Authors: E. G. SKVORTSOVA, teacher, O. P. NEVEROVA, candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, O. V. CHEPUSHTANOVA, candidate of biological sciences, associate professor, Ural State Agrarian University (42 K. Liebknekhta Str., 620075, Ekaterinburg; phone: 8(343)221-40-26)
Keywords: productive longevity, retirement, cows.
Abstract: The article upsets the main causes of morbidity and disposal of animals. The sample for research includes data on animals retired from the herd from 2013 to 2017, the studied population has made over 5 thousand cows for the period under review. The object of the study was one of the typical organizations of agriculture in the Sverdlovsk region of the Pyshminsky district, specializing in the production of milk. As a research method, statistical analysis of zootechnical and veterinary accounting data, analysis of periodical literature on this subject were applied. On average, the retirement of cows for the year was about 27 % over the period in question. The main reasons for dropping cows out of the herd were udder diseases – 24.1 %, limb diseases – 20.5 %, reproductive system disorders – 22 %, departures due to injuries and accidents – 7.8 %. The largest share in the retirement structure by age are: diseases of the genital organs, mainly in second-lactation cows – 27.6 %, in primary heifers – 23.2 %; Udder diseases with age tend to increase from first to fifth lactation, leg diseases during fourth lactation – 27.5 %. In general, the incidence increases with age, but the primary heifers are more likely to drop out because of their sale to the public. The main categories of reasons that led to the premature disposal of animals from the herd (in the structure of disposal): diseases caused by disturbances in feeding, housing and milking conditions – more than 80 %; injuries – 7.7 %; consequences of severe calving – 5.5 %; sales to the population – 2.6 %. In 2013, the average retirement age in lactations was 3.8, in 2017 it reached 3.4.
