Belgian blue cows: description and characteristics of the breed

The animal World never ceases to amaze mankind with its various extraordinary representatives. And they are found sometimes even among the usual for all Pets.

Belgian blue cows

This breed belongs to meat direction and different from the usual for all cows is very muscled. Particularly pronounced muscles of the shoulders, the neck, the rump and the rump. That is what they has the nickname of cow-bodybuilders. Due to its very unusual forms of this breed is also called “demasculinise”. Animals just amaze by its large size, muscular body, thin neck and a minimal amount of wool. Milk yield in the Belgian blue cows is much lower than that of dairy cattle, so they are added to the meat category.

The menu of adult animals comprises straw, hay, chaff, silage and beets. There is the Belgian blue cow (photo attached) in the pastures. For supplements with minerals added to feed tricalcium phosphate, bone meal, and obustroenny phosphate.

History excretion

Belgian blue beef breed cows were received in 19th century Belgium by crossing local red-pied and pied dairy cattle with short-legged bulls, imported from England. After extensive experimentation, the local cows have acquired a large size with a low rise trunk, as the result of experiments on artificial insemination of Professor Hanset in Liege mutation of the gene double muscles, with the result that there was a modern animal. It was then fully formed breed that is now called blue (it is also called Belgian blue-white, Belgian blue and white Flycatcher, blue Belgian). Widespread in Belgium and in Germany, France and the United States.

Recommended

Staff evaluation: system and methods

Personnel Assessment allows you to identify how competent the employees involved in the enterprise, and it is the performance of their work – the most significant factor affecting the efficiency of the company. To clarify the impact of performa...

How to start your own business: important aspects.

Many people, tired of working for someone else, are increasingly thinking about how to start your own business. Someone wants to open a salon, someone store, and someone enough and vegetable stalls. Before you throw in the pool with his head, it is i...

Business activities. its essence and basic functions

The Entrepreneurial activity of the citizen – is undertaken at your own risk and independent activity, which aims to systematically profit through the sale of works, goods, services, use of the property. The citizen engaged in such activities, ...

Physical features

Belgian blue cow can have white, white-blue, blue-spotted and black suit. Sometimes it can be red or combination of colors. Animals are significantly different from conventional bulls and cows. They have:

• Muscular body;
• A strong straight back;
• Case of impressive volumes;
• Rounded muscles;
• Strong short straight legs;
• Thin skin.

Interestingly, the calves of this breed are not born with a "doubling" of the muscles. The appearance of the muscles begins to occur in about 4-6 weeks from birth.

The Average weight and growth of animals are:

• 12 months calves weigh 475 kg, height - 120 cm; females have a mass of 370 kg, height is 115 cm.
• In 24 months, the bulls have a weight of 775 kg, height - 135 cm; females - 500 kg and 122 cm.

The Live weight of adult males - 1100-1250 kg and in some cases - more than 1,300 kg. Cows usually reach a body mass of up to 850-900 kg. At slaughter animals meat yield up to 70-80 % of their total weight. Despite quite a lot of weight, cattle, due to their strong feet, moves fairly quickly.

Personality

Despite the very impressive Belgian cows and bulls and their austere appearance, these animals have a very docile nature. Blue giants are friendly, are happy to contact and have good, calm character.

Reviews

Each kind of cattle has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Belgian blue breed cows, in the opinion of the breeders who belong to the following positive qualities:

• Good structure and mobility of the body;
• Continuous growth of muscle mass throughout life;
• Fast development
• Highest rate of daily weight gain;
• A calm, friendly temperament;
• Early and frequent parturition;
• After slaughtering a high percentage of meat yield;
• Beef dietary, juicy, very sweet;
• Does not require special care;
• Great eating feed;
• Short period of carrying offspring;
• Production crossbridge young;
• It is possible to obtain milk.

Despite the considerable list of advantages, the Belgian white-blue cow, according to the observations of some skeptics, has some negative aspects:

• Massive animals often causes swelling in the legs;
• Relatively short lifespan;
• Meat may be a GMO (genetic modifications).

Meat Quality and yield

As a result of experiments with the genes for breeders to not just bring out the animal with lots of meat, but also considerably to improve it – to make a more juicy, soft and dietetic. With one lets you can get about 80% pure meat with excellent characteristics, a low fat and cholesterol.

The Threshold yield of Belgian blue cows have much lower than dairy animals. The large size and huge muscle mass affected the amount of milk. On average for 180 to 250 days of lactation, milk productivity is about from 2,000 to 4,500 liters of a fat content of about 3.5 %. Therefore, blue cows enrolled in the meat category.

Hotel Features

The Mainthe problem of breeding of this breed of cows is to produce offspring. Due to the formation of the cows have large muscle mass in females there was such physiological peculiarity, narrow pelvis, which greatly degrades labor. And the calves are born of large size, which causes additional difficulties. As a result of this normal physiological calving in this breed is almost impossible. In purebred animals almost 50% of all newborn calves born by caesarean section.

Progeny of Belgian blue

Cows bring to light their first-born usually at the age of 28-35 months (in 3 years). Compared to other breeds of cattle pregnancy cows Belgian slightly shorter than the average chick hatched for 281 days calf for 285 days. The weight of newborn calves - 40-70 kg, the mass of Chicks - 40-60 kg.

Each calf after birth gets the gene responsible for accelerated growth. Because starting from the 4th week of life they begin intensive growth, and they gain up to 2 kg, which contributes to rapid growing to adulthood. Daily weight gain of calves: steers - 1300-1800 g, girls - 800-1500 g.

Conclusion

The Belgian blue cow is a wonderful breed that causes a lot of different emotions and the most conflicting opinions. Many livestock emit solely its merits – a huge amount of muscles, big daily gains, the output crossbreeding calves receiving one of the two genes, which are responsible for building muscle mass. Gourmets appreciated the wonderful taste of meat. There are farmers-the skeptics who are scared of the possible presence of products of GMOs and believe that the public in fact, much is hidden. What of the breeders right, we can only guess, as the Belgian blue cow in Russia is not cultivated.