D. S. Adushinov, O. A. Boyarina
Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A. A. Ezhevsky, Irkutsk, Russia
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Volume 26 No. 5
Date of paper submission: 01.08.2025, date of review: 23.12.2025, date of acceptance: 14.04.2026.
Published: 05/31/2026
Abstract. The correct selection of breeding bulls is the basis for successful breeding and increasing the productivity of the dairy herd, affecting the genetic improvement and health of the offspring. The purpose of the study is to provide a comparative assessment of the external characteristics of Holstein breeding bulls of foreign and Russian breeding. Objectives: to study the database of Holstein bulls of foreign and Russian breeding, to determine the similarities and differences of characteristics and their compliance with the goals and standards of breeding. Methods. The study examined data from 1 304 Holstein breeding bulls of Russian and foreign breeding. Special attention was paid to the indicators of exterior, health and reproductive qualities. The data was obtained from maps of breeding bulls and photographs provided in catalogs on the website of breeding enterprises in Russia and abroad. Results. In most regions of Russia, two main lines of Holstein black-and-white bulls are available for breeding: Vis Back Ideal 101341 and Reflection Sovering 198998. The number of cows in Russia is also represented by these lines, which leads to a sharp reduction in genetic diversity. It has been established that foreign bulls are superior in breeding value to Russian bulls, which in some cases have a foreign origin. Given the abundance of the Holstein breed on the territory of the Russian Federation and the level of Holstein breeding of other dairy breeds, it is necessary to keep records of the breeding origin of livestock on farms as accurately as possible. Exterior assessment remains an important tool even in the era of genomic technologies, as it provides practical verification of genetic potential and increases the accuracy of breeding decisions. The scientific novelty of the study consists in comparing the linear evaluation of breeding bulls of the Holstein breed of Russian and foreign breeding, available for breeding in the territory of the Russian Federation.
Keywords: dairy cattle, breeding cattle, Holstein breed, exterior, linear estimation, dairy productivity, reproduction
For citation: Adushinov D. S., Boyarina O. A. Evaluation of breeding bulls of the Holstein breed of Russian and foreign breeding. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (05): 838‒850. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-05-838-850 (In Russ.)
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