Breeding cows. Business plan for cow breeding: necessary documents, equipment, expenses and profit

An old Russian proverb says: “A cow in the yard means prosperity on the table.” And this is actually true, because the cow provides the most important livestock products - meat and milk. With a little work, you can get from milk: kefir, cottage cheese, sour cream, butter and much more. Manure is also a valuable fertilizer for home gardens. With good maintenance, there will be excellent milk yield and a surplus will be formed, the sale of which can not only cover the cost of maintaining the cow, but also make good money.

First of all, cow breeding, is of interest to those people who want to make a profit from selling meat. But this is not about that, I would like to expand on this topic in more detail, so everything is in order.

Breeding cows: reproduction

A healthy heifer and mature cows periodically exhibit a period of heat. Full puberty in heifers occurs at the age of 7-8 months, and physiological maturity at 18 months of age. By this time, live weight reaches 290-360 kilograms. A cow has a specific sexual cycle and occurs every 21 days. Based on this, we can say that if the cow was not fertilized during the first heat, then after 21 days the mating process can be repeated again.

To properly inseminate a cow, you need to repeat the mating process at intervals of 11-12 hours before milking. In this case, it is best to write down the name of the cow or heifer, as well as the breed and name of the bull. This will help you accurately determine the timing of calving and the origin of the offspring. A cow's pregnancy lasts about 285 days.

During the second half of a cow's pregnancy, fetal movement can be captured on the right side of the cow's belly. During this period, it is advisable to conduct numerous examinations with a veterinarian.

The fastest growth of the fetus in the womb occurs in the last months of pregnancy. It is at this time that you should stop milking the cow in order to give the cow physiological rest before calving. An incorrectly chosen date for stopping milking can lead to udder disease in the future. Especially during this period, it is necessary to protect the animal from drafts and cold, so as not to catch a cold in the mammary glands. During this period, it is important to provide the cows with proper nutrition. Per day you need to give: 5-7 kilograms of hay, 11-15 kilograms of succulent feed and various concentrates - 1-2 kilograms. It is also very important that the diet contains mineral supplements: chalk, bone meal, salt. Sugar should be replaced with carrots or sugar beets.
Just before calving, the owner needs to prepare: tincture of iodine, potassium permanganate, petroleum jelly, cotton wool, soap, bandages. Before giving birth, the cow begins to stare at her belly, moo loudly and stomp her feet. Before giving birth, the owner needs to treat the tail, legs, and labia with a manganese solution and wipe with a towel. In most cases, the cow does not require assistance during calving.

After giving birth, the cow should be given one bucket of salt water and some hay.

Organizing a barn.

Organizing a barn.
Before you build a barn, you need to decide how many cows will live there. Consider the option for one head.

Any material can be used for construction: wood, brick, foam blocks, cinder blocks, etc. The floor should be located above ground level. The cow really does not like the dark, so the barn should be light. 2-3 windows will be enough, place them above the cow's eye level.

It is also necessary to place a feeding trough in the barn. It is better to make it 30-40 centimeters high, 40-45 centimeters wide, and preferably at least 1 meter long. On the opposite side, make a recess in the floor (“rest”). It is convenient to store all waste products there. It is very important to maintain the barn regularly, because almost all representatives of cattle are very clean and would never lie on a dirty bedding. And if the cow does not have the opportunity to lie down, then milk yield is significantly reduced. That's why it's so important to provide a good place to relax.

The initial organization of any business requires certain actions. These include an adequate assessment of one’s own strengths and capabilities (breeding calves requires dedication and time). It is also important to take into account the conditions of the region, since raising large animals requires large areas. It is impossible to organize the process in urban areas.

When planning the supply of meat to public catering establishments and shops, mandatory business registration will be required.

An important question on which the specifics of the case depends: “What does the farmer choose: purchasing young stock or independent?” Buying individuals eliminates a number of problems:

  • acquisition of bull semen (or maintenance of a breeding bull);
  • carrying out fertilization;
  • organization of a separate building.

