Description and characteristics of Swiss cows, pros and cons of cattle and care
Universal, or meat and dairy, cattle breeds were bred in order to simultaneously obtain two types of products - milk and meat. Among such animals, representatives of the Swiss breed of cows stand out. Consider the description and characteristics of this type of livestock, their advantages and disadvantages, how to keep them, feed them, breed them at home, take care of their health.
Origin story
The Swiss breed was bred in Switzerland, in the Alps, in the canton of Schwyz, from which it got its name. At first, cows were not only raised for milk and meat, but also used as draft animals. In the 19th century, they were already common in neighboring countries. Until now, there is the largest livestock of Swiss cows.
In Russia, Swiss cows appeared at the beginning of the 20th century; in Soviet times, they were used as improvers for local livestock. Currently, farms for the cultivation of cattle of this breed are located in the Stavropol Territory and Krasnodar, in the Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk and Tula regions.
Description and characteristics of the Swiss breed
In terms of productive characteristics, the Swedes can relate to both dairy and beef cows. Within the breed, there are 2 directions - meat and milk and milk and meat, which is considered a feature of the breed. Despite the fact that animals are very close genetically, representatives of these trends have different indicators of milk yield and slaughter yield of meat.
The Swiss have a small head with a wide forehead. The animals have horns (light with black tips), but they are short and, due to the calm nature of the cows, they are rarely used. The exterior of any Swiss cow, both beef and dairy, tends to be meat proportions. Their muscles are well developed, the body is rectangular, the chest is deep, the legs and neck are short. The udder is large or medium in size, the nipples are developed, the abdomen is rounded.
The color of purebred Swiss cows is gray-beige or ashy (by the original shade of the animals it is easy to distinguish from representatives of other breeds), but in Russia the brown Swiss are bred after crossing with local cattle. Brown cattle are not considered purebred, but this does not affect its productive characteristics. The nose is dark, the lips and chin are light.
For a year, a Swiss cow can give 3.5 thousand.kg of milk, and it will be fat (3.6-4.2%), and with a high percentage of protein (not less than 3.2%). Record milk yield is 9-10 tons per year. Given the high fat content of milk, cows are well suited for growing on farms where butter and hard cheeses are produced.
The excellent quality of milk is due to the fact that the famous Swiss cheese was made from it. The Swiss cows manage to show the highest milk yield when they are free to live in the pasture. The Swiss can be good beef cows too. They are distinguished by intensive weight gain, high lethal yield (62%).
Newborn calves weigh 35-40 kg, if fed abundantly, they can gain 1-1.1 kg of weight every day. By the age of one year, heifers can reach 250 kg, gobies - 300 kg. You can slaughter 1.5-year-old animals, which by this time can weigh 350-380 kg. They are kept on fattening for no more than 2-3 years, then they become less profitable.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the shortcomings, the breed is considered one of the most promising.
Conditions of maintenance and care
The Swiss breed is characterized by whimsy to the diet and conditions of detention. Breeding violations always affect their productivity.
Summer walking area
Meat and dairy breeds are grown according to a stall-pasture scheme. It is not recommended to keep Swiss cows indoors without walking, as milk yield is reduced. If it is not possible to graze cows in a pasture, a walking area should be organized near the barn. Its size should be large enough for the animals to move freely (15 square meters per individual).
On the walk, animals should spend at least a few hours a day. Walking increases the movement of blood, prevents swelling of the legs and arthritis, diseases of the hooves, excessive regrowth of the hoof horn.
Barn arrangement
It is recommended to build a special room for raising cows at home. It should be spacious, well-lit, there should be vents in the windows for ventilation or equipped with a ventilation system. There is no need to heat the barn, the cows generate enough heat to keep warm in winter, but there should be no drafts in it. For wall insulation, you can use standard building insulation.
Each Swiss cow should be allocated a separate stall at least 1.5 m wide and 3 m long or a stall 3 x 3 m. It should have an individual feeder and drinker, a floor with a slight slope towards the rear wall for slurry drainage.
