THE INFLUENCE OF HOUSING CONDITIONS OF ABERDEEN-ANGUS COWS ON THE COURSE OF CALVING AND THE ETHOLOGY OF NEWBORN CALVES

Abstract

The Aberdeen-Angus breed of cows is characterized by a high percentage of meat yield (up to 70%), while the meat itself is distinguished by fine-fiberedness, tenderness and high marbling, and the animals themselves are quite early maturing, which is why the prospects for their use in Ukraine are quite good. The purpose of the study was to substantiate the optimal parameters of keeping cows and their offspring during the calving period. The study was conducted on four groups of Aberdeen-Angus cows, 10 heads each, in the winter and summer periods. The results of ethological studies during calving of cows showed that in the winter period, the conditions of keeping cows caused a difference in the course of the labor process and the behavior of the animals. Thus, the duration of labor in the first experimental group was 70 minutes shorter than in the first control group, and the separation of the afterbirth lasted almost 4 hours faster. At the same time, in animals of the first control group, the delay of the afterbirth was observed in 20% of the cows. In the second control group, the time of separation of the afterbirth was significantly reduced, although the characteristics of the behavior of the cows did not change significantly. The time of the first heat in cows of the control group II was 34 days, in cows of the experimental group II - 28 days, the service period was 60 and 68 days, respectively, that is, the difference between the groups is practically absent. The study of ethology and physiological indicators of calves during the suckling period showed that in the winter period, calves of the control group I got up on their feet faster, approximately 23%, than calves of the experimental group I, which were born in day stalls. The duration of lying in calves of the first experimental group was 3.3 hours longer, and the duration of suckling was 1.1 minutes longer. The number of times they stood up was 1.5 times less and ended with a suckling, while in calves of the control group the efficiency of this indicator was only 70 percent. In calves born in the summer, the time from birth to the first standing up, first feeding and lying down was slightly longer. The results obtained made it possible to establish that the winter calving period of Aberdeen-Angus cows should be carried out indoors in specially equipped day stalls, which has a positive effect on the course of the labor process, the reproductive ability of animals, the health status and growth rate of calves during the suckling period.