REFERENCE! In order for the bull to gain weight, optimal housing conditions must be created. Growth and development will depend on the amenities created.

Calves should only be kept in dry barns. The stalls must have a dense and reliable floor. Daily housekeeping is required. It is recommended to clean the floor with a stiff brush, and during warm periods, rinse it with running water.

Features of the case

The activity is specific. Calves need to be actively fed until a certain age, then slaughtered(or sell live weight). The peculiarity of the business is small investments.

The main difficulties are associated with the expenditure of effort and time on caring for animals. There are usually no problems with the sale of meat products: a wide market allows you to quickly sell the finished product.

Among the features of keeping bulls are the following:

Is it profitable?

The growth period of meat for slaughter is from 12 to 20 months. The average weight of one bull is 350 kg. The cost of meat and profit margins will depend on the conditions of each specific region. The business will fully pay off in 1-2 years. The work will generate income only if it is implemented correctly. People who are not afraid of physical labor should start such a business.

ADVICE! If you sell meat directly to stores or restaurants, your income will be significantly higher than when selling to wholesalers.

Characteristics of a suitable site

The preferred area for raising beef bulls is a plot with a large and free area of ​​land. It could be a mini farm, an old dacha, a private farmstead. There must be a place for organizing the corral and walking of livestock.

In the summer, animals will begin to actively gain weight - this will require daily walking (keeping them in a stall will increase aggressiveness and cause illness). There should be meadows or fields for grazing near the barn.

We are equipping the building


Area per head – 10 sq.m. (including food storage space). Brick or slab (inexpensive but high-quality material) are suitable for building a shed. From an economic point of view, it is more profitable to rent a ready-made complex with everything you need.

Bulls are clean animals, so The barn must be arranged so that it is easy to clean. Attention should also be paid to the selected area: water should not accumulate on it.

Organizing a barn

The characteristics of a suitable building are warmth (not lower than 8 degrees), good ventilation and the possibility of ventilation. Drafts are strictly prohibited - they provoke illness. When the herd size is more than 10 heads, it is better to automate the process of supplying water and feed.

It is important that animals have constant free access to feeders and drinkers (but it is not advisable to place them on the floor; the optimal height is 8-10 cm from the floor level). To purify the air inside the building, farmers use ash - it absorbs ammonia and gases. You can pour it on paths or put it in boxes.

How to choose animals?

When choosing a breed, you need to consider several important indicators:

  • Live weight: does the calf meet breed standards?
  • Level of development, general physique, presence of defects or deficiencies.
  • Pedigree of the calf (mother's productivity and father's weight).

Purchase of young animals


When selecting individuals, you should pay attention to weight (optimal 90-100 kg) and age.

It is preferable to purchase young animals from special farms that engage in breeding. You can also purchase calves from breeding breeders.

Dairy bulls have a low purchase price (they need to be fed milk for up to 3 months).

Common types

Some cultivation features and the payback period depend on the breed. Farmers recommend buying fast-growing young animals, but not forgetting about the taste characteristics of the meat.

Before choosing a breed, you need to find out which individuals are suitable for keeping in the region of residence (expensive breeding bulls may not take root in a certain area). List of the best breeds:

  1. Charolais;
  2. Kazakh white-headed;
  3. Simmental;

Young animals must be kept separately from adult bulls (a separate barn must be built for calves). It is allowed to keep bulls with cows - this way the temperament of the males will be calmer.

In summer, it is possible to keep bull calves outdoors, but the pens will need to be additionally equipped with special plastic booths. Manure is removed 3 times a day, immediately after feeding.

IMPORTANT! Hoof horn growth should be monitored. Hoofs need to be trimmed and trimmed twice a year.

The walking area should be fenced with the strongest possible materials. Adult bulls can be released outside if they have a special stick and leash. The stick is secured in the nose ring of the individual. It is not recommended to walk with females or young animals at the same time.

