The Kalmyk cattle breed is considered unique and universal among the meat varieties. These are productive animals, unpretentious, and have long been adapted to harsh conditions. Let's consider the description and productive characteristics of the Kalmyk breed of cows, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as how to keep and care for animals.
History of the origin of Kalmyk cows
The breed was bred in the steppes of Central and Central Asia, under conditions of strict selection - the animals lived on pasture for a whole year under often unfavorable climatic conditions. This contributed to the development of unique qualities enshrined in the breed, for which it is still valued today. Kalmyk cows have been bred for 400 years in the territory from Siberia to the Don steppes; it is believed that their ancestors are Indian individuals, which then spread throughout Asian territory.
The exterior and characteristics of pedigree animals were developed thanks to natural selection, constant keeping in the open air, in harsh climates and sudden temperature changes.
Description and main characteristics
Kalmyk cows tolerate cold without problems, they have excellent immunity, and individuals grow quickly on what they find in the pastures. Animals are distinguished by longevity, stamina, activity and undemandingness, a strong and harmonious build with developed muscles.
Cattle of this steppe breed have a strong, long body. Individuals have a flat back, deep chest, short neck, and small head. The horns are curved, directed upward, the legs are straight. A special breed characteristic is the occipital ridge.
Kalmyk cattle are a strong meat breed, which is why dairy queens have large udders. By the onset of winter, bulls and heifers begin to grow thick hair, thanks to which individuals can stand outside in the cold. The main color is red, with white markings, but animals are also born red or brown-colored. Markings appear more often on the limbs and head, less often on the body.
Height at the withers of bulls and cows is 140 and 130 cm, girth behind the shoulder blades is at least 186 cm, body length is 145-160 cm. Bull weight, on average, 950 kg (up to 1100 kg), cows - on average, 480 kg.
The production value of the Kalmyk breed lies in their meat, which is of high quality, has a delicious taste, and is distinguished by a pronounced “marbling”, which is appreciated by consumers. Fat is located between layers of muscle fibers. The meat yield is, on average, 60%, with a maximum of 68%. Kalmyk bulls can be slaughtered at 1.5 years old, at which time they already weigh 450-550 kg. Adult males of the breed weigh at least 600 kg; bull sires can weigh up to a ton. Females weigh 400-550 kg. Daily weight gain is no less than 850-980 g.
Positive and negative sides
Cows are hardy and unpretentious; animals can be raised in any climate and do not require special housing conditions. Animals can gain considerable weight gain only on roughage and grass, which they eat in the pasture. The young animals demonstrate survival and early maturity, quickly fattening up on simple food.
From each adult carcass it is possible to obtain high-quality meat in a large percentage of the carcass weight and fatty milk. A distinctive feature of the Kalmyk breed is the ability to accumulate fat before the onset of cold weather, which was developed in animals during the selection process.
Fat deposits in cows are located not only under the skin, but also between the muscle fibers. In winter, cows can use it as energy reserves.Thanks to this protection, cows can easily withstand cold and heat, sudden temperature changes, exposure to wind and rain, and quickly adapt to new conditions after the race. According to livestock breeders, only this breed has such characteristics.
Disadvantages of Kalmyk cows: low milk yield, yellow fat, which sometimes interferes with the sale of meat, possible aggressiveness of some representatives of the breed.
How to care for and maintain Kalmyk cows?
It has already been noted that the breed is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in feed, maintenance and care. Pedigree animals, unlike representatives of other varieties, require almost no care or selected feed.
Care
Cows and bulls can live almost year-round on the pasture; they do not need special paddocks next to the barn. For rest, animals are content with covered stalls, where they can stay for up to 6 hours a day. Caring for cows consists of sowing forbs and caring for pastures. Even in winter, if there is not a lot of snow, you can leave animals to pasture. In fenced areas they can be grazed without the help of shepherds, which makes keeping them extremely cheap.
Diseases and their treatment
Kalmyk cows are distinguished by good health and strong immunity. If you do not violate the rules of keeping, the livestock will not get sick. In the case of infectious or other diseases, treatment is the same as for representatives of other varieties.
Feeding
Cattle of this breed have an active, developed digestive system and are able to feed almost exclusively on pasture vegetation, for example, forbs and coarse grass.Animals are able to gain weight on tall grass without feeding with concentrated feed (adults - in 3-4 months, young animals - in 5 months).
They can walk tens of kilometers in search of suitable food, tolerate winter conditions well, and can get food from under the snow. That is, cows can be kept on free grazing, giving them only clean water: animals up to 250 kg - 35-40 liters per day, more than 350 kg in weight - 60 liters. You need to drink 3-4 times a day, more often in summer. Feed additives – chalk and salt – are required. Producers are fed with hay, silage, root crops, and mixed feed. Cows should rest for 5-6 hours every day.
To keep the cows well-fed, the pasture needs to be changed every week, and the cattle must be returned to it after a month and a half, when the grass has grown back. Calves are kept together with their mothers in the suckling method of rearing, which lasts 8 months. The suckling period during the winter-spring birth of calves occurs precisely during the grazing period, therefore, by the time of weaning, the cost of the babies is minimal. Due to the low milk production, calves drink almost all of it, so milkmaids are practically not needed to milk cows on farms.
Breeding Features
The Kalmyk cattle breed is used to improve other varieties and to obtain new meat breeds. The breed itself is also being improved by selecting the best representatives for breeding. The most valuable qualities of the breed are unpretentiousness, early maturity, and rapid weight gain. When bulls are used as improvers, qualities are passed on to descendants, which makes it possible to obtain high-quality offspring from cows of other breeds.
Calves are left with their mothers until weaning; some females may demonstrate aggressiveness towards humans, protecting the calf.The cows are fertile, with 89-95 calves born for every hundred queens. By 8 months of age they can weigh 180 kg (heifers) and 240 kg (calves). Then they are sent for rearing and fattening; at 1.5 years they reach slaughter weight. According to these indicators, the Kalmyk breed meets all the requirements of beef cattle breeding. What is especially important here is that cows are capable of producing many calves, which are considered the main product of beef cows, since they do not produce milk.
In the case of the Kalmyk breed, products are greatly reduced in price due to keeping cows on pasture and feeding with roughage.
Kalmyk cows are happily raised by farmers; the popularity of this breed is explained by the fact that the animals are able to grow quickly and gain weight, making do with grass food and modest care. Cattle of this breed require minimal care, do not cause problems, can live on pasture, and do not need comfortable housing.
