Description and characteristics of limousine cows, features of the content
Cow limousine - one of the breeds of animals for meat productivity. She is unpretentious in care. She has developed immunity. However, some farmers are wary of the limousine look. This animal sometimes shows aggression, and so that no one gets hurt, you have to be careful. You must not lose your vigilance when feeding calves and while walking.
Origin story
The name of the breed comes from the administrative region of Limousin in France. Here the breed was first bred and continues to grow for several centuries. For the first time, an attempt to create this meat species of exceptional quality began in the 18th century.
The breeders set themselves the task of creating a breed of cows with endurance, unpretentious maintenance, maximum weight gain with minimum feeding. For the work, many species of cattle existing at that time were used, but the result was demonstrated by animals of Aquitaine breeds. They became the ancestors of the limousine cows.
Thanks to many years of work, high results have been achieved. The fat content of the meat has decreased, and a unique marble texture has appeared. In 1856, the limousine received a personal herd book. In the same year, representatives of the breed began to appear at exhibitions. Breeding research on the limousine breed continued in the future. In 1925 a closed herd book was created. Over the decades, several lines and related groups of limousine bulls and cows have emerged.
Habitat
Limousine cows are considered a national treasure in France. Until now, the sale of beef brings huge income to the budget of the republic, being a serious item in the export of meat.
In addition to France, limousine cows have become widespread in the USA and Canada, Australia, Portugal. On the territory of the former USSR, an attempt to breed cattle of this breed dates back to 1961. Then several animals were brought to the territory of the Priozersky breeding farm near Brest.
Appearance of the breed
Animals of the Limousine breed are distinguished by a weighty body and a formed strong muscular system. They are also outwardly different:
- small in size neck, head and wide frontal bone;
- wool of a golden brown hue;
- elastic skin;
- medium length limbs;
- compact but well-formed udder;
- growth up to 1.4 meters;
- chest, the width of which is 2.5 meters in girth.
Gobies have a light shade of horns that stands out against the darker coat.
Characteristics of cows limousine
Animals of this breed are endowed with an unpredictable character. Sometimes they show aggression. Therefore, when caring for cattle, you should be vigilant.
Positive and negative sides
Farmers note the following advantages when breeding cows of this type:
- the growth of calves;
- enhanced immunity, disease resistance;
- increased degree of reproduction;
- trouble-free calving;
- ease of caring for the animal;
- the result is meat with a low fat content.
Among the disadvantages of communicating with an animal is aggression. Also, with regard to reproductive function, then with artificial insemination can be difficult. The limousine cow needs additional stimulation.
Subtleties of maintenance and care
Limousine cows belong to the beef cattle breeds. They are bred to produce marbled meat. In order for the products to be of high quality, attention is paid to keeping animals. Despite the fact that limousine cows are unpretentious in their care, they need certain conditions. Improper care entails a negative impact on the health of animals, will affect the taste characteristics of meat.
Summer walking area
Regular walks in the fresh air will help increase milk production. The presence of a summer walking area will be an excellent substitute for pasture. The arrangement of the walking area is recommended if there are no pastures nearby; suitable for seasonal cattle farmers.
The summer terrace is fenced off from all sides. It is recommended to equip sheds that will protect from rain, adverse weather conditions. Stalls must be installed around the entire perimeter of the site, and each animal must have a separate place.
When arranging a summer playground, do not forget about drinking bowls so that animals can quench their thirst if necessary.
Barn arrangement
According to the recommendations of experienced breeders, at least 7 square meters should fall on one cow. m area. This space is enough for the animal to feel comfortable.
There are two ways to set up a suitable housing for cows:
- Dividing the barn into separate stalls. This method is suitable for farmers who have a large barn area. Zoning will allow you to keep each animal in comfort.
- Free movement. All barriers are removed from the barn so that livestock can move freely inside the building. At the same time, a separate stall is organized for each animal.
Cleaning in the barn is recommended to be carried out daily, this will keep the animals clean. The litters are changed as needed, and 30 cm thick straw or sawdust is poked onto the concrete floor. This is enough to provide acceptable flooring. If a summer area for walking is provided separately for cows, then an exit is made in the barn through which the animals will immediately get into the fresh air.
The installation of feeders and drinkers depends on the way the shed is organized. If each cow has its own stall, drinkers and feeders should be placed separately or placed along the stalls. In the absence of free space, suspended containers are preferred.
Conditions of detention
One of the key advantages of the limousine breed is unpretentious care, no requirements for living conditions. Animals easily adapt to low and high temperature conditions. Despite this, there are a number of rules. It is imperative to observe them in order to get tasty and high-quality meat. The optimum temperature for keeping cows is 7 C. In winter, the barn is heated to this mark. At low temperatures, the taste of meat can change for the worse.
One of the conditions of detention is dryness in the room. In order for the animals to feel as comfortable as possible, the barn must be clean and dry. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of humidity in the room. Experts say that the most favorable conditions are a maximum of 50% humidity.
Limousines are considered tough animals, but they are prone to colds. To prevent them, it is necessary to limit the occurrence of drafts. The shed should be constantly checked for cracks and damage, and promptly disposed of.
Cleaning
Good barn cleaning is essential to get rid of harmful bacteria and fungal growths. This is a kind of disinfection of the premises, the implementation of which will create ideal conditions for detention. Cleaning should be done according to the season. In the warm season, cows spend most of their time outdoors, so the level of contamination in the barn is minimal, and daily cleaning is not required.
In the cold season, cows spend all the time in stalls, therefore it is necessary to attend to the maintenance of cleanliness. Cleaning is carried out at least once a day.
First of all, it is necessary to dispose of excrement in a timely manner. After that, the bedding should be cleaned or replaced. It is recommended to pay special attention to feeders and drinkers. They should be washed at least 3-4 times a month. Potentially dangerous area for the development of harmful bacteria - water tanks. They need to be cleaned daily so that the water does not stagnate and mold does not appear in it.
Preparing for milking
Limousine cows were originally bred for meat production. Therefore, these animals have practically no milk. It is only enough for feeding young animals. True, this performance can be improved. For this, the meat breed is crossed with the dairy breed.
Before experimenting with cattle breeding, you should seek the advice of a specialist so as not to harm the animals and the future generation.
How to breed a breed
Spring and summer are the best time for mating animals of this breed. After birth, the calves feed on breast milk, and their diet can also be varied with fresh grass. At the same time, it is important to observe the diet and adhere to a complete healthy diet. The ideal age for a limousine cow to calve is 12 months. During this period, the animal becomes sexually mature, the reproductive function is most developed. If calving happened in damp weather or cold, then the cow should be left for 8 days in a warm barn.
To understand when calving should happen, you need to monitor the condition of the cow. During this time, the animal usually displays signs of anxiety. The cow will get up and lie down again. Childbirth can occur without the participation of a specialist, but help is never superfluous, since it is important to observe that the calf is born with the front limbs forward. The calf's head will be resting on its legs. The umbilical cord falls off on its own. If this does not happen, then he gets rid of it with a sterile instrument.
Diseases and their treatment
In premises where cows are constantly located, it is necessary to regularly carry out disinfectant prophylaxis, as well as measures for deratization. Farmers should keep strangers and animals away from this area.
If they want to add a new individual to the herd, then initially they are sent to quarantine. The animal is monitored for a month.It is imperative to control the possibility of the formation of mastitis, which appears after a cold or due to the created bacterial background.
To prevent disease, it is worth providing the correct care for the limousine cow. Food will need to be supplemented with phosphorus supplements. It is also important to send the female to the obstetric and gynecological clinical examination.