Nutrition

In productive bulls the meat content is not less than 70%. To achieve this result, you need to provide intensive feeding. You won’t achieve high performance with hay and succulent grasses: The following products must be present in the diet:


Adding concentrates will replenish the body's supply of vitamins and microelements. The basis of the winter diet is hay, mixed feed and root vegetables. In summer, the main product is juicy and fresh grass. Individuals must spend at least 15 hours on pasture.

About reproduction

How to breed bulls? A breeding bull impregnates up to 50 cows per year. You can keep it on your own farm or use services (manual mating - a cow is brought to the bull). When individuals of different breeds mate, crossing or crossbreeding occurs. Among natural reproduction technologies:

  1. manual (matting under control);
  2. cooking method;
  3. free method.

Note! Today, natural reproduction methods are practically not used.

Business

Selling meat is a profitable business that will provide a stable income. The main model of activity is to rent a plot and purchase young animals, raise them and then sell them.

To be profitable, the herd size should not be less than 10 heads. It is especially important to create suitable housing conditions and maintain a balanced diet for animals. Up to 15 heads can be handled on your own; over 15, you will need hired personnel.

Is registration necessary?

Business registration is a prerequisite for sales and supplies. The farmer becomes an individual entrepreneur and receives appropriate quality certificates. Several other options are suitable for design:

  1. personal farming (not related to business);
  2. peasant-farmer plot (requires the involvement of partners).

We are recruiting staff


As assistants you need to choose people who know how and love to look after animals. It is also important to pay attention to personal qualities (responsibility, discipline).

For a herd of 20 bulls, 2-3 assistants are enough. Be sure to have a veterinarian on staff. This may be a permanent position or a visiting specialist.

Quantitative indicators: expenses and profits

Initial costs go towards setting up a barn, purchasing young animals and purchasing feed. On average, to open a farm and form a herd of 20 heads, you will need up to 500 thousand rubles.

Feed costs will amount to up to 20 thousand per year per bull. Additional expenses will appear later: a mini-tractor, a refrigerator, automatic feeders.

Attention! The initial investment will pay off in 16-18 months. The average amount of net profit is from 400 thousand per year.

Making a plan

The document contains the goal, directions of activity, calculation of costs and profits. A business plan for raising bull calves for meat, breeding and maintaining a herd of 20 heads includes the following expenses:

  • Purchasing young stock.
  • Renting and subsequent arrangement of a barn.
  • Veterinary control and purchase of feed.

Is it profitable to raise bulls for meat? Income is calculated based on current prices. The expected amount and period of partial and full payback are necessarily included in the business strategy.

Raising calves for meat is an economically profitable enterprise. Remember that such activities require time, expense and physical effort. With proper organization and reasonable distribution of processes, you can establish a client base and receive a stable profit.

Useful video

Watch a video about raising bulls for meat:

Igor Nikolaev

Reading time: 5 minutes

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When starting a cattle breeding activity, you need to draw up a business plan for your activity. It will help to foresee all stages of the business and take into account many nuances. The plan has certain sections. By filling them out, the entrepreneur will see how much finance he will spend on his enterprise, what profit he will receive from it.

A business plan must be presented to credit institutions in order to receive a loan. The state supports livestock farming with huge sums. To get them, they draw up a business plan.

If the plan is drawn up to receive investments, then 1 section is drawn up. This is a summary of the activities of an entrepreneur. It contains all the farmer’s details: enterprise registration address, telephone numbers, email address, registration numbers with the tax authority, Pension Fund, Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund, Social Insurance Fund and statistics. It is necessary to indicate the current account through which the main financial flow will be carried out.

Next is a short message about the farm and animals. It describes what property is available: buildings, transport, pastures, hectares of land for building a farm or a finished barn. It is necessary to mention what livestock of cattle is planned to be bred or has already been purchased: what breeds of cows and bulls, how much milk yield and slaughter weight are.

Part 2 of the plan is a summary of the project. In it, the entrepreneur describes what he wants to purchase and for what purposes. What is the projected profit the farmer can receive at the end of the project. There is no need to describe everything in detail. Only general phrases and numbers.

