SELECTIVE BREEDING OF DAIRY COWS FOR A MODEL IDEAL TYPE (Review)

Abstract

In the practice of modern industrial dairy cattle breeding, the creation of highly productive cows of the desired model ideal type is of great importance. In this regard, the purpose of this work was to review the comprehensive study of the production, rearing, evaluation and use of model cows in breeding farms. It is shown that the idea of developing and creating ideal types of dairy cows goes back to a distant historical journey of the 18th century to the scientific and practical works of the English breeder R. Beckwell (L.W. Flemberger, 1977; R.L. Powell, 1985). The development of the ideal type takes 3-4 years, after which a replica of model cow is made (E.Ya. Lebedko, 2000; D.A. Hartman, 1988). Model ideal types of cows have certain tolerances in terms of productivity and exterior characteristics (E.Ya. Lebedko, 2017; O.K. Vasileva, S.L. Safronov, 2018). Such cows in production conditions are distinguished by record milk productivity and an increased period of economic use (N.A. Abramova et al., 2018; O. Gruter, 1989). The exterior characteristics of model cows are given (F. Gut, 1969; G.G. Cherepanov et al., 2001). Differences in the ideal types of dairy cows in the USA, Canada, and other countries of the world have been established (M.I. Bashchenko, L.M. Khmelnichii, 2005). Standard requirements have been developed for full-grown cows of the model type in terms of “height at the withers” – 140 cm or more; “oblique body length” – up to 170 cm; “live weight” – up to 700 – 750 kg (S.L. Safronov, M.F. Smirnova, 2017; E.Ya. Lebedko, 2016). It is shown that on the basis of selective breeding of dairy model cows of an ideal type, it is possible to significantly increase the milk productivity of breeding herds and the economic efficiency of their functioning.