Assessment of the Adaptive Stability of the Holstein Cows in the Conditions of the Ecological Plasticity in Northern Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

Background: Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine is located in the northern steppe subzone, where livestock is actively developing,including dairy farming. Cows, imported from other ecological and climatic conditions undergo appropriate acclimatization to new conditions of exploitation. The current research was based on the assessment of the adaptive properties of Holstein cows of different ages to manage and control the level of their milk productivity and reproductive function during exploitation. Methods: All researches were carried out on the milk complex of “Agro-Soyuz”. The information base was data on productive qualities in individual cards of cows, results of assessment of zootechnical and veterinary accounting. To achieve this goal, an analysis was conducted from the first to the seventh lactation of Holstein cows. Result: Our researches allowed establishing the adaptability of Holstein cows of different ages in terms of ecological plasticity of the northern steppe of Ukraine. With a slight imbalance of the organism and the environment cows show high productive qualities at unsatisfactory reproductive function. This work will be a complementary the comprehensive study the adaptation of Holstein cows in different climatic conditions.