Formation of meat productivity of Kazakh horses of the Adai offspring

Abstract

Relevance. Herd horse breeding is the most ancient way of reproduction and maintenance of horses. The regularities of the growth and development of young animals largely depend on the genotype of the producers. Adai horses are bred in a herd way. Their well-being largely depends on natural and climatic conditions — the state of the weather, grass stand. The breeding zones of the Adai horse are the desert and semi-desert of the western region of Kazakhstan, characterized by a sharply continental climate.Methods. Experimental work was carried out at Taushyk LLP, Tupkaragan district, Mangistau region. The object of the study is pure-bred Kazakh horses of the Mangistau population and Adai offspring. According to scientific experience, two groups of 12 stallions were formed. Feeding qualities were assessed by the increase in live weight in young animals in the period from 24 to 30 months of age. Meat productivity was studied according to the methodology of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding, in accordance with the technological instructions adopted in the meat industry.Results. It was found that the greatest increase in live weight in foals of Kazakh horses of the Adai offspring is observed from 3 days of age to 1 month and amounted to 42.9 kg with an average daily gain of 1530 g. For six months the increase in live weight was 84.1 kg, and average daily gain — 460 g. From 6 to 12 months of age the average daily gain in foals decreases to 126.9 g, due to the independent wintering of foals. From 18 to 24 months the minimum increase in live weight was recorded — 24.6 kg. From 24 to 30 months of age the average daily gains slightly increase — to 310 g. It has been established that the coefficient of increase in live weight in Kazakh horses in the conditions of the Mangyshlak Peninsula from birth to 24 months of age is 5.28–5.30, from 24 months. up to 30 months age — 0.51–0.52, from birth to 30 months of age — 8.54—8.56. It was found that the stallions of the Mangystau population exceeded their peers of the Adai offspring in terms of pre-slaughter live weight by 3.8 kg. In terms of slaughter yield stallions of the Adai offspring were inferior to their peers of the Mangistau population by 0.4%. The highest fat content in the meat of both groups is observed in the off-grade cut (kazy + sting) — from 16.0% to 16.4%. Comparatively little fat was contained in grade II meat — from 3.8% to 4.3% and grade III — from 2.3% to 2.7%.