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The Kalmyk cow is one of the ancient meat breeds of cattle, presumably brought to the Kalmyk steppes by the Tatar-Mongols. More precisely, the Kalmyk nomads who joined the Tatar-Mongolian horde.
Previously, the Kalmyk tribes lived in the harsh conditions of the Southern Altai, Western Mongolia and Western China. Like any nomads, the Kalmyks did not take much care of their livestock, leaving the animals to get food on their own both in summer and in winter. Summer and winter jutes “taught” animals to quickly gain fat in case of a hunger strike and manage with a minimum of feed of not the best quality. And also formed endurance during long-distance transitions. In search of food, a Kalmyk cow can walk up to 50 km a day.
Breed description
Animals with a strong constitution. They have a harmonious composition. Very mobile. The Kalmyk breed of cows does not differ in very large growth. Height at the withers 126-128 cm. Oblique length 155-160 cm. Stretch index 124. Chest circumference 187±1 cm. Metacarpal circumference 17-18 cm. Bony index 13,7. The skeleton is thin, strong.
The head is small, light. The horns even of the bulls are in the form of a crescent. The color of the horns is light grey. The nasal mirror is light. The neck is short, thick, with well-developed muscles. The withers are wide, well defined. The chest is shallow. Ribs are barrel-shaped. The dewlap is well developed, especially in bulls. The back is flat, wide. The sacrum is either flush with the withers in cows or below the withers in bulls. The croup is straight. The legs are long, with a good set.
The color of Kalmyk cows is red. There may be white markings and patches on the head, lower body, tail and legs.
Productive characteristics
Since the breed is meat-oriented, its milk yield is low, only from 650 to 1500 kg of milk with a fat content of 4,2-4,4%. The lactation period of a Kalmyk cow is 8-9 months.
These representatives of cattle also prefer to keep calves with them, driving away even their own owners from them.
According to meat characteristics, this breed is one of the best bred in Our Country. Adult cows weigh on average 420-480 kg, bulls 750-950. Individual manufacturers can reach weights over 1000 kg. Calves at birth weigh 20-25 kg. By the time of weaning at 8 months, their weight already reaches 180-220 kg. By the age of 1,5-2 years, Kalmyk bulls reach a weight of 480-520 kg. In some cases, the average daily weight gain can reach 1 kg. The slaughter yield from properly fed animals is 57-60%.
The photo shows one of the modern sires of the Kalmyk breed.
The early maturing type is smaller and has a lighter frame.
Beef obtained from Kalmyk cattle is distinguished by very high taste qualities. The need for survival led to the appearance of Kalmyk cattle to accumulate fat in all possible places. A fattened animal can have up to 50 kg of internal fat. Not counting the subcutaneous and the one that accumulates between the fibers of the meat. It is thanks to the fat deposited between the muscle fibers that the famous “marble” meat is obtained from the Kalmyk bulls.
Sire bulls
Advantages of the Kalmyk breed
Difficult living conditions for several centuries had a positive impact on the reproductive abilities of Kalmyk cattle. Kalmyk cows are distinguished by high insemination: 85-90%, and easy calving, due to the fact that they had to do without human help for centuries and calve in the steppe open to all winds. Calves are less susceptible to colds.
For the winter, Kalmyk cattle is overgrown with a thick undercoat, which allows them to spend the night in the snow without consequences. Kalmyk cows are saved from the cold not only by the undercoat, but also by the thick layer of subcutaneous fat that they fatten up over the summer. Due to the large fat reserves, a Kalmyk cow can lose up to 50 kg of weight before calving, and this will not affect the quality of the calf and the amount of milk.
Kalmyk cattle can survive on a very scarce forage base. In summer, he wanders through the burnt steppe, in winter he digs up dry grass from under the snow. The only danger for the Kalmyk herds: jutes. “Black” jute in the summer, when the grass burns out due to drought, before it has time to grow. And “white” jute in winter, when the snow is covered with a thick crust of crust. During such periods, without human feeding, a very large number of livestock die of starvation. Not only cows die, but also sheep and horses if they are kept on “free” grazing.
Living in a sharply continental climate, the breed has the ability to tolerate both heat and cold well. It is believed that this is facilitated by the special structure of the skin: near each hair there is not one sebaceous duct, as in other breeds, but several.
The Kalmyk breed of cattle belongs to the group of breeds that can only be improved, only spoiled. It has no competitors in deserts, semi-deserts and arid steppes. Therefore, Kalmyk cattle are preserved as a source of genetic material used in breeding other breeds.
At the end of the XNUMXth century, attempts were made to “improve” the Kalmyk breed by crossing cows with Shorthorn and Simmental bulls. The result was unsatisfactory and in most of Our Country today they prefer to breed purebred Kalmyk cows. Purebred cattle in terms of their meat indicators are superior to shorthorns and simmentals.
The disadvantages of the breed today include only an overly developed maternal instinct, which previously helped protect calves from wolves, and today threatens the life of the owner of the cow.
Features of feeding
Cows of this breed are able to eat even feeds that are not suitable for cattle, including semi-shrub plants. One of the best features of the breed, much appreciated by farmers, is the ability of livestock to fatten on grass alone, without the need for concentrated feed. The main cost of the farmer at this time of the year is the purchase of salt for the cows.
With a lack of water, animals stop eating, and therefore become emaciated. The daily water requirement depends on the body weight of the animal:
- up to 250 kg – at least 40 liters of water;
- up to 350 kg – at least 50 l;
- over 350 – at least 60 liters.
It is rational to introduce such restrictions when there is a lack of water on pastures. If there is enough water, animals should drink plenty.
Feedback from owners of Kalmyk cattle
Conclusion
Kalmyk cattle are ideal for breeding by large farmers or agro-complexes, especially those located in the steppe regions of Our Country. Although this breed easily takes root even in rather harsh northern regions, there it needs additional feeding with grain, which increases the cost of obtaining beef. It is rational for a private trader to keep a cow of this breed if he only counts on getting meat from her. Although you can try to get milk from especially docile or lost calves.
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