Farmers who do not know what the Ayrshire breed of cows look like can see the series of cartoons about Uncle Feodor and the cat Matroskin. The cow created by animators is very similar to the Ayrshire cows. The creators of the cartoon did not think about the fact that the cow Murka completely resembles with all its features the Ayrshire breed. This breed is very much appreciated not only at home, but also in large farms. This breed has a lot of positive aspects, which you will learn more about later in the article.
The value of the Ayrshire breed and its features
Before we begin with a description of the breed, we will tell its history of development. Ayrshire breed belongs to the dairy group of cows. It was first mentioned in the eighteenth century in Scotland. Ayrshire County. Apparently from the name of the county went and the name of the breed. In the books of 1878, it was stated that Dutch, Turkish and Alderney cows were used to create this breed. Scientists believe that it owes its best qualities to the Dutch breed.
It should be noted that in 1845 Ayrshire breed was brought to Finland, and in 1901 in this country created one of the first breeding farms. The breed became very popular in the northern part of this country. And to our time, this breed is the leading Finnish thrush. As a separate species, the Ayrshire breed was recorded in 1862.
Today, the Ayrshire breed is bred in many European countries, in America, Canada and Russia. These animals were brought to the Soviet Union back in 1960 from Finland. Since that time, she has got accustomed and began to be used in dairy production.
The largest population of this breed is bred in Finland, more than 60% of the total population. And the second place for the breeding of livestock is Russia.
Description of the external characteristics of the Ayrshire breed
Ayrshire breed enters the category of the most common breeds by to the whole world, and also more promising breeds. The Ayrshire breed boasts its robust physique and proper constitution. The cows of this breed can only be red-motley color. Either it will be a white ladybug with red spots, or with the exact opposite.
The breed has a strong broad and deep chest, a rather not large head with a thin neck, on which skin folds can be seen, as well as well-set not long legs. The bones of the breed, although thin, are very strong. The front of the head is elongated. Ayrshire skin is thin. The udder of the cows is well developed and has a cup shape.
Aureas and bulls of the Ayrshire breed practically do not differ from each other in growth.
The peculiarity of the breed, which is not possible not to notice are its lyre horns.
Scientists also talk about good muscle and strong hooves of this breed. These indicators make it possible to keep the breed in the highlands.
The average measurements of this breed:
- The growth of the Ayrshire breed, both female and male, at the withers averages about 125 centimeters. The slanting length of the cow’s entire body is 145-155 centimeters.
- In the girth of the chest equal to 165-175 centimeters. The size of the metacarpus in girth is 15-17 centimeters.
- The peculiarity of the constitution is perfectly pronounced to be of the milky type, light bones and small growth of the breed.
- The main way to improve the Ayrshire breed is its pure breeding.
What udder have representatives Ayrshirskoy breed?
As it is already known, the Ayrshire breed is dairy. And so the udder of the cows can tell a lot about its owner. This part of the body in cows is very developed. What farmers value this breed for is the correct, cup-shaped udder with fairly wide-nipples. Medium sized nipples. Milk yield rate is 1.8-2.0 kilograms per minute.
The udder index of the described breed is 46-48%, which indicates a high milk yield. Experts very much appreciate the milk received from these cows for a small amount of somatic cells in it.
Positive aspects of the content of this breed
For what farmers appreciate this breed, you will read below:
- The first thing to note is the unpretentiousness in the content, the Ayrshire breed adapts very well to different weather conditions.
- The second positive factor is the good digestibility of different feeds, which will not affect your budget in its content.
- The third important factor is good health (strong legs and hooves, as well as a healthy udder).
- What can be said about the positive side of this breed is so easy and early calving, not needing human help.
- Important is the absence of genetic defects and a low level of inbreeding.
Positive feature breed is its use to improve other breeds.
What can be said about a good Ayrshire breed is that it is very well suited for pasture keeping.
It can be noted in this breed and active.
The cows of this breed are distinguished by their early precocity. The positive side of this breed is consistency and longevity of milk yields.
Talk about the vulnerable sides of the Ayrshire breed.
To disadvantage breeding Ayrshire breed can be attributed to its aggressive and fearful nature. To the minus of this breed is that with high summer temperatures and arid sultry weather, cows do not feel very well.
What is the productivity of the Ayrshire breed?
The brightest representative of the dairy type of cattle is the Ayrshire cow breed. A distinctive indicator in front of "dairy brethren" is considered not only a high annual milk yield, but also the quality of the milk produced.
Dairy cows have relatively high rates of milk. With the right content, good feeding for the year, one Burenka can give up to 7000 kilograms of milk, with fat content up to 4,3% and protein content in milk up to 3.5%. Many farmers receive a record milk yield in the amount of up to 11,500 kilograms. The Ayrshire cow milk contains a small number of somatic cells, which indicates high quality characteristics of milk. Somatic cells are cells of organs and tissues located in the udder of a cow.
An important feature of the Ayrshire breed is its rapid maturation and readiness for early fertilization. The first fertilization occurs at the age of fifteen months, with a body weight of 35 kilograms. Consequently, the first calving accounts for about 25 months. But regardless of the fact that the fertilization of cows occurs very early, newborn calves are born very strong and highly productive.
The Ayrshire gobies, which are raised to produce meat, already at the age of one year reach body weight up to 400 kilograms. And already matured bulls can weigh up to 800 kilograms. If we talk about meat productivity of bulls and meat quality, then it is quite satisfactory. At the age of 18 months, the slaughter rate of bulls is up to 55%.
The mass of the Ayrshire breed varies according to the gender of the breed:
- The weight of newborn calves is up to about thirty kilograms.
- The mass of the cow of the described breed at the age of eighteen months reaches a maximum in 360 kilogramand adult cows up to 520 kilograms.
- The weight of gobies of the Ayrshire breed is usually 700-800 kilograms.
As we said earlier, the Ayrshire breed is one of those breeds that are considered very economical and productive. For example, in order for a cow to give one liter of milk, it will be enough for her to eat only 0.88 kilogram of feed, and the milk will be good. fat content 4.5%and if you want to get milk with a lower fat content, 0.78 kilograms of feed will be enough.
The meat of the Ayrshire steers does not differ in any special taste characteristics. Beef of satisfactory quality. The fat content and tenderness of the meat is not particularly affected by the nutrition of the bulls, or their age.
