In this article we have collected the 15 best breeds of cows that are profitable to grow for their own needs and sales in order to get good profit. The list is based on statistics from a survey of farmers' preferences.
Dutch
Due to the excellent heredity, Dutch cows for many years maintain high productive qualities in the milk sector.
Dutch cows are dominated by a black-and-white suit, proportional to the body, with low, strong limbs and a wide chest.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 500-600 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1000 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 4400-5000 l |
Milk fat | more than 4% |
Killer exit | 60% |
Dutch cows are demanding of their living conditions and nutrition. Cows will produce large quantities of milk only if all of the nutritional recommendations are followed.
The Dutch are kept in any climatic conditions. They tend to adapt to different temperatures.
The advantage of the breed is their early maturity - cows grow quickly. Puberty occurs at the age of 12 months, due to which milk is obtained as early as possible. Disadvantages - they are excessively clean, need regular bedding and room cleaning. Cows are unstable to stress. They have low immunity.
Angler breed
Cattle has established itself through the production of large quantities of milk and meat.
A cow during the year brings up to 12,000 liters of fat milk, therefore it can rightfully be called one of the best among “dairy” brothers.
Cows are dominated by red or red cherry color. Cows are lighter than bulls. In the area of the nasal mirror and near the udder there is black wool. They are characterized by a wide chest, a long, massive body, a small head.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 550 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1000 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | up to 12000 l |
Milk fat | 4,49% |
Killer exit | 60% |
Milk is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins of group E. Farmers note that Angler’s cows are hardy animals that are unpretentious in nutrition and do not need special care.
Cows easily withstand extreme heat, frost and humidity, quietly adapt in any climatic conditions.
Advantages of Anglers:
- puberty reach 1.5 years;
- unpretentiousness in the diet;
- high quality dairy products;
- juicy meat with excellent taste.
The disadvantages of Anglers include individual characteristics in some animals. Over time, a person gets used to the temper of cows.
Montbeliard breed
The Montbeliard breed of cows is considered the best not only because it receives a large amount of tasty lean meat, but also huge quantities of fat milk.
The breed is distinguished by the white color of the lower body and limbs. The upper part is painted with bright crimson coloring. A large cow with a strong skeleton, a long body, a large head. Scarlet spots may be around the eyeballs and cheeks. Breed with a voluminous back, horizontal base of the udder.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 600-820 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1000-1200 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 8500 l |
Milk fat | more than 4% |
Killer exit | 52-58% |
Lactation can last 305 days for one calendar year.
Animals of this breed are unpretentious in nutrition and care. Cows tend to adapt quickly and change weather conditions. Cattle tolerate elevated hot weather. The advantages of the breed include high productivity, a low percentage of fat in milk. The quality of meat and milk is high. Unpretentiousness in leaving and feeding.
The disadvantages of the breed:
- low yield of meat products;
- the need for high quality feed;
- low resistance to infectious lesions.
Black and white
A fairly young breed of milk orientation. Valued for large quantities of fat milk and the ability to produce tasty meat.
The cattle of this breed is characterized by an elongated body, a powerful and proportional body. The animal has a small, elongated head, wide chest, straight back, stable limbs.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | up to 650 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1000 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 5400-8000 l |
Milk fat | 3,5-4,1% |
Killer exit | 60% |
The animal needs a fairly spacious housing. Cows should be cleaned regularly with special brushes, wash the udder after each milking. They tolerate heat and cold well, they normally perceive long transitions from one pasture to another.
Pros of breed:
- high quality products;
- increased resistance to disease;
- average precocity;
- quick adaptation to various climates.
The disadvantage of the breed is a low fat content, low milk yield, insufficient massiveness and size of livestock.
Holstein
The Holstein breed of cows is the result of lengthy breeding work. It is famous not only for large milk yields, but also for massive carcasses of gobies and cows.
