THE IMPACT OF INTENSIVE RAISING OF AUSTRALIAN HOLSTEIN HEIFERS ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF COW MILK

Background: The study of growth, development and productivity features of imported cattle from Australia to the Krasnodar Territory is of great scientific and practical interest, which is topical. Since the productive features of the imported genotypes have not been studied sufficiently, not only in the farms of the Krasnodar Territory but also in other regions of Russia, they require further, more in-depth study and improvement under the new conditions of feeding and housing. Aim: The research aimed to study the influence of intensive rearing of replacement heifers of the Holstein breed of Australian selection on cow milk quality indicators. Methods: The studies were conducted at Artex-Agro LLC, Kushchevsky District of the Krasnodar Territory, concerning the descendants of the imported Australian Holstein cattle. Sixty-four heifers were selected for the study. The experimental replacement heifers were raised using the enhanced milk feeding rates and the Cellobacterin probiotic product. They were raised intensively and inseminated when they were 14 months old. The milk productivity of cows and the physicochemical properties of milk were studied during three lactations after calving. Results and Discussion: The milk productivity of the cows from the experimental groups has exceeded one of their herd mates from the control group by 450 – 1,360 kg. The best indicators of the physicochemical properties of milk have been determined in the milk of the cows raised from the heifers fed with 450 kg of the whole milk during the first 50 days until they were six months old. Conclusions: The authors believe that intensive rearing of replacement heifers positively affected the degree of development of their gastrointestinal tract and improved the level of milk yield and its physicochemical parameters.