What determines the life expectancy of a domestic cow
The human diet includes a large amount of dairy products: cheeses, kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, etc. All of them would not exist without an animal that is a source of valuable and healthy milk - a cow. When breeding cows, the duration of the lactation period plays an important role, because it is this factor that determines the benefits of the animal in farming.
How many years does a cow live
For novice breeders, it is also necessary to know how long a cow lives. Knowing such information, each person can calculate how much profit it will bring him and when it is better to prepare for her slaughter.
The life of cows and their history
A cow is an animal domesticated by man since ancient times. Archaeologists claim that the oldest remains are more than 40 centuries old. Domestication of the animal took place in the early Neolithic era. Wild cattle Tour and Zebu were used by people as a labor force in agricultural work. In modern Syria, the ancestors of the modern cow were raised only for the benefit of milk, meat and skins. Gradually, the popularity of cow breeding overtook the countries of Africa, as well as Europe. And already in the II-III century A.D. on the territory of the modern Balkans, the first ancestors of animals appeared, which are usually called dairy.
- The centuries-old domestication under the influence of evolution has done its job - cows have become an integral part of domestic animals.
- Keeping in captivity also influenced the life span of the animal. That is, the fact for what purpose the cattle were raised directly determined how many years a cow lives at home. If a cow is raised for meat, it lives on average 8-9 years. If the main goal of farming is veal, the livestock is fattened and slaughtered at the age of 24-36 months.
- A domestic cow is an animal that very rarely dies a natural death, but it all depends on where the cow lives.
- In certain countries, whose religion considers these animals sacred, they live for 25-30 years. The record is considered a cow named Berta, she died a natural death by the age of 50.
What determines the life expectancy of cows
In Russia, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries, the average life expectancy of cows is estimated at 20-25 years, and bulls die on average by 15 years. In some countries, such as India or Switzerland, livestock has a longer life span. This is due to various factors. The average life span of a cow depends on:
- the region of content and its climatic features;
- cow breeds;
- features of the content;
- genetic factor.
Many farmers are confident that the animal organism will benefit by giving milk as long as possible, provided that it is well cared for, therefore, having decided to seriously engage in cow breeding, it is necessary to improve your own farm, to know about the peculiarities of feeding and walking. It is the owner's attitude to livestock that plays a primary role in the productivity of the cow.
Dairy breeds and their average age
It is possible to answer the question of how long a cow lives on average only by knowing its type and the conditions in which it is kept. These factors are guided by every livestock breeder who has cows on the farm.There are 2 main types of cows: dairy and beef. The lifespan of each of these varieties has its own characteristics, associated with the value of the final product of the benefit (milk or meat), as well as the conditions of the livestock breeder himself.
Livestock kept in more comfortable conditions can live up to 25 years. But it is impractical to keep cows until this age. The need for slaughter is associated with the phases of their performance:
- 1-1.5 years - puberty. There is no lactation before the first calving.
- 2-14 years old - active lactation, accompanied by systematic calving.
- 15 years or more - old age, complete lack of milk.
Dairy animals kept at home can be beneficial for a longer period of time. The breed of living creatures, as well as the climatic features of the region, play an important role in the duration of its productivity. If a cow is properly cared for, fed wholesome and balanced food and monitored for her health, then her lactation period will be profitable for the farmer up to 20 years of age.
Keeping on large farms
Livestock, which is kept in a large farm, lives 2 times less. Burenki live on average up to 10 years. The quality of care on these farms is much worse. This also affects lactation. As soon as one dairy cow shows poor performance results, she is sent to slaughter.
But such inhumanity often does not depend on the wishes of the farmer himself. On average, large farms keep up to 500 cows in one barn. Giving everyone proper care is difficult. Especially if there are not enough specialists.
The development of the dairy industry in special European countries has nevertheless reached its maximum potential.
The organization of cow care in Switzerland, Israel and Germany fully complies with European standards. In these states, it is customary to carefully monitor the condition of each cow and maximize the lactation period. So, in Israel, large enterprises receive dairy products even from cows, the longevity of which can be compared with animals that live in the wild. On some farms, where cows are kept, they are fed with the most useful food, they walk in the pasture, bathe 2 times a day, and clean the barn. Some breeders even play music for the cows. And this attitude towards cattle could not affect longevity. It is not for nothing that Israel occupies a leading position in terms of age among cows.
Why should you care about the health of your livestock?
The total profit of a person depends on how many years a cow will live at home. And if there are several pets, then the benefits also increase. But not always everything goes "smoothly". Like all creatures on the planet, the cow has its own immunity against infectious and viral diseases.
Depending on whether the farmer maintains his condition, the animal will benefit him. That is, if a calf, heifer or bull becomes infected with some kind of infectious disease, then their productivity decreases. Keeping a large number of cows increases the risk that all dairy production will be paralyzed. And how long it will take to restore their working capacity will depend on the timeliness and effectiveness of the treatment. It is because of this that it is necessary to monitor the health of livestock.
What Every Farmer Should Know
Any novice and experienced farmer who is not chasing quick financial gains should maximize cow productivity. It is not difficult to do this at home. Cows live as long as the person himself will allow. And if he creates suitable conditions for them, he will be generously rewarded. Dairy products have great biological value. Especially if such products are homemade. Cows live for a long time, provided they are well cared for, which are:
- a warm, clean barn with room temperature at any time of the year;
- a balanced diet with a lot of vitamins and minerals;
- preventive actions.
It is especially important to monitor the quality of milk. On average, each cow consumes up to 10 kg of feed per day. And its usefulness is the basis of the taste of dairy products that it provides. There is only one conclusion: the better the feeding, the more profit the farmer will receive.
Conclusion
At home, cows and bulls live less. On average, fifteen-year-old males go to slaughter due to a decline in sexual power. On meat farms, bulls are often taken away for slaughter as early as two years of age. This is due to the high biological value of veal.
Everyone knows how much benefit it brings. This meat is very tender and has almost no veins. Homemade veal is an important dietary product. It is used to feed small children, as well as patients who need a therapeutic diet.