Part 3 – production. It calculates all production costs. An entrepreneur wants to start an activity such as a business of breeding cows for milk. What should he do first?

If you buy heifers that are 2-3 months old, they will not produce milk soon. The chick needs to grow up. This will take on average 10-11 months. Everything will depend on how she gains weight. A young chick costs 8 thousand rubles. There is no guarantee that her adaptation to new conditions will go well and she will not get sick.

If the heifer is accustomed to a new place and eats well, then at 12-13 months she is taken to mating. The gestation period for a calf is 285 days, which is 9.5 months. She begins her lactation period, but milk can only be taken from her after 1.5 months. An entrepreneur will have to wait almost 2 years to start selling milk. To fatten the heifer, he will need feed worth 40 thousand rubles.

If you buy heifers, they will cost more – 20 thousand rubles, but they will produce milk in about a year. They require more feed than a one-year-old calf. The same amount is set aside for food. The entrepreneur benefits from animal care costs.

A dairy cow will cost an average of 40 thousand rubles, depending on the breed of the animal. She immediately gives milk, sales begin from the first days of purchasing the animal. Having made the calculation, the entrepreneur decides which animals to buy.

In addition to heifers, it is also necessary to purchase bull calves. They are necessary for the fertilization of heifers so that they can produce milk. The cost of a 3 month old bull is 10 thousand rubles. He will become an adult at 13-14 months, depending on the breed. As he grows up, he will need food worth an average of 60 thousand rubles. In some cases, yearling bulls are purchased. It will cost more, at least 20 thousand rubles. Per head. The farmer saves on feed.

In addition to animals, it is necessary to consider their maintenance:

  • build a barn or rent one;
  • purchase equipment for milking and cow boxes: feeders, drinking bowls;
  • lay water supply, connect electricity, install heating if necessary;
  • establish automatic control of all processes in the barn;
  • rent or buy meadow fields to be able to make hay; you need to think about whether it might be cheaper to buy hay;
  • build a hangar for storing feed;
  • equip a silo;
  • decide on the removal of manure: the best option is to enter into an agreement with a vegetable farm;
  • establish staffing levels for workers, milkmaids, and veterinarian;
  • purchase milk containers;
  • transport for transporting milk.

You will also need sawdust and straw to sprinkle on the flooring in the stall. Equipment for cleaning dirt in the barn. The construction of sheds for storing equipment and hangars for the vehicle fleet is being considered. A business plan for breeding cows determines all the expenses that an entrepreneur will undergo when opening a business in the livestock sector.

Part 4 of the cow breeding business plan is economic. In it, the entrepreneur calculates his projected profit from the enterprise. It describes the amount of milk that is planned to be sold. If a farmer sells manure, its value is indicated. An additional business could be the sale of young animals or the slaughter of bulls.

Part 5 of the plan is analytical. An analysis of the entire enterprise is carried out. What profit was made, taking into account the costs of maintaining and purchasing animals? If the farmer has already registered with the tax office, he will have to pay taxes and contributions to state funds.

Next comes the investment part. If previous calculations showed that there is not enough money for the cow breeding business, then the loan amount is determined. In the investment part, a calculation is made of what is planned to be purchased for this amount, and what income the entrepreneur, the credit institution and the state budget will receive from this.

Business plan: production part

Raising cows requires certain costs. They need to be counted. To begin with, it was decided to purchase 10 dairy heifers, 3 bulls and 10 cows to produce milk. This will be spent on (thousand rubles):

  • heifers – 10*20 = 200;
  • yearling bulls – 3*30 = 90;
  • cows – 10*50 = 500.

790 thousand rubles will be spent on animals. At the same time, it is necessary to resolve issues with milking, feeding, and keeping animals. If farming is already developing, and everything necessary for the cattle population is equipped, then this expense item disappears. Otherwise, it is necessary to provide for the following expenses in (thousand rubles):

It is necessary to take into account the costs of wages for workers and milking operators. Costs for water and electricity: 50 thousand rubles. Animals are vaccinated, given medical examinations, and milk samples are taken. 30 thousand rubles are allocated for these events.