If the calves are not housed with their mothers, they need to be equipped with a separate room where they will stay, except for feeding time. In regions with a cold climate, the calf shed needs to be insulated.
Conditions of detention
The conditions for keeping a Swiss cow are no different from those recommended for other breeds of livestock. The temperature in the barn in winter should not drop below 5-10 ˚С, in summer it should not rise above 25 ˚С. Both cold and heat have a negative effect on the body of animals. The result is a decrease in productivity.
You need to pay attention to the cleanliness of the air and bedding. All livestock breeders know how much waste a cow can produce per day. All this should not remain indoors, animals should breathe fresh air and lie on clean straw.Lighting - natural, through large windows, for effective light supply, their area should be equal to 1/10 of the area of the entire room.
Cleaning the barn
A mat of fresh straw should be placed on the floor in the stalls and replaced as it becomes dirty. Animals should not stand on dirty straw. Under unsatisfactory conditions of detention, they become ill with infectious diseases, despite their natural resistance to diseases. Every month it is necessary to disinfect the premises and equipment.
Swiss cows need to be cleaned every day. Cleaning has 2 goals - animal skins get rid of dirt and parasites, massage has a beneficial effect on their physical and mental state.
What the breed is fed with
You need to pay attention to the diet for Swiss cows. Livestock are fed with fresh grass (or grazed on pasture), hay in winter. It is the staple food for ruminants. It is desirable that the grass and hay contain clover and legumes. Additionally, they are given bran, root vegetables, vegetables, whole grains and chaff. Suitable for Swiss cows and livestock feed. Feeding with combined feeds is convenient, especially for home keeping in conditions of a lack of areas for pastures and mowing. But it also has a drawback - because of the cost of compound feed, the cost of production also increases.
Calves and their mothers need special attention. Cows need to be fed with a mixture of bran and grains, this nutrition will contribute to rapid recovery after calving and the growth of calves. Livestock breeders recommend the following dietary plan for the Swiss: in the morning - hay and compound feed, water ad libitum, in the middle of the day - hay and water, at the end of the day - again hay with compound feed and water. In addition to hay and compound feed, livestock need to be fed green and juicy feed - root crops and vegetables. They must be pre-crushed, if animals will swallow large pieces, this will lead to digestive upset. Feeding regimen - 3 times a day. Each individual needs at least 45 kg of feed per day.
Breeding rules
There are not so many Swiss cows in Russia, the breed is rare. Of course, for breeding and in the household, and not only on farms, it is better to select purebred parents. But if there is no opportunity to purchase pedigree bulls and cows, then you can use the Swiss to obtain crossbred calves. It has been established that, in terms of productive indicators, they are almost as good as their pedigree ancestors.
Heifers can happen when they reach one and a half years, bulls - 2 years. Natural and artificial mating is possible. Pregnancy and childbirth in Swiss cattle are smooth. The cows feed the calves conscientiously and can be kept with or apart from their mothers.
Animal health
There are no genetically determined hereditary diseases in the breed, and in general, Swiss cattle are in good health. But under poor conditions, cows can get sick with infectious diseases, their metabolism is upset, and productivity deteriorates. If you raise animals correctly, this does not happen.
The change of place of residence does not affect the health of the Swiss. They easily adapt when transported to another location without experiencing stress. This is especially true for young animals.
Prospects and purchase
You can buy a female or male Swiss at breeding farms. They can also be purchased in Russia, but a purebred animal of the best blood should be sought in European countries - Germany, Austria and Poland. The cost of a Swiss cow depends on its age and gender, it is more profitable to buy calves and raise an animal from them for your own breeding.
Swiss cows are suitable for keeping in private farmsteads and small farms in terms of the number of livestock. If the rules of cultivation are followed, they can realize the potential inherent in the breed.You can grow Swiss people in any region of Russia, they can perfectly adapt to the climate of any area.
The Swiss breed is not among the most widespread in Russia, but it is excellent for keeping in any of its regions. In addition to productivity, the cows have good conformation and attractive color. They can be kept in a single copy in a private yard for the needs of the family and make up the livestock of farms from them for profit. The Swiss are a good source of excellent fat milk and quality meat.