A distinctive feature of the breed is a massive body with medium muscular muscles, long limbs with strong joints, deep and wide chest, narrow neck.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 700 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 900-1200 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 7500-10000 l |
Milk fat | 3,1-3,8% |
Killer exit | 50-55% |
Holstein - cows that are quite sensitive to conditions of detention. They need a spacious, clean, dry and warm barn without drafts. The dignity of the breed is considered rapid growth. They reach puberty by the year of life - this significantly reduces the unproductive period of life.
Advantages of the breed:
- increased cleanliness;
- susceptibility to infectious diseases;
- the need for a large amount of high-quality feed;
- low stress resistance.
Brown Latvian
The breed was bred by crossing Latvian cows with bulls of the red Danish breed. It features a compact physique.
A distinctive feature is a compact constitution, thin skeleton, wide chest. They have a small elongated head, a voluminous chest. It has a red color in several shades.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 500-600 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1000 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 4100 l |
Milk fat | 4,1% |
Killer exit | 50% |
Brown cow is whimsical to eat. In the summer, in lush meadows, its productivity increases. Be sure to make a canopy for the animal so that it can hide from the rain. Cows do not tolerate heat, lose their appetite.
Animals perfectly adapt to climatic conditions.
The disadvantage is the relatively low weight, low productivity, whimsical diet.
Kostroma
The meat breed of cows, considered one of the best in meat orientation. Kostroma cow is characterized by large milk yield.
Distinctive characteristics of the breed is a broad back with a straight silhouette, wide and deep chest. Color ranges from gray brown and dark brown. Burenki, as a rule, have a monophonic color with a yellow stripe on the ridge.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 700-800 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 1000-1200 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 4000-8000 l |
Milk fat | 3,9% |
Killer exit | 58-60% |
Kostroma cows are not too demanding in nutrition and care. In the summer they are kicked out to pasture with lush grass. Animals do not fit steppe lands with stunted semi-dry grasses.
Cows endure temperature extremes and various climatic conditions.
Meat productivity - young growth is growing rapidly. Unpretentious to the conditions of detention - cows do not need special conditions. Low cost - animals do not need to be fed expensive feed.
The disadvantages include low milk yield, heat intolerance, decreased productivity in large herds.
Yaroslavskaya
The Yaroslavl breed of cows is popular among farmers because it brings large volumes of meat and dairy products. Today it is successfully bred in the Tver, Vologda, Ivanovo regions.
The distinctive features of the breed are, as a rule, black color, sometimes black and red and colorful. It is characterized by low, thin limbs, a narrow head, a powerful physique and well-developed muscles.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 500 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 800-1200 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 3000-6000 l |
Milk fat | 4-4,5% |
Killer exit | 58% |
A breed of cows is grown using the same technology as any other dairy. Resistant cows to leukemia. With animals, practically no difficulties arise. The cow adapts to any climatic conditions.
The advantages of the Yaroslavl breed include the ability to withstand negative natural factors. Cows do not consume a lot of food, are unpretentious to the conditions of detention and nutrition, have high immunity. The disadvantage is the disproportionately wide rear.
Bestuzhevskaya
The value of the Bestuzhev cow is a good slaughter weight, reaching up to 1200 kg in bulls. Cows are unpretentious in leaving, are undemanding to pastures, differ in high immunity.
Bestuzhev cows are characterized by a red color - from light to dark red. Sometimes there are animals with white spots on the body. Cows have a straight back, a powerful chest, and a small head.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | up to 800 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1200 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 4300 l |
Milk fat | 3,5-4% |
Killer exit | 58-60% |
Despite the unpretentiousness of the conditions of detention, cows need to comply with certain criteria, especially with regard to the cleanliness of the barn. Cows are able to adapt to any climatic conditions.
The advantages of the breed include good health, increased resistance to disease, unpretentiousness to food, tolerance of frost and extreme heat. The disadvantage is the interception behind the shoulder blades and saber-shaped hind limbs.
Yakutskaya
The Yakut cow is in the TOP-15 of the best breeds due to high rates of milk yield. The main difference between the Yakut cow and European burenki is its increased resistance to cold.
