Efficiency of growing crossbreed bull-calves of the mountain cattle with Russian polled breed

The article presents the results of cross-breeding of mountain cattle with Russian polled breed. The growth and development of the crossbreed and purebred bull-calves of these breeds in the mountainous province of Dagestan have been studied in a comparative aspect. Efficiency of highland pastures use by crossbreed animals in comparison with pure-bred mountain peers has been established. The young cattle was grown according to the technology of meat cattle breeding “cow — calf”. In ablactation, the crossbred bull-calves had a living weight of 191.3 kg versus 159.3 kg in peers of mountain cattle. This figure was higher by 32.0 kg or 20.1% compared to purebred bull-calves of mountain cattle. At 12 months of age, the crossbred animals were also superior in living weight in comparison of young mountain cattle by 40.1 kg or 18.4%. According to this indicator, the advantage in crossbred animals at 15 months of age remained. The live mass of crossbred bull-calves at 18 months of age equaled to 399.5 kg against 332.6 kg of purebred mountain peers, the difference in favor of the former was 66.9 kg or 20.1%. Average daily growth of crossbreed bull-calves during the growing period was 122 grams or 20.8% higher. Young crossbred cattle had a clear advantage in terms of physique. Heavy carcasses with high slaughter yield were obtained from it. The conducted studies indicate the effectiveness of cross-breeding of mountain cattle with Russian polled breed in the mountainous province of Dagestan.