Russian breed of large draft horses: characteristics and rules of keeping

The Russian breed of Arden, large draft horses, was bred for farm keeping. She was brought out to help transport heavy loads. Horses differ in their size and endurance. They are kept by many breeders for sale, meat, obtaining koumiss and making rare varieties of cheese. Individuals are unpretentious in care. Traction horses are classified as Ardenes - the largest horses on the planet.

How the breed was born

The breed of horses was formed by absorption crossbreeding in the early twentieth century. The founders of Russian draft horses were draft horses and the Belgian Ardennes.The Russian heavy truck was registered in 1952. It is the result of crossing Russian draft horses with half-blooded ardenes. They were used to improve other breeds. Traction horses have spread throughout Russia and neighboring countries.

Pros and cons

Heavy horses have the following positive qualities:

• early maturity of young individuals;
• large amounts of milk during lactation;
• endurance;
• unpretentious content;
• ability to produce offspring 20-25 years old;
• strength;
• submission.

Among the shortcomings, it is noted that it is desirable to feed the horse with balanced feed. If she does not receive enough nutrition, then weight gain slows down. In rare cases, the horse shows dissatisfaction during work if he does not like something.

Full description and exterior

The characteristic of the Russian heavy truck includes the following criteria:

• height at the withers - 146-150 cm;
• metacarpus girth - 20-21 cm;
• body deep, elongated;
• legs short, strong, dry;
• head small, wide;
• neck muscular, short;
• back is long, soft;
• loin broad, croup slightly forked;
• colour red, red-roan, rarely bay, bay-roan, black, gray.

At stud farms, out of 100 mares of a Russian heavy truck, the output of young animals is 80-85%, in the best of times it reaches 90%. By one and a half years of life, the weight gain of a young individual is 97%. By the third year of life, they are gaining mass and growth of an adult.Mares and stallions not older than 20-25 years are allowed for breeding.

Where Russian heavy trucks are used

Draft horse is widely used in farming and agriculture. Horse Use Area:

• help with the household;
• reproduction for sale;
• koumiss mining;
• manufacture of rare varieties of cheese;
• growing for meat;
• carrying heavy loads.

There are several breeders who are breeding one particular breed - the Russian heavy truck. Individuals are raised for sale to foreign countries, kept on farms at factories.

Interesting information! A mare during lactation gives 3000 tons of milk per year.

Content Features

Russian Ardennes are unpretentious in content. The rules for caring for them are no different from other breeds.

Stable

The building for horses should be well ventilated; they are kept in separate pens on a leash, the horses are placed in a row. The walls for partitions are made deaf, 1.4 m, the height of the doors is at least 2.5 m, the width of the pen is 1.2 m. The ceiling height is 3 m. The floor is bare, with sawdust.

Equip outdoor walking pens in the open air, 20 m2 for one animal², for a young individual - 12 m². An area of 400 m is sufficient for breeding purposes².

Feeding and watering

Heavy trucks are fed 3-4 times a day in small portions. Feed for horses is divided into groups:

1. Roughage. For 100 kg of animal weight give 1.5-3 kg. It is allowed to hay legumes in the budding phase, cereals in the panicle ejection phase. The best hay varieties consist of: alfalfa, clover, good quality meadow grasses, spring straw.
2. Juicy food. For 100 kg of weight, 2-4 kg of feed is fed. This category includes: potatoes (8-15 kg per day), beets (8-10 kg), carrots (the same amount), silage (8-15 kg), corn (10 kg). The remaining components are given based on 100 kg of mass. It is advisable to mix the ingredients together to diversify the diet.
3. Concentrates. Of the grain concentrates, horses prefer oats. The category includes corn, wheat bran, barley, oilcake, meal, molasses.

The diet of heavy horses should include the following components:

• dry matter;
• feed units;
• raw and digested protein;
• lysine;
• crude fiber;
• s alt;
• calcium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• copper;
• zinc;
• cob alt;
• manganese;
• iodine;
• carotenes;
• vitamin complex.

To achieve this composition, combine coarse, succulent food and concentrate. Pet food must be fresh.

The watering compartment in the stable is made as a separate room. Water is used from artesian sources, in drinking bowls the liquid is changed daily. It must be at least 23 ^{С. In open areas, ponds, rivers, lakes are suitable for watering. The main thing is that the water meets hygiene standards.}

Care and hygiene

Washing a horse is necessary when it is impossible to clean it. In winter, the procedure is not carried out at all. In summer, horses are washed as needed, 1-3 times per season. For this you will need:

• horse shampoo;
• water;
• scraper.

For the first procedure, the water is heated to 26-30 С, the following times the temperature is reduced to 16-20 ^{С. The washing process should not take more than 15 minutes. These horses do not really like water, for them this is an unpleasant process. Step by step:}

1. Wetting the skin of an animal.
2. Shampoo is applied with a washcloth.
3. Perform cleaning operations.
4. Wash off the shampoo with plenty of water.
5. Remove residual moisture with a special scraper.
6. Dry the horse's head with a dry washcloth.

To make the skin dry faster, the horse is taken out into the sun in sunny weather. In cloudy weather, the animal walks along the street at a slow pace.

Breeding

Russian draft horses breed up to 20-25 years. The total growth of young animals is 85%. In the stable for breeding, a separate room is allocated. A mare and a horse are driven into it during the mating season. After giving birth, the female is given time to rest, 2 years. During this period, the mare feeds the young with milk. After the end of lactation, she is again sent for mating.

Important! Young growth grows rapidly and by the age of 1.5 grows by 97%.

Interesting facts about Russian heavy trucks

Russian heavy trucks are known all over the world. This breed of horse is still very popular among breeders. Interesting Facts:

1. Russian draft horse recognized as the largest heavy draft horse.
2. The most valuable representatives of the breed are concentrated in Russia and Belarus from private breeders.
3. Scientists not only from Russia, but also from Ukraine were engaged in breeding the breed.
4. The breed of the Russian heavy truck is divided into the Ural and Ukrainian type.
5. These individuals are still used to improve other breeds.

The Belgian Ardennes became the founders. The largest horse reached 2.2 m in height and weighed 3000 kg. However, due to their weight, it was difficult for them to move, after which they began to breed a horse with the same characteristics, but more miniature.

The state of the breed today

Currently, stud farms are going through hard times. Of the 22 factories, which contained 1,000 animals, 8 have survived. The owners are experiencing difficulties with animal care personnel and are forced to do some of the work themselves. Russian ardene belong to the horses of the middle price category. They continue to be bought for personal use and breeding.

The Russian breed of large draft horses is widely used in agriculture.Such assistants help to cope with the transportation of heavy loads. Ardens are unpretentious in care and maintenance. Any conditions of the stable and the simplest feed are suitable for them. Horses quickly gain muscle mass.

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