The productive longevity of cows depends on the livestock-keeping method

Abstract

In the article, the authors presented an analysis of the influence of the methods of keeping the breeding stock of Kuzbass cattle on the period of its productive use and life expectancy. The object of the study was the breeding stock of cattle breeding and commercial enterprises. With a tethered method of keeping, the economical use of cows in the breeding enterprises of the region amounted to 2.75 ± 0.27 lactation, or 1002.70 ± 45.19 days, with an average life expectancy of 1835.60 ± 95.42 days. In commodity farms, the economical use of cows is an average of 2.35±0.20 lactations, or 860.70±41.80 days, with an average life expectancy of 1563.67±85.30 days. An analysis of the loose keeping of the cattle breeding stock showed that the period of economic use in breeding organizations is 2.45 ± 0.19 lactations (896.50 ± 39.43 days), and the average life expectancy is 1693.0 ± 83.34 days. The period of economic use of cows in the commercial farms of the region using loose housing averaged 2.16±0.20 lactations (794.50±38.53 days), and the average life expectancy was 1688.93±91.50 days. In the winter, the broodstock on tie-down housing has an advantage over the region’s farms in terms of economic use over yearround loose housing by 0.24 lactations (86.20 days).