Characteristics of the Kostroma breed of cows
to get a lot of milk and meat at once — that is what the scientists set themselves the task. As a result of long labors, the Kostroma breed of cows was born. She is distinguished by its endurance and is considered one of the best throughout Russia. It is interesting that its popularity has gone beyond the borders of the country, and now such animals are found in Ukraine and Belarus.
Kostroma breed of cows
Short description
The Kostroma breed of cows is equally popular both on farms and in private households, which means that it is recognizable. It has large size and strong bones, and has a well-developed muscular system. The Kostroma cow is gaining weight quickly. Its appearance can be described as follows:
- gray color;
- a bowl-shaped udder;
- wide and straight back;
- long head;
- narrow forehead;
- legs are short;
- strong chest;
- elongated body.
Numerous photos of animals testify to the visual similarity of the Kostroma breed with the Swiss breed. The thing is that it is she who is her progenitor. This striking representative of cattle can weigh up to 850 kg. And bulls have recorded cases of weight gain up to 1.5 tons. Animals always delight with a good healthy offspring.
The Kostroma breed appeared as a result of the selection of specialists in the harsh war years. That is why they tried to create not only a highly productive, but also a hardy breed, because the Kostroma cow is so unpretentious.
Features of the
This breed is successful - the result of labor and the correct choice of genetic material. Thanks to this, an individual of such cattle holds its primacy and is increasingly popular with farmers. Although, if you think about it, this breed is over 70 years old. Kostroma cattle breed, its characteristics in brief:
- the ability to easily adapt to weather changes and changes in diet;
- strong digestion;
- thanks to good immunity, the cow can stay healthy for 20 years and reproduce healthy calves;
- easy calving and good survival in calves;
- the Kostroma breed gives a large amount of high fat milk;
- adapts to different living conditions;
- due to the ability to quickly gain weight, it has a high meat rate: the slaughter yield averages 65%;
- each individual has dense skin.
Even this breed has, albeit one, but a minus: the slow release of milk, which means that milking a cow takes more than 10 minutes. This time should be multiplied by three. And half an hour of time goes out every day. This feature is due to the structure of the udder, but the conclusion is one: the milking machine will solve the problem.
Performance in detail
The Kostroma cow gives milk of high quality and a lot. The average annual figure is considered to be 5000-6000 liters with a fat content of up to 4%. All this makes it possible to bring the breeding of such cattle to an industrial level and thereby reduce the cost of milk.
And what about the productivity of meat? Here, too, everything is on top. The weight of castrated bulls by the age of 1.5 years can be 500 kg. True, the key to this is good nutrition and proper livestock maintenance.A separate topic is the high quality of meat. Excellent taste is widely known and creates additional advertising. It is interesting that the calves of the well-known Kostroma breed gain weight from 1 kg per day.
Feeding and care
Even such an unpretentious cow has its own characteristics, and they must be taken into account.
- Balanced diet. Food must contain minerals and vitamins. Concentrated food is a taboo for individuals. It makes the cow sick and her milk yield decreases.
- There should be a lot of food (up to 20 kg per day). This aspect is especially important for young livestock. Proper nutrition in the right amount promotes the growth and development of animals.
- In the summer, one animal needs 70 liters of water per day.
- Bulls of the Kostroma breed are tempered by keeping in unheated rooms. This way, the mortality of young animals is minimized.
- If a cow of this breed is in a cold room, the fat content of the milk will increase, but the milk yield will drop. A completely different picture is observed at high temperature conditions: productivity increases, but fat content decreases.
- This breed of cow is sensitive to noise and does not like a large crowd of their own kind. This also has a negative effect on milk yield.
An important point: the calves are together only up to 5 months, and then the males and females are separated. Puberty in bulls is recorded as early as 8 months, while in heifers this occurs from 15 months. Earlier mating will lead to problems with the offspring.
Final part
It is interesting that the plant "Karavaevo", which brought the Kostroma breed in the distant 40s of the last century, is still the largest in its sector on the territory of Russia. Many years of experience in cattle breeding makes it possible to get strong and high-quality young animals. Their specialization remains the Kostroma breed. At one time, she received several high government awards.
Recorded documentaries and record holders, for example, the Novice, who remained unattainable in milk yield, her record was 16252 kg of milk in one year, and Thunderstorm with a slightly inferior figure - 14203 kg.
Numerous reviews of cattle breeding experts and individuals always speak in favor of the Kostroma cow breed. The very fact that such individuals have begun to breed in neighboring states once again underlines the success. The cow of the Kostroma breed truly deserves special attention and respect.