To start selling milk, you need to spend 2,280 thousand rubles. With the condition of keeping cows in stalls, acquiring land ownership, purchasing a truck with a milk tank. 790 thousand rubles are added to this amount. from the cost of animals. To develop an enterprise for selling milk, 3,070 thousand rubles will be required.

In the future, less finance will be required. The farmer already has a barn, animals, pastures, and transport. The bulk of the costs will be for feed, veterinarian, and barn maintenance.

In this part, income from all areas of business is considered. In this case, the sale of milk. The cows will start producing milk immediately. If we take into account the period of adaptation of animals to new feeds and living conditions, then from 1 individual you can get 16-20 liters per day.

The calculation is made for the year in (thousand rubles):

  • during the lactation period, which lasts 305 days, 6100 liters of milk are obtained from the cow;
  • from 10 cows – 61,000 l.;
  • 1 liter of cow's milk costs 25 rubles at a wholesale price;
  • from 10 cows, milk revenue will be 1525;

By the end of the lactation period of cows, milk will appear in heifers. The same calculation is made, but taking into account that after the first calving they will produce less milk than adult cows. The entrepreneur's milk sales will be constant.

Over the course of a year, an average of 500 thousand rubles will be spent on feeding cows, bulls and heifers. The calculation is made taking into account seasonal feeding. During the warm period, cows do not need to be given succulent feed and concentrates separately. They receive their main nutrition on pasture.

Business plan - analytical part

This section summarizes the entire enterprise for the year. All expenses incurred by the entrepreneur to develop the business and the gross profit from the sale of milk are taken into account. The data is analyzed and the return on investment of the project is calculated.

RUB 3,070 thousand were invested in the new project. Received 1,525 thousand rubles from the sale of milk. Next year the amount from milk sales will be identical. The project will pay for itself in 2 years. In the 4th year, the profit will be double, because the cows that were purchased earlier as heifers have given birth to offspring. At 4 years old they will become adults. After calving they will produce milk:

  • in year 2, sales from milk will be 1,525 thousand rubles;
  • for the 3rd year – 1525 thousand rubles;
  • for the 4th year – 3050 thousand rubles.

Payback in 2 years is a good business option. Investments were made to generate profits in future periods. In the future, it is possible to trade calves or select bulls for rearing in order to obtain meat. If an entrepreneur has registered an individual entrepreneur, he will have to pay taxes to the budget: 6% of the profit. In 1 year it will be 91.5 thousand rubles.

By calculating a business plan, you can clearly see all the costs and income from the project and determine the payback period for the new enterprise. If an entrepreneur does not have enough funds to start a business, he can take out a loan from a bank or apply for a grant from the state. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the food supply of the animals. The calculation is carried out for each unit: hay, silage, concentrates. The business plan outline is provided by the credit institution.

Cattle breeding is a profitable activity, both on a private and industrial scale. However, any animal requires care, and large size does not guarantee endurance and vitality. The owner of cattle needs a variety of knowledge about the intricacies of keeping his charges. This article contains recommendations for those new to animal husbandry.

The best breeds for raising cattle on a private farm

The first task of a novice farmer is to choose an animal breed depending on the chosen direction.

