, fish oil, special vitamin complexes. The amount of feed depends on the sex, age, condition of the animal.

Vegetables must be clean, do not give the cow rotten or frozen foods. S alt and chalk are freely available in the barn, next to the feeders. In severe frosts, drinking water should be heated. It should have a temperature of + 14-16 ° С.

Animal breeding

Pregnancy of Bestuzhev cows lasts 9 months. Heifers are covered at the age of 1.5 years. Pregnant cows are kept separately from the main livestock. Cows of the Bestuzhev breed usually do not suffer from gynecological problems, but it is better to give birth to an animal under the supervision of a veterinarian. After calving, the animal must be given water to drink. Wash legs, stomach and genitals with warm water and laundry soap. The bedding in the stall needs to be changed.

A newborn calf is allowed to be licked by its mother or rubbed with burlap and fed with colostrum during the first days of life. The calf immediately after birth should drink up to 1.5 liters of colostrum. Then he is fed with colostrum 5-6 times a day, and then they switch to whole milk.From 3-4 weeks, they begin to gradually introduce supplements, accustoming the calf to an adult diet. For the first 2.5-3 months of life, the calf should receive 300 liters of whole milk. This will provide him with strong immunity and he alth. Cases of birth of 2 and even 3 calves from Bestuzhev cows have been recorded.

Breed diseases

Cows of the Bestuzhev breed are hardy and get sick only when there are mistakes in keeping. The cause of the disease is:

• injuries;
• dirty and cold in the barn;
• high indoor humidity;
• insufficient unbalanced diet;
• crowding, lack of physical activity;
• wrong milking.

Animals must be vaccinated, anthelmintics are given every 4 months. At the first signs of malaise (lethargy of the animal, decreased appetite and milk yield), the cow should be placed in a separate pen and a veterinarian should be called.The Bestuzhev breed of cows has been popular with livestock breeders for many years. She feels great in the difficult Russian climate and does not cause problems even for beginners who decide to start their own subsidiary farm for the first time.

Recommended