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; even today they are often found on private farmsteads and large livestock complexes in Bashkiria, Tatarstan, and the Middle Volga.
- Description and breed standard
- Pros and cons of Bestuzhev cows
- Rules of maintenance and care
- Summer playground
- Arrangement of the barn
- Conditions of detention
- Regular cleaning of stalls and equipment
- Feeding and watering animals
- Summer grazing on a pasture
- Feeding diet in winter
- Animal breeding
- Diseases of the breed
Description and breed standard
Meat and dairy cows 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 on his own estate in Bolshaya Repyevka, Simbirsk province (now Ulyanovsk region). As a result of the work, a strong, disease-resistant and unpretentious breed emerged, perfectly suited for local conditions.
Description and characteristics of Bestuzhev cows:
- Large animals, from dark red to almost cherry color. There may be white spots on the stomach and legs.
- A small head with widely spaced white horns.
- Short neck with folds of skin.
- The animal has a straight back and a large raised rump.
- Wide chest with a girth of 194 centimeters, prominent dewlap.
- Height at withers – 130-135 centimeters. The weight of a cow is up to 600 kilograms, a bull is 850-950 kilograms.
- The legs are short and strong.
- The udder is not large, cup-shaped with widely spaced nipples.
Bestuzhev cows produce less milk than purebred dairy animals, but this is more than compensated for by the quality of the product. Milk with a fat content of 3.8-4.0%.
Pros and cons of Bestuzhev cows
Animals of Russian selection easily adapt to difficult living conditions.
Bestuzhev cows rarely give birth to calves with developmental defects, are able to gain weight well on roughage, and are not picky about pastures.
Rules of maintenance and care
The breed does not require special maintenance conditions. Tolerates heat and frost well, easily adapts to temperature changes.
Summer playground
It is equipped for free walking of animals in the summer during the daytime. The area is calculated so that each cow has 15 square meters. The site must have a strong fence so that animals cannot jump over or break it. A gate is installed for entry.
Additionally, the site is equipped with a canopy for animals to rest from the summer heat, feeders and drinking bowls.
The floors on it must be level; an earthen area without holes and hummocks is acceptable so that the animal is not injured. A walkway is installed on the south side of the barn to protect the animals from the wind. Bestuzhev cows can withstand heat up to +27 °C without stress.
Arrangement of the barn
The room for animals is made warm and bright, the floors are made smooth, with a slight slope for urine drainage. Ventilation is required in the barn to eliminate moisture. Feeders and drinkers are mounted at a height of 30 centimeters from the floor and equipped with high sides so that the food does not crumble and water does not spill. Containers should not have sharp corners, otherwise animals may be injured. The barn provides separate bull pens, calves and sick animals. Feeders and drinkers are made from materials that are easy to clean. Straw is used as bedding.
Conditions of detention
In order for the livestock to be strong and productive, nutrition must be balanced and include vitamins and mineral supplements. Systematic examinations by a veterinarian and routine vaccination of animals are required. Cows are brushed daily with a stiff brush, especially contaminated areas are washed with water. This is done 1-1.5 hours before milking. In stalls they tie tightly, preventing the rope or chain from injuring the animal.
At each milking, the udder is washed with soap, wiped dry, lubricated with cream and massaged. These actions are necessary to protect the animal from disease. Bestuzhev cows winter in a barn. If the frosts are not too severe, they are taken out for walking every day for 1-2 hours.
Regular cleaning of stalls and equipment
Straw is used as bedding. It is changed when it gets dirty. Manure should be removed daily, preferably 2 times a day. With the accumulation of ammonia released from urine and manure, indoor humidity increases and the risk of cow disease increases. Drinking bowls are rinsed daily, and clean water is used to water cows. Once every 3-5 days, feeders and drinkers are treated with a hot 2% baking soda solution for disinfection.
Feeding and watering animals
Bestuzhev cows are fed 3 times a day. Animals are provided with free access to water. A cow drinks 130-150 liters of water per day, a bull - up to 200 liters. You need to feed at the same time.
Summer grazing on a pasture
In summer, the livestock is on 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 on the pasture (henbane, crow's eye, aconite, foxglove).
Animals should not be grazed in the dew or immediately after rain; in the fall it is necessary to ensure that they do not eat frozen grass, as they will have problems with digestion. They are gradually transferred to pasture mode over 7-10 days.
Feeding diet in winter
In winter, cows are fed hay and silage. The diet includes vegetables (apples, carrots, potatoes), mixed feed, and food concentrates. Concentrates can be given dry or diluted with water. Mineral supplements (salt, chalk) are required, bone meal, fish oil, and special vitamin complexes are given. The amount of feed depends on the sex, age, and condition of the animal.
Vegetables must be clean; do not give the cow rotten or frozen products. Salt and chalk are placed 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 °C.
Animal breeding
Pregnancy of Bestuzhev cows lasts 9 months. Heifers are bred at the age of 1.5 years. Pregnant cows are kept separately from the main herd. Cows of the Bestuzhev breed usually do not suffer from gynecological problems, but it is better for the animal to give birth under the supervision of a veterinarian. After calving, the animal must be given water to drink. Wash your 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 wiped with burlap, and fed with colostrum during the first days of life. The calf should drink up to 1.5 liters of colostrum immediately after birth. Then he is fed colostrum 5-6 times a day, and then switches to whole milk.From 3-4 weeks, supplements are gradually introduced, accustoming the calf to an adult diet. During 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 health. Cases of the birth of 2 and even 3 calves from Bestuzhev cows have been recorded.
Diseases of the breed
Cows of the Bestuzhev breed are hardy and only get sick if there are errors in their husbandry. The cause of the disease is:
- injuries;
- dirt and cold in the barn;
- high indoor humidity;
- insufficient unbalanced nutrition;
- overcrowding of livestock, lack of physical activity;
- incorrect milking.
Animals must be vaccinated and given anthelmintics every 4 months. At the first signs of illness (lethargy of the animal, decreased appetite and milk production), the cow should be placed in a separate pen and a veterinarian should be called. The Bestuzhev breed of cows has remained popular among livestock farmers for many years. She feels great in the difficult Russian climate and does not cause problems even for beginners who have decided to start their own farmstead for the first time.
