Improvement of the Red Steppe cattle by the Holstein breed gene pool

Abstract

The results of the comparative assessment of productivity, reproductive ability and profitability of milk production when using cows of the Red Steppe breed and the crossbreeds of different blood relationship by the Holstein breed of the Red-and-White color type are presented. The studies of economically useful traits and profitability were conducted in 2019-2022. The objects of the research were representatives of the Red Steppe breed (control), mixtures with 50% (1st experimental group) and 75% of the blood of the Holstein Red-and-White color type (2nd experimental group). The superiority of the crossbred heifers over their herd mates of the Red Steppe breed in terms of milk yield was established: for the 1st lactation it was 605-673 kg (p > 0.999), for the 2nd lactation it was 714-788 kg (p > 0.999), for the 3rd lactation it was 817-868 kg (p > 0.999). The highest coefficient of the milk yield was observed in Holstein F1 and F2 crossbreeds (9.4-9.7 kg), whose average advantage during all lactations ranged from 0.9-1.2 kg (p > 0.95-0.99). In all analyzed service-periods, the highest fertilization rate after the first insemination was demonstrated by the Red Steppe breed animals; as a result, their semen consumption was on average 0.2-0.5 doses lower than that of the Holstein crossbreeds of different blood relationship. Cows of the Red Steppe breed had the highest reproductive ability coefficient 0.98-1.01 units vs. 0.85-0.95 units for crossbred cows. The analysis of the feed efficiency shows lower costs per unit production by cows of the first and second generations, in which they were 0.95-0.98 EFU, which is lower than in the Red Steppe breed peers, by 1.11-1.12 EFU. Milk production by half-blooded crossbreeds was more profitable 30.8-32.9% with no significant differences between the Red Steppe and high-blooded Holstein individuals.