Content
Raising cattle (cattle) is a profitable occupation. Animals from the mammalian class give milk, meat, skins. In some regions, bulls are used as draft force. To profit from cattle, you need to know the economic and biological characteristics of cattle.
Features of the constitution and exterior of cattle
The constitution and conformation of cattle depend on the breed and conditions in which the animals are kept. There are several classifications to help understand the biological characteristics of cattle.
Classification by P.M.Kuleshov
Pure cattle species are rare. Most often, the groups are mixed or intermediate:
- Rude. This group is represented by working and primitive cattle. Animals are distinguished by large heads and powerful horns. The skeleton is massive. Thick and coarse coat on dense skin. Since the cattle of this group are designed to perform work related to physical activity, the animals have well-developed muscles, and there are few fat deposits.
- Tender. The animals of this group have their own biological characteristics. Cattle are distinguished by thin skin, delicate wool. The musculature is moderately developed, the skeleton is light. Such a structure can be found in dairy and beef cattle.
- Thick or dry. The cattle of this group are highly productive and viable. Animals are distinguished by thin and elastic skin. The biological feature of this group of cattle is a small fat layer and fiber under the skin. The animals of this group are especially appreciated by farmers engaged in the production of milk and meat.
- Loose or moist. The cattle of this group have their own biological characteristics: thick skin, well-developed subcutaneous fat. Despite the fact that the skeleton is weak, the muscles are quite voluminous, but their tone is lowered. Cattle grows quickly, gaining weight in a short time. Farmers who are directly involved in the production of meat most often pay attention to the biological characteristics of cattle. But you can't count on getting milk.
Cattle taxonomy according to Yu.K. Svechin
This scientist, when classifying cattle, took into account such a biological feature - the growth rate of the calf. He divided the cattle on this very basis, distinguished the following types of constitution:
- individuals with fast growth;
- animals forming at an average speed;
- slow growing.
Other features of the constitution and exterior
Adult cattle belonging to different sexes differ in conformation. For example, bulls-producers are 30-40% heavier than cows (take into account the same age of animals). The gobies are much taller than their female friends, and are also distinguished by a well-developed front part of the body.
Immediately after birth, the calves have long hind limbs, the body is short and flattened. The back of the body is slightly raised.Looking at a newborn calf, by biological characteristics, you can estimate what an adult cattle animal will be (subject to proper care):
- body weight - 6-8% of the weight of an adult bull or cow;
- leg length - about 70%;
- height at the withers - 55%;
- chest width - 30%;
- calf length - 40%.
As they grow older, the exterior of cattle changes, as the skeleton, organs and tissues are formed.
The most important biological features of cattle
The choice of animals will directly depend on the direction of cattle breeding: dairy, meat and dairy or meat production. That is why it is necessary to understand the biological characteristics of cattle.
First you need to understand the benefits:
- Due to the biological characteristics of the digestive system, animals are able to digest a large amount of grass, various combined feeds.
- The ability of cattle to produce offspring occurs at 6-9 months.
- Breeding gobies can be kept up to 9 years old, as they successfully maintain their function.
- Dairy cows have their own biological feature: they never get fat.
- Cattle have hereditary characteristics, so they rarely get sick with brucellosis and tuberculosis.
Cattle also have their own biological disadvantages that future agricultural producers need to know about:
- It will not be possible to get a large offspring, and, therefore, to quickly increase the herd, since every year a cow has only one calf. Twins and triplets are very rare, this is one of the features of the physiology of cows.
- Despite early puberty, it is advisable to allow heifers to reproduce at the age of 1.5-2 years. In this case, you can count on healthy viable offspring.
Reproductive organs
Speaking about the biological characteristics of cows, you need to understand how the reproductive organs are arranged.
The reproductive system of gobies is represented by testes. They produce sex cells and testosterone. This hormone is responsible for reflexes and regulates sperm production.
The reproductive system of cows consists of ovaries. Eggs ripen in them, sex hormones are formed. The growth of female cells responsible for reproduction occurs due to the production of estrogens and progesterone. The sexual cycle and metabolic processes in the cow's body depend on the development of these hormones.
Progesterone has a beneficial effect on the development of a fertilized egg. In the ovaries, testosterone is produced, thanks to which follicles are formed, which regulate the sexual heat of cattle.
Digestive system
The physiological characteristics of cows include nutrition. The digestive system of ruminants has its own characteristics. Cows are able to eat and digest a lot of plant foods because they have a multichamber stomach. It grinds roughage rich in fiber.
The mouth of the cattle is limited by the lips. Inside there is a tongue with taste buds, thanks to which the cows determine the taste of food.
