The assessment of morphological features in Hereford cattle

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare the morphological characteristics of Hereford mature herd of different body types at various stages of ontogenesis. Work was carried out in LLC “AF Kalininskaya” of Chelyabinsk region on two groups (n = 15 individual seach) of Hereford cows which are daughters from sires of different body conformation type. Newborn offspring from tall parents were characterized by significant (P < 0.01-0.001) superiority of body length and chest girth characterizing the axial part of the skeleton, and the development of altitudinal measurements characterized the growth of the peripheral skeleton. Later intergroup differences became less noticeable in the linear growth of heifers, which was associated with the limiting factor of dams’ milk productivity, as well as with the pronounced precocity of compact animals. Intensive development of body measurements ended at 15 months of age in animals with compact body type. They reached fully formed skeletal structure at the age of 5 years in terms of basic measurements. Tall individuals have the ability for a longer linear growth up to 6 years of age. The pronounced precocity of compact animals was confirmed by the variability of body volume and area of animals. The results of the study proved that the most noticeable differentiation of cows into body types occurs at later stages of ontogenesis.