Content
Raising cattle is a profitable business. Animals from the class of mammals provide milk, meat, and skins. In some regions, bulls are used as draft power. To make a 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 appearance of cattle depend on the breed and the conditions in which the animals are kept. There are several classifications that help to understand the biological characteristics of cattle.
Classification according to P. M. Kuleshov
Pure cattle species are rare. Most often the groups are mixed or intermediate:
- Rude. This group is represented by workers and primitive livestock. The animals are distinguished by their large heads and powerful horns. The skeleton is massive. The dense skin has thick and coarse hair. Since cattle in this group are designed to perform work associated with physical exertion, the animals have well-developed muscles and little fat deposits.
- Gentle. Animals of this group have their own biological characteristics. Cattle are distinguished by thin skin and delicate wool. The muscles are moderately developed, the skeleton is light. This structure can be found in dairy and meat cattle.
- Dense or dry. Cattle of this group are highly productive and viable. Animals have thin and elastic skin. A biological feature of this group of cattle is a small layer of fat and fiber under the skin. Animals of this group are especially valued by farmers producing milk and meat.
- Loose or soggy. Cattle in 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 reduced. Cattle grow quickly and gain weight in a short time. Farmers directly involved in meat production most often pay attention to the biological characteristics of cattle. But you can’t count on getting milk.
Taxonomy of cattle 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 precisely on this basis and identified the following types of constitution:
- individuals with rapid growth;
- animals that form at an average speed;
- slow growing.
Other features of the constitution and exterior
Adult cattle belonging to different sexes differ in appearance. For example, sires are 30-40% heavier than cows (taking into account the same age of the animals).The bulls are much taller than their friends and are also distinguished by a well-developed front part of the body.
Immediately after birth, calves have long hind limbs and a short and flattened body. The back of the body is slightly raised. Looking at a newborn calf, based on its biological characteristics, you can estimate what an adult cattle animal will be like (subject to proper care):
- body weight – 6-8% of the weight of an adult bull or cow;
- leg length – about 70%;
- height at withers – 55%;
- chest width – 30%;
- calf length – 40%.
As cattle grow older, their appearance 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 rearing: dairy, meat and dairy production or meat production. That is why it is necessary to understand the biological characteristics of cattle.
First you need to understand the advantages:
- Thanks to the biological characteristics of the digestive system, animals are able to digest large amounts of grass and various combined feeds.
- The ability of cattle to produce offspring occurs at 6-9 months.
- Breeding bulls can be kept for up to 9 years, as they successfully maintain their function.
- Dairy cows have their own biological feature: they never get fat.
- Cattle have hereditary characteristics, so they rarely suffer from brucellosis and tuberculosis.
Cattle also have their own biological disadvantages, which future agricultural producers need to know about:
- It will not be possible to get a large litter, and therefore 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 sexual maturity, it is advisable to allow heifers to breed 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 structured.
The reproductive system of gobies is represented by testes. They produce germ cells and testosterone. This hormone is responsible for reflexes and regulates sperm production.
The reproductive system of cows consists of ovaries. Eggs mature in them and sex hormones are formed. The growth of female cells responsible for reproduction occurs due to the production of estrogen and progesterone. The development of these hormones determines the reproductive cycle and metabolic processes in the cow’s body.
Progesterone has a beneficial effect on the development of a fertilized egg. Testosterone is produced in the ovaries, thanks to which follicles are formed that regulate sexual heat in 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 multi-chambered stomach. Rough feed rich in fiber is ground in it.
The oral cavity of cattle is limited by the lips. Inside there is a tongue with taste buds, thanks to which cows determine the taste of food.
The lower jaw of cattle has incisor teeth only in front.While feeding, the animals press the grass to their incisors and tear it off. Primary grinding occurs in the oral cavity, where food combines with saliva, after which it passes into the rumen.
The digestive system of cattle consists of several sections:
- scar;
- grids;
- books;
- rennet;
- 3 chambers called proventriculi.
Biological features of cattle digestion:
- In the oral cavity, the grass is not crushed finely; large particles end up in the rumen. Then, from the rumen, the food passes into a mesh with a honeycomb-like shell. Large elements of feed remain on them.
- These uncrushed particles press on the mesh wall, causing the animal to belch. After which the repeated chewing begins. Fermentation begins in the rumen and mesh, so the belching has a specific smell.
- But small particles of food, similar to gruel, are sent to the book, then to the forestomach, where mechanical processing of the food occurs.
All other processes of nutrient absorption are no different from animals that have a single-chamber stomach:
- From the forestomach the mass moves into the abomasum, where hydrochloric acid and pepsin are present. Thanks to these substances, further breakdown occurs.
- The resulting mush ends up in the small intestine. Its villi absorb nutrients.
If a farmer dreams of receiving high-quality products from cattle, he must know that he cannot do without a powerful feed supply. In addition to natural grass, cows need grain and juicy supplements. The following should be used as additional feed:
- feed;
- beets;
- makukha;
- potato;
- pumpkin crops:
- silage;
- various grains.
Fresh water should always be available in sufficient quantities. After simple substances enter the blood, it is water that propels them to the liver. And from there, nutrients enter the heart, lungs and all organs with the blood. The main absorption of nutrients occurs in the large intestine.
Excretory system
Since cattle have large dimensions, which is due to biological characteristics, animals require a lot of feed, this relates to the physiology of cattle. The digestive system processes a portion of food in 2-3 days. The fact is that the intestines are 20 times longer than the torso. The average length of the digestive system is about 63 m.
After the required time, 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 features of the cattle intestine, located in the right hypochondrium. It consists of the following intestines:
- thin;
- duodenum;
- skinny.
In the large intestine of cattle, fiber is broken down and absorbed. The rest of the stool goes into the rectum and comes out through the anus.
The urinary system consists of:
- 2 kidneys;
- ureters;
- Bladder;
- urethra.
The kidneys are a sponge and are an excellent filter. They cleanse the blood of various harmful substances, and as a result, urine is formed. Urine moves through the ureter to the bladder.
Organs of perception
Information about the world comes to cows through the organs of vision and hearing.
The eyes have this structure:
- Eyeball. It has 3 membranes: vascular, reticular, fibrous.
- Protective organs. They are the lacrimal apparatus, muscles, eyelids.
- Auxiliary organs. Thanks to the long eyelashes, foreign objects do not get into 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. Excellent hearing of cows is an important biological feature of cattle. Animals can distinguish not only voices and sounds, but also different music.
The hearing aid consists of the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer ear is shell-like and is able to move thanks to muscle tissue and cartilage. The middle ear contains the auditory ossicles and the eardrum.
Economic features of cattle
Cows are bred in the private sector and on farms. In private farms, as a rule, animals are raised for milk and meat. Therefore, preference is given to cows of mixed origin, dairy and meat production.
Farmers, depending on the purpose of production, breed different breeds: meat, dairy or meat and dairy. Some farms give preference only to breeding animals.
Raising cattle has its own economic characteristics:
- Animals are distinguished by their endurance and unpretentiousness. They are able to eat various 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.
Peculiarities of cow behavior
Livestock owners must understand the economic and biological characteristics of cattle and the behavioral reactions of their charges. When raising animals, you should understand that a sudden change in living conditions can cause stress and depression. And this negatively affects productivity and can cause serious illnesses.
Young animals also react negatively to unfavorable conditions. Keeping animals in the cold reduces growth by almost a quarter, and dairy cows produce less milk.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is important for owners of personal and farm households to know the biological characteristics of cattle if they want to receive a sufficient amount of dairy and meat products. Cows are sensitive and affectionate animals that will reward their owners.