The lower jaw of cattle has incisor teeth only in front. During feeding, by pressing the grass to the incisors, the animals tear it off. Primary grinding takes place in the oral cavity, where food combines with saliva, and then passes into the rumen.
The digestive system of cattle consists of several sections:
- scar;
- mesh;
- books;
- abomasum;
- 3 chambers called the proventriculus.
Biological features of cattle digestion:
- In the oral cavity, the grass is not finely crushed, large particles fall into the rumen. Then food passes from the rumen into a mesh with a shell similar to a honeycomb. Large elements of feed remain on them.
- These non-crushed particles press against the mesh wall, causing the animal to regurgitate. Then the re-chewing begins. Fermentation begins in the rumen and mesh, so belching has a specific smell.
- But small particles of feed, similar to gruel, are sent to the book, then to the proventriculus, where the mechanical processing of the feed takes place.
All other processes of assimilation of nutrients are no different from animals with a single-chamber stomach:
- From the proventriculus, the mass moves to the abomasum, where there is hydrochloric acid and pepsin. Thanks to these substances, further degradation occurs.
- The resulting gruel ends up in the small intestine. Its villi absorb nutrients.
If a farmer dreams of getting quality products from cattle, he should know that he cannot do without a powerful forage base. In addition to natural grass, cows need grain and juicy supplements. As additional feed, you need to use:
- compound feed;
- beets;
- cake;
- potatoes;
- pumpkin crops:
- silage;
- various grain.
There should always be sufficient fresh water. After simple substances enter the bloodstream, it is the water that moves them to the liver. And from there, with the blood, nutrients enter the heart, lungs and all organs. The main absorption of nutrients occurs in the large intestine.
Excretory system
Since cattle are large in size, due to biological characteristics, animals need a lot of feed, this refers to the physiology of cattle. The digestive system processes a portion of food for 2-3 days. The fact is that the intestines are 20 times longer than the trunk. The average length of the digestive system is about 63 m.
After the allotted time, the cows excrete feces. Depending on age and weight, healthy animals excrete 15-45 kg of feces. The kidneys produce up to 20 liters of urine per day.
It is also necessary to understand the peculiarities of the intestines of cattle, located in the right hypochondrium. It consists of the following guts:
- thin;
- duodenal;
- skinny.
In the large intestine of cattle, fiber is broken down and absorbed. The rest of the feces go into the rectum and out through the anus.
The urinary system consists of:
- 2 kidneys;
- ureters;
- Bladder;
- the urethra.
The kidneys are a sponge and are an excellent filter. They cleanse the blood from various harmful substances, as a result, the formation of urine occurs. Urine moves through the ureter to the bladder.
Perceptual organs
Information about the world comes to cows through the organs of sight and hearing.
The eyes have the following structure:
- Eyeball. It has 3 membranes: vascular, reticular, fibrous.
- Protective organs. They are the lacrimal apparatus, muscles, eyelids.
- Subsidiary bodies. Long eyelashes keep foreign objects out of the cow's eyes. They are also analyzers. Eyelashes help determine the length of grass, branches on trees and shrubs.
The organs of perception also perform an important function. The excellent hearing of cows is an important biological feature of cattle. Animals can distinguish not only voice and sounds, but also different music.
The hearing aid consists of the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer ear is similar to a shell, able to move thanks to muscle tissue and cartilage. The middle ear contains the ossicles and the eardrum.
Economic features of cattle
Cows are bred in the private sector and on farms. In a personal subsidiary farm, as a rule, animals are raised for milk and meat. Therefore, preference is given to cows of mixed origin, dairy and meat direction.
Farmers, depending on the purpose of production, breed different breeds: meat, dairy or meat and dairy. Some farms give preference only to breeding animals.
Growing cattle has its own economic characteristics:
- Animals are distinguished by their endurance, unpretentiousness. They are able to eat a variety of foods that can be grown in specially designated areas.
- Possibility of obtaining important dairy and meat products containing complete animal protein.
- There is no tax on cattle.
Features of the behavior of cows
Livestock owners should understand the economic and biological characteristics of cattle and the behavioral reactions of their charges. When raising animals, it should be understood that a sharp change in conditions of detention can cause stress and depression. And this negatively affects productivity and can cause serious diseases.
Young growth also reacts negatively to unfavorable conditions. Keeping animals in the cold reduces the gain by almost a quarter, and dairy cows produce less milk.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is important to know the biological characteristics of cattle for the owners of personal and farm households if they want to receive a sufficient amount of dairy and meat products. Cows are sensitive and affectionate animals that will thank their owners.
