Morphofunctional characteristics of the udder in first-calf cows of different breeds in North-Eastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

There was studied the fitness of first-calf cows of Red Steppe and Simmental breeds from commercial dairy herds in the North-Western Kazakhstan to machine milking. The characteristic is given to morphological and functional features of the udder in Red Steppe cows as compared with Simmentals. Visually, most Red Steppe cows had the sufficiently dense udder and its dense attachment. The heifers of both breeds had a desirable line of the udder bottom. The Red Steppe cows yielded to Simmentals in the udder measurements studied. There were established the significant differences in the udder depth by 3 cm and in the height of the udder above ground by 3.4 cm in favor of Simmentals. As to basic parameters (udder circumference, udder length, udder width, and teat diameter), no significant inter-group distinctions were found. The animals examined had a standard height of the udder above floor: 54.4 cm in Red Steppe cows, and 57.8 cm in Simmentals on the average. Most cows possessing the glandular udder and a greater degree of its recession after milking were at the Red Steppe group. The Simmental heifers had somewhat worse indices. All the experimental animals had the desirable form and size of the teats. Milk flow intensity in Red Steppe cows was 0.10 kg/min more than that in even-aged Simmentals. As compared with Simmentals, Red Steppe heifers turned out to be best in recession of their udders after milking.