Animals are distinguished by a powerful neck and a large head on a dense massive body. They are characterized by slight humpiness. The back is sagging a bit. Short, sturdy legs set correctly.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 300 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 400-500 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 5400-7200 l |
Milk fat | 6% |
Killer exit | 60% |
The Yakut cow is considered the most prepared for severe frosts. It does not affect the temperature drop to 40 degrees. Feels good in all climatic conditions.
Advantages of the breed:
- calm disposition;
- good health;
- resistance to diseases;
- unpretentiousness in leaving.
Farmers note the difficulty of milking compact animals. Cows have short nipples that are difficult to grasp with a milking machine.
Hereford
Hereford breeding is involved due to the fact that it shows excellent meat performance - it reaches from 700 to 1500 kg.
Cows can be characterized by a stocky physique, with developed muscle mass, and a large weight. Animals are short, with short and strong limbs. They have a wide barrel-shaped body. The coat is long, curling. The main distinguishing feature is the white horns with dark tips, directed to the sides and forward or down.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 800 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 700-1500 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 1000-1200 l |
Milk fat | 4% |
Killer exit | 60-70% |
Cows need spacious cowsheds with feeders in the center. Despite being well adapted to cold weather, animals must be protected from moisture and drafts. The breed is acclimatized in any conditions.
Benefits:
- high calf survival;
- precocity
- unpretentiousness in nutrition;
- resistance to diseases;
- endurance;
- delicious marbled meat.
Disadvantages:
- large amounts of food;
- intolerance to moisture and drafts;
- high demands on care;
- low milk production.
Limousine breed
Limousine cows have become popular among farmers due to their meat productivity and high quality meat.
The animals are massive, have the correct physique. The coat is red, sometimes with bright spots on the inside of the limbs, tail and peritoneum. The chest is wide, the back is straight, the head is small.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 700 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 1100 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | up to 1800 l |
Milk fat | up to 5% |
Killer exit | 60-65% |
Keeping cows is easy enough when creating suitable conditions. Unpretentious cows to the conditions of keeping and feeding. Due to the climatic conditions of Limousin, where animals were raised, they are well adapted for keeping in cold regions and can graze even in mountain meadows with sparse vegetation.
Pros of breed:
- high yield of meat from live weight;
- good survival;
- precocity
- quick acclimatization;
- high fecundity;
- good health.
The main disadvantage is the manifestation of aggression after calving.
Yorkshire
Today it is popular to breed this breed due to high milk productivity and excellent milk taste.
Cows are characterized by a red color. Calves are born in a dark brown, cherry color. They have a compact, muscular physique, a straight back, and a massive, short neck.
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 500-520 kg |
Average weight of bulls | up to 800 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 5000 l |
Milk fat | 4,4% |
Killer exit | 50% |
Yorkshire people are unpretentious in food - they eat not only grass, but also bark, leaves, tree branches. There is no need to warm the cowsheds, because the animals tolerate low temperatures perfectly, are able to adapt to any geographical and climatic conditions, these qualities indicate their high degree of adaptation.
The advantage of the breed is early maturity, the ability to quickly gain weight, profitability and high immunity.
Farmers consider shyness and some aggressiveness as a lack of cows. But such features are not observed in all individuals.
Ayrshire
Ayrshire cow is one of the leading types of dairy breeds. Ayrshire cow is a breed favored by farmers due to its unpretentiousness.
The cow is small, characterized by a proportional physique, a short body, and a straight, broad back. The animal has thin bones and flexible joints. Chest and pectrum narrow. Legs are straight and short.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 450-480 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 700-800 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 7000 l |
Milk fat | 2,3-4,2% |
Killer exit | more than 50% |
The animal does not need special care.Burenki are able to quickly get used to a variety of content systems.
The advantage of this breed is its easy adaptation to any climate, undemanding maintenance and care, excellent immunity, activity, and adaptability to long-distance driving.
A negative moment is the intolerance of animals to extreme heat, as well as a complex disposition. The most active cows are usually aggressive and shy.
