Cattle

Before you buy a cow, try to calculate not only the possible costs and possible profits, but also your capabilities. A good "milk" cow gives a significant profit, but a great deal of effort is required to care: cleaning, milking, harvesting, forage preparation (20 cents, concentrate, juicy forage) for one cow, construction of a warmed barn (20 square meters For one cow).

Will you be able to cattle? If the difficulties do not frighten, decide on the breed. Which breed of cattle is preferable? Of course, it is difficult to choose from existing 250 species. Personal preference is important here . But when choosing, consider the main indicators of a healthy dairy animal: thin and elastic skin, straight back, easy head, strong limbs, widely spaced hind legs. The shape of the udder is extremely important. It must be bulky, cup-shaped. Do not take a cow with a "goat" (saggy) udder, - do not wait for big milk.

Especially popular is cattle of black-and-motley color, occurring throughout the country. It is worth paying attention to it already because of such a large prevalence. Here, and high adaptability to the vagaries of the weather, and high milk yield, and "decent" weight (up to 500 kg). Red steppe cows (more often found in the south) are identical in their productivity. Of ancient dairy breeds, Yaroslavl and Kholmogory are well established.

But the Schwitz and Simmental breeds related to meat and milk, milk yields are twice as much (up to 12,000 liters).

Cattle can be milked usually until the 15th lactation (less often - until the 17th). The peak falls on the fourth and fifth lactation, then the milk yields slowly decrease.

Physical maturity comes to seven months, but it's impossible to happen. The first mating is recommended from one and a half years. Pregnancy lasts up to 295 days. One calf (or calf) is born, rarely two.

Particular attention to cattle requires winter. By the beginning of winter, the cow is usually pregnant, but it can still be milked (milking stops two months before the expected date of delivery). Ensure the cow is clean and dry in the stable. Good ventilation and lighting are important. Some breeders prefer to open the door for ventilation. In the winter, this is undesirable. Firstly, this "airing" will not last long, and secondly - all the accumulated heat will come out. Therefore, take care of all the same about ventilation. But keep in mind: it will be effective only with insulated walls. If the walls are left "as is" (not insulated), dampness in the stable will be provided (and at the same time, diseases). The most simple ventilation - from the pipes of the boardwalk, divided along the entire length by two cross-shaped partitions. The width of the pipe is 50 cm. Fresh air enters the first two holes, while the other two are contaminated.

Less preferable is another way of ventilation - opening in the window frame (side of the stall and behind). At this location, cold air will not strongly cool the animal.

Located on the south side of the window will be an additional source of not only light, but also heat. By the way, the doors are located also from the south.

Do not install the feeders on the floor. It is better to hang them in half a meter from the ground (or build under the feeders separate racks). The feeding trough should contain at least a single portion by volume. Constructions should not interfere with the cow (lie down and get up it should be free).

To drink (and drink a cow should only have fresh water) put a separate barrel. The water is completely renewed every day, because water from the muzzle of the cow can be festered, resulting in a poisoning of the cow.

In winter, the optimum temperature in the barn is 6-11 ° C.

If the temperature in the room is minus, then the water is brought several times a day in a separate bucket.

Cattle with friendly, affectionate treatment is attached to the owner and even easily masters the elementary skills of "decent" behavior. And how useful is fresh milk and milk products! But you need to consider that the content of cattle requires both money and strength ...