The Yaroslavl (from the Yaroslavl region) breed of cows in Soviet times was considered the standard of productivity. The animals gave about 15-20 liters per day of fatty and tasty milk. Now new breeds with greater productivity have been developed. Yaroslavl cows are still valued for their calm nature, immunity to leukemia and high fat milk.
Origin story
Cows of the Yaroslavl breed are of the dairy type. They began to be bred in Russia at the end of the 19th century.On the territory of what is now Yaroslavl and nearby regions they grew black and white cows head and dark “glasses” around the eyes. Such animals produced a lot of high-fat milk. The Yaroslavl breed was formed through folk selection, that is, cows with the best productivity indicators were selected.
After the revolution, breeding nurseries were created in which scientists and livestock specialists worked to create a new species and improve existing individuals. Local breeds were taken as a basis. In turn, the Yaroslavl cow originated from the northern Great Russian cow. There have been attempts to cross this breed with the Dutch, Holstein, Simmental, and Algauz varieties. True, the resulting animals after crossing had low productivity indicators and milk of low fat content.
Animals from Europe began to displace local ones. Then they decided to cross Yaroslavl cows with Holstein bulls to improve their productivity. This is how the Mikhailovsky type of the Yaroslavl breed turned out. The new cows produced more milk, but their fat content suffered. The Yaroslavl breed was also used in the development of the Kostroma and Istoben varieties.
Habitats
The largest herd of Yaroslavl cows is located in the Yaroslavl region. Animals of this breed are also raised in other regions of Russia. True, most of them are in places where the breed was historically bred, as well as in the Ivanovo, Kostroma, Tver and Vologda regions. Previously, Yaroslavl cows were raised on many Soviet collective and state farms.Now their number is 2.5 percent of the total number of cattle in Russia. Abroad, the Yaroslavl breed is used to breed new types of cows.
Description and characteristics of the Yaroslavl breed
The main distinctive features of Yaroslavl cows are an angular black body, a barrel-shaped body, a white head, dark glasses around the eyes, and a light belly, udder and lower limbs. This breed has small, sharp horns. The height of the animals at the withers is about 120-125 cm, body length - 150-155 cm. Cows weigh 350-450 kg, bulls - 500-600 kg, calves at birth - 27-32 kg. The slaughter yield of meat is 55 percent. The chest of these animals is narrow and deep, the back is wide, the back is flat, and the legs are short.
The udder is of medium size, cup-shaped, with cylindrical teats, with the front teats spaced wider than the rear ones.
Milk has a fat content of 4-4.2 percent. In some animals this figure is 5-6%. The protein content is 3.4-3.7 percent. One adult cow produces 2.5-5 thousand kg of milk per year. Productivity depends on the age of the animal and on feeding. About 15 liters of milk are milked per day from one cow.
Pros and cons of cows
Rules for keeping and caring for the breed
The Yaroslavl breed can be grown in any climatic zone.These animals adapt well to the weather conditions of the region where they live, they hardly get sick, they eat grass in the summer and hay in the winter. True, it is better to graze the breed on flat terrain. Yaroslavl cows have weak bones and are not adapted to walking on hilly terrain.
In summer, animals can graze in the meadow all day. They are milked three times a day. During milking, the cattle are driven into a stable or barn. A special room is being built to keep animals. It is insulated, ventilation is installed, and windows are installed at the top. The room temperature should be maintained at 15-20 degrees Celsius all year round. At lower temperatures, milk yield falls.
It is recommended to keep the barn clean. A bedding is laid on a wooden or concrete floor. It is cleaned daily, that is, as dirty straw becomes dirty, it is replaced with clean straw. A manger for hay, a feeder for vegetables, and a drinking bowl (bucket) for water are installed in the barn. Animals are fed when they are kept in winter stalls 2-3 times a day. In summer, cattle are grazed in the meadow. They are driven out to pasture in the morning when the dew dries on the grass.
Nuances of feeding
The main food of the Yaroslavl breed is considered to be grass in summer and hay in winter. As a supplement, animals can be given finely chopped vegetables, fruits, and grain mixtures. True, they feed the cattle only after they have eaten grass or hay. In summer, it is advisable to graze Yaroslavl cows on legume-cereal pasture. Vegetation recommended for nutrition: clover, alfalfa, oatmeal, timothy, vetch. The most benefits come from grass up to 15 cm high. Higher vegetation needs to be mowed and dried in the sun.
As a top dressing, Yaroslavl cows can be given fodder beets, carrots, and turnips. Animals recover well on grain mixtures (barley, oats, corn). True, fertilizing should be no more than 1/3 of the animal’s diet. The main food is high quality grass and hay. In winter, animals can be given straw, silage, pharmaceutical vitamins and minerals. There should be salt in the feeder every day (150 grams per day per individual). Water the animals 2-3 times a day. Milk yield depends on the amount of water. A Yaroslavl cow drinks 30-50 liters of liquid per day. You need to water it after grazing.
How to breed Yaroslavl cows
You can buy cows of the Yaroslavl breed in any region. These animals are not uncommon, however, breeding farms are located mainly in the Yaroslavl region. A female costs $500-800. A young calf can be purchased for $200. The animal lives 18-20 years. The period of productive use is the first 10 years of life.
Females are ready to mate at 15-18 months. For insemination, it is advisable to use a bull of the Yaroslavl breed, this will result in a purebred calf. Pregnancy, or pregnancy, lasts 9 months. They try to mate animals in late spring or early summer so that calves are born in the spring of next year. A few months before giving birth, females are released. Cows begin to be milked less frequently and are transferred to dry cows.
The last two months before giving birth, animals are not milked at all. A cow can give birth to a calf on her own, but it is advisable for a person to be present during this process.
You can recognize the approaching birth by enlarged genitals, a swollen udder, from which colostrum drips. Before labor begins, the female usually lies on her left side. First, the amniotic sac comes out.If it doesn't break, it needs to be cut. Then, as a rule, the calf comes out feet first. The newborn baby's nostrils are cleared of mucus. The umbilical cord is cut with sterile scissors, treated with iodine and bandaged. It is recommended to let the cow lick the newborn calf. The released placenta must be removed from the barn so that the animal does not eat it.
During the first 30 minutes after birth, calves should be fed colostrum. Newborn babies should eat 4-5 times a day. Then the number of feedings is reduced to 3 times a day. Gradually the cubs are taught to drink from a bucket. Milk is diluted with water. The young animals are separated from their mother and the cow is milked as usual. Calves are given milk until they are 4 months old.
Diseases and their treatment
If cows are kept clean and warm, they do not get sick. Problems arise if animals are given low-quality food or kept on wet, dirty bedding. Errors in nutrition and maintenance lead to digestive problems and udder mastitis.
The main danger to animals is viral and infectious diseases. To prevent them, calves at two weeks of age are vaccinated against rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza-3, pasteurellosis. At 1 month they are vaccinated against salmonellosis. At 3 months of age, they are vaccinated against foot and mouth disease and anthrax. At six months, calves are vaccinated against rabies. You can find out the vaccination schedule at the veterinary clinic at your place of residence.