Tagil
Local species of this cattle were considered common with low indicators of milk productivity. But then, when crossing steel, it is valued for good milk yield - during the year, up to 5000 liters of milk are obtained from one burenka. But the breed is more famous for meat indicators.
There are cows with all kinds of colors. In households, white, spotted, black, red, red and black and variegated, piebald, brown, and gray cows are common. All of them have a common bone strength, a long and thin neck, and a powerful trunk.
Breed Productivity:
Breed data | Indicators |
Average weight of cows | 450-590 kg |
Average weight of bulls | 890-1240 kg |
The amount of milk for the lactation period | 4000-4600 l |
Milk fat | 4,1% |
Killer exit | 49-52% |
The breed is unpretentious in feeding and unpretentious in care. In the summer, keeping animals becomes much more economical. Cows tolerate changes in climatic conditions.
Pros of breed:
- low cost of the animal;
- high speed of crushing;
- calm disposition;
- excellent scent;
- lack of need for careful care of animals.
Minuses:
- fresh milk has a slight herbal taste;
- low percentage of protein in milk;
- low fat content;
- visually curved legs.
Comparison and statistics
For a more visual presentation of the indicators of all the best breeds, their comparative characteristics are presented below.
Comparison of the main criteria of the breed:
Breed | Adult Cow Weight, kg | Milk yield per year, l | The fat content of milk,% | The percentage of protein in milk,% | Resistance to diseases and unpretentiousness to food, in points |
Dutch | 600 | 4400 | 4 | 3,6 | 3 |
Angler | 550 | 12000 | 4,49 | 3,6-3,8 | 4,5 |
Montbeliard | 820 | 8500 | 4 | 3,27 | 4,3 |
Black and white | 650 | 5400-8000 | 3,9-4,1 | 3,2 | 4,5 |
Holstein | 700 | 7500-10000 | 3,1-3,9 | 3,4 | 4 |
Brown Latvian | 500 | 4100 | 4,1 | 3,4 | 4-4,5 |
Kostroma | 700 | 4000-8000 | 3,9 | 3,36 | 5 |
Yaroslavskaya | 500 | 3000-6000 | 4-4,5 | 3,7 | 4,5 |
Bestuzhevskaya | 800 | 4300 | 3,8-4 | 3,2 | 5 |
Yakutskaya | 300 | 5400-7200 | 6 | 4,2 | 4,5 |
Hereford | 700 | 1200 | 4 | 3,6 | 5 |
Limousine | 350 | 1800 | 5 | 3,5 | 4,7 |
Yorkshire | 520 | 5000 | 4,4 | 3,7 | 4,4 |
Ayrshire | 480 | 7000 | 2,3-4,2 | 3,4-3,5 | 5 |
Tagil | 450 | 4000-4600 | 4,1 | 3,6 | 1 |
Kholmogorsk | 600 | 6500 | 4 | 3 | 4,3 |
Jersey | 400 | 6500 | 5,85 | 4,02 | 4 |
Norman | 370 | 7500 | 4,2 | 3,45 | 3,5 |
Simmental | 630 | 5500 | 3,9 | 3,5 | 5 |
Red Stepnaya | 550 | 4500 | 3,9 | 3,5 | 4,5 |
Characteristics of cows, compared with the amount of milk brought per year:
The fat and protein content in milk as a percentage:
Weight of an adult cow in kilograms:
Based on all these data, we can conclude:
- Tagil cow brings the least milk among other breeds.
- Kostroma breed of cows is the leader in weight category.
- The Jersey breed has the fattest milk.
- Prim-Golshtinsky cow is the record holder for the number of milk yields.
In order to choose the ideal breed of a cow, it is important to determine its purpose (for milk, meat or a combination), in what climatic conditions the animal will be kept, and what maximum costs will be invested in the development of the livestock. Only on this basis, you can get maximum productivity and minimum hassle from cattle.
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Ukraine. City: Kryvyi Rih
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