For milk

The most common dairy breeds are:

  1. Holstein- North American breed, popular on European farms, as well as in private farms in the post-Soviet space. Excellent quality of milk - fat content 3.7%, protein occupies 3.2%, the amount of milk from one individual per year is 6500–7000 kg.
  2. Jersey- one of the oldest, bred in Great Britain, easily adapts to any climate. Despite the small milk yield of up to 3300 kg per year, milk is valued for its fat content and sweet taste; the best cream is obtained from it. Milk characteristics - fat content 5.8%, protein 4%, sugar 4.7%.
  3. Simmental- an unpretentious breed, ideal for small farms. Adapted to temperate climates, does not require much feed. The quality of the milk is fat content 3.8%, protein 3.3%, sugar 4.8%, milk yield 3500 kg per year.
  4. Yaroslavskaya- a popular breed in private farms, productivity up to 5000 kg of milk per year, fat content 4%, protein 3.5%. The milk is sweet and contains 4.7% sugar.
  5. For meat

    The following breeds are considered the most productive in meat production:


    The productivity of animals depends on the care that the owner takes in caring for them. Farming begins with arranging a home for future wards - the cows will spend the bulk of their lives in it, so every little detail must be carefully thought out.

    Optimal parameters and arrangement of the barn

    In a small farm, they mainly use free-stall housing, that is, common feeders and drinking bowls are installed in the premises, as well as pens where the cows will rest. The room is built based on:

  • area required for one individual- 6 sq. m;
  • for a female with a calf- 10 sq. m.

The floor is covered with a deep layer of straw or straw with peat; the floor itself must have a slope to allow urine to drain. It is advisable to make large windows for natural light and the ability to ventilate the room if necessary.

It is better to make individual drinking bowls so that animals do not crowd near the water, disturbing each other. In addition, this will prevent mass infection if one of the individuals becomes ill.

You can make your own feeders - most often they are made of wood, since it is durable. The finished feeder is burned from the outside with fire, which gives it strength. Particular attention is paid to the sheathing.

It must be carried out taking into account the characteristics of the animal - often in narrow cells, cows catch on their horns and can be injured. Feeders are made of two types: for roughage and for green feed (hay). Install them at a height of approximately 70 cm from the floor.

To prevent a cow from losing productivity, it needs a certain temperature regime - 10–20°C. The room must be insulated for the winter; drafts are eliminated. During construction, a ventilation system with dampers and protection from precipitation is installed.

The room must be lit. To provide natural light, windows are made on the south or southeast side. During the winter season, daylight hours are extended with the help of artificial lighting.

You need to think about a walking pen near the barn: animals need walks for at least two hours a day, pets should not be walked only in severe frost.

Necessary equipment

After building the barn, you should take care of the feed storage room. You cannot store hay, grain or root crops in the barn itself: they will become saturated with odors from animal waste products, gain moisture and begin to deteriorate.

Important! Maintaining personal hygiene of the owner and farm worker is the key to the health of pets. Shoes or clothing can carry many pathogenic bacteria, to which unvaccinated young animals are especially susceptible.

You should also take care of equipment that may be useful when working with your wards. You will need:

  • scales (to control the weight gain of young animals);
  • buckets;
  • shovel;
  • scraper shovel;
  • rake;
  • pitchfork;
  • containers for products and feed;
  • brushes for cleaning wards;
  • overalls and shoes.

Barn cleaning and care

To prevent the udder from getting dirty, the bedding is changed as often as possible, as it gets dirty. Every day, cows are brushed and washed with warm water in the area adjacent to the udder. To prevent mastitis in heifers, bedding is placed in a deep, dense layer.

It is necessary to regularly clean the feeders from adhering food so that putrefactive bacteria do not develop. It is also important to regularly inspect and clean ventilation pipes so that dust collected in them does not penetrate with fresh air.

The floor is cleaned of excrement and drains twice a day, and the room should not become saturated with odors. Once a week, a global cleaning is carried out in the barn, treating the room with caustic soda or slaked lime.

Feeding cattle at home

The basis of the cow's diet is green food, but to ensure full development, you need to know seasonal differences.

Summer walk in the pasture

Important! Before grazing on a new pasture, you should make sure that there are no herbs that are poisonous to the animal: henbane, St. John's wort, buttercups, and datura.

Feeding diet in winter

Winter food consists of the following products:

  • hay;
  • root vegetables, vegetables;
  • silage;
  • grain mixtures and feed;
  • mineral and vitamin complexes.

