UDC 636.2.082.13
DOI 10.36461/NP.2024.72.4.017

EVALUATION OF THE BODY TYPE OF HOLSTEIN COWS DEPENDING ON THE PERIOD OF EFFECTIVE INSEMINATION
I.A. Vasyagin, Postgraduate, V.V. Lyashenko, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor;
I.V. Kaeshova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Penza State Agrarian University", Penza, Russia, е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Under the conditions of modern intensification of animal husbandry, the primary task is to create highly productive animals with a strong constitution that can be used in the long term. According to some scientists, the age of the first insemination, i.e. the physiological maturity of the animals, can also influence the formation of the milk type of cows.
The study involved purebred Holstein first-calf heifers, which were divided into groups according to the period of effective insemination: Group 1 – 12 months, Group 2 – 13 months, Group 3 – 14 months, Group 4 – 15 months.
The linear evaluation method, carried out in the second month of lactation, made it possible to quantify the differences between the groups of animals on the basis of external characteristics: the main reliable differences between the groups of animals were found in the evaluation of the udder. Thus, the animals of the second (13 months) (p < 0.05) and third (14 months) groups (p < 0.05) have a denser attachment of the front udder parts compared to the cows of the first group (12 months). The width of the rear udder parts was rated at 8.0 points in the cows inseminated at 14 and 15 months of age and was thus significantly superior to the second group by 1.6 points (p < 0.01).
The results of the comprehensive evaluation showed that the cows in the second and third groups had the highest score. First-calf heifers from these groups significantly outperformed animals from the first group for udder traits (p < 0.05), overall appearance (p < 0.01) and overall score (p < 0.01). The lowest score was achieved by cows that were inseminated at 12 months of age. The linear and complex evaluation of the conformation of the test animals thus showed that animals inseminated at a later age, from 13 months, have a more pronounced milk type, which is typical of Holstein breed animals.
Keywords: Holstein breed, first-calf heifer, exterior, body conformation, insemination period, linear evaluation, exterior profile.

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