Kostroma (cattle)
Encyclopedia
Kostroma cattle breed is a Russian cattle breed developed in the first half of the 20th century in the Kostroma Oblast
of Russia's Upper Volga region, based mostly on
crossbreeding local improved cattle with Brown Swiss
, Allgau cattle and Ayrshire
bulls. They are similar in appearance to Brown Swiss, but longer in head and body with a narrower forehead.
in the late 19th century, and with Brown Swiss from 1912. From 1920 crossbreeding with Brown Swiss continued on State farms and some Ayrshire bulls were used. In 1940 the average milk yield in the herd of the Karavaevo state farm (today, Kostroma State Agricultural Academy, Костромская государственная сельскохозяйственная академия) reached 6310 kg. The breed was recognised by the Soviet People's Commissariat of Agriculture on November 27, 1944.
but longer in head and body. The forehead is narrower, while the back and loin is straighter and wider. Animals in Karavaevo are light grey in colour with a yellow top line. The breed are hardy and long-lived, with some cows producing until twenty years of age. Typical milk yield is 3900-5000 kg with the fat content of 3.7-3.9%; the protein content is 3.30-3.60%. Under intensive management they can produce 6000 to 8000 kg of milk per lactation, and as much as 10,000 from the best cows. The breed also has good beef characteristics.
Kostroma Oblast
Kostroma Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Kostroma.Major historic towns include Kostroma, Sharya, Nerekhta, Galich, Soligalich, and Makaryev. Textile industries have been developed there since the early 18th century...
of Russia's Upper Volga region, based mostly on
crossbreeding local improved cattle with Brown Swiss
Brown Swiss
Brown Swiss is a breed of dairy cattle that produces the second largest quantity of milk per annum, over . The milk contains on average 4% butterfat and 3.5% protein, making their milk excellent for production of cheese. The Brown Swiss is known for a long gestation period, immense size, large...
, Allgau cattle and Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
bulls. They are similar in appearance to Brown Swiss, but longer in head and body with a narrower forehead.
Formation of the breed
Two improved herds of local cattle in the Kostroma area, the Miskov and Babaev herds, were the basis of the breed. The Babaev herd had been crossed with Allgau bulls from southern GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the late 19th century, and with Brown Swiss from 1912. From 1920 crossbreeding with Brown Swiss continued on State farms and some Ayrshire bulls were used. In 1940 the average milk yield in the herd of the Karavaevo state farm (today, Kostroma State Agricultural Academy, Костромская государственная сельскохозяйственная академия) reached 6310 kg. The breed was recognised by the Soviet People's Commissariat of Agriculture on November 27, 1944.
Characteristics
Kostroma cattle are similar in appearance to Brown SwissBrown Swiss
Brown Swiss is a breed of dairy cattle that produces the second largest quantity of milk per annum, over . The milk contains on average 4% butterfat and 3.5% protein, making their milk excellent for production of cheese. The Brown Swiss is known for a long gestation period, immense size, large...
but longer in head and body. The forehead is narrower, while the back and loin is straighter and wider. Animals in Karavaevo are light grey in colour with a yellow top line. The breed are hardy and long-lived, with some cows producing until twenty years of age. Typical milk yield is 3900-5000 kg with the fat content of 3.7-3.9%; the protein content is 3.30-3.60%. Under intensive management they can produce 6000 to 8000 kg of milk per lactation, and as much as 10,000 from the best cows. The breed also has good beef characteristics.