Oat or barley straw, preferably spring straw, is used as roughage. It is advisable to harvest hay from grass during the period of bud formation, and from cereals - during the heading period. When feeding root crops or vegetables, they are inspected for rot and cleaned. If the product is frozen, it must be thawed first, otherwise it may cause bloating and indigestion.

As a source of nutrients, the following is added to the diet:

  • bran;
  • cake;
  • ground feed grain.

Water and salt additives in briquettes

Brownies should always have access to fresh water. On average, the daily norm per individual is about 100 liters; a lactating heifer drinks even more. In winter, the water should be at room temperature.

Cows must be given table salt:

  • in winter, add to feed at the rate of 2–3 teaspoons per 5 kg of feed;
  • In summer they are taken out to pastures in briquettes.

Salt is needed to improve digestive processes, it is also the first remedy against gastrointestinal diseases, and is also an important component in the formation of bone tissue in young animals.

Cattle(abbr. cattle) - farm animals of the “Bulls” subfamily. The main purpose of cattle breeding is the production of meat and the production of skins and sometimes wool. Additional income in each of the main areas is breeding for the purpose of selling young animals.

Mandatory in any of the directions, you will definitely need agricultural equipment for the preparation and transportation of feed, animals, hand tools, a hayloft, a calf barn, areas for walking and grazing cattle, a barn with stands, thanks to which it becomes more convenient to feed the animals, as well as to carry out control.

You should immediately think about veterinary medicine, since livestock can become ill with very serious and dangerous diseases such as anthrax and various influenzas, in which all livestock are sent to slaughter. Any farmer must monitor the cleanliness of his production premises, pastures and periodically carry out processing required by veterinary medicine.


Depending on the possibility of peasant farming, climatic conditions, as well as meat requirements, several systems for keeping cattle are used:

  • Stall-pasture. They are kept indoors in winter (with regular walking in pens), and in summer on pasture. In warm seasons, pen-camps are equipped in which animals are kept. Each cow has access to greens, water, and mineral elements.
  • Stall-walking system. With it, the herd is kept indoors with mandatory daily walks in special runs, platforms, and mechanized installations.

Farmers often build sheds under which bulls and cows rest or hide from bad weather.

Breeding bulls for meat

Meat breeds

Since the trend in recent years has been the breeding of breeds that produce high-quality meat, for example, marbled meat, we will first list the meat breeds that have marbleization. Many of them are already being bred by enterprising businessmen in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Aberdeen Angus

This breed is naturally prone to marbling, and proper fattening and care can produce meat of the highest marble category - completely permeated with the thinnest layers of fat, very juicy and tender. Angus gains weight in the region of 1 ton and has a height of up to 1.6 meters. They were bred in Scotland, from where they spread throughout the world, including the CIS countries.

Limousinskaya

Limousines grow up to 1.5 meters in height and weigh about 1 ton. The meat is very tender, juicy with varying degrees of marbling. It is the most exported among French breeds.

Charolais

Originally from France, it grows up to 1.5 meters in height and weighs about 1,500 kilograms. The best bulls of this breed have a genetic defect in the form of increased production of the protein myostatin, which is responsible for increasing muscle mass. But it is impossible to carry out selection on this basis. However, normal Charolais also produce excellent marbled and lean meat.

Hereford

Height is about 1.5 meters, weight is about 1100 kg. Herefords come from England and were bred as meat breeds. It is quite unpretentious, so it occupies one of the most important places in the meat market. When properly fattened, the meat is very well marbled.

Shorthorn

It was bred in England and is one of the most common. Shorthorns are characterized by high early maturity. The weight of cows is 500-600 kg, bulls - 800-1000 kg. The meat is very tender, juicy, with fat evenly permeated. The average slaughter yield is around 65%.

Grain and grass fed

This example is suitable for both a large farm and a small one.

useful links

  • Codex Alimentarius - Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat developed by FAO
  • Everything related to cattle // Fermer.ru Forum, communication between farmers on this topic