EXTERIOR ASSESSMENT OF SERVICING BULLS OF SIMMENTAL BREED AND THEIR OFFERINGS

Abstract

The studies were carried out in the breeding herd of purebred Simmental cattle of SPK Abodimovskiy of Saratov region, which is characterized by stable parametres of milk productivity. Methods generally accepted in zootechnics were used for the research. Exterior and constitution of the animals were assessed visually, as well as by taking main body measurements and calculating body build indexes. The paper presents results of assessment of purebred Simmental servicing bulls of milk-meat type, belonging to Florian 374 line, by exterior and constitution of the offspring. The estimated bulls have a conformation score of 91 and 94 points. Comparison of bulls by exterior measurements taken at the age of 18 months shows that Coral 4067 bull is significantly superior to Record 306 bull in terms of depth, width, circumference of chest (by 12.8; 9.6; 6.3%), as well as pelvic-thoracic and blockiness indexes (by 5.6 and 6.3%). In order to determine the nature of bulls’ transmission of their conformation features (body shape) to descendants and compare them with each other in terms of conformation and constitution, body measures of the descendants of the evaluated bulls (castrated bulls and heifers) at 6, 12 and 18 months of age were taken and body indexes were calculated. It was established that the offsprings (castrated bulls and heifers) of Coral 4067 bull differ from the offsprings of Record 306 bull in larger exterior measurements and especially in wide, deep and voluminous chest, i.e. they have a declination towards Eirison type, like their father. Castrated bulls - the descendants of Coral 4067 bull at the age of 18 months had superiority over the descendants of Record 306 bull in terms of width, depth and girth of the chest by 4.33; 2.51 and 3.25%, and heifers, respectively, by 2.30; 1.78 and 2.17%. According to the indexes of blockiness, chest index and massiveness, their superiority was 3.5; 1.2; 10.8% and 2.1; 1.2 and 6.5%, respectively.