Animal Science and Food Technology

The growth characteristics of the Black Spotted Ukrainian Milk heifers at different times of the year and depending on the season of birth were studied. Heifers were grown by the cold method. In the dairy period (2 months), they were fed milk and mixed fodder. A mixed ration was used in post-dairy period. Average daily increments of heifers were 850 g at the age of 0-3 months, 1100 g at the age of 3-6 months, 1000 g at the age of 6-9 months, 950 g at the age of 9-12 months and 700 g at the age of 12-15 months. It was found heifers born in spring increased the live mass faster than the rest. They exceeded animals from other groups by 10.3-14.4 kg at the age of 3 months, by 9.1-27.2 kg at the age of 9 months, and at the age of 12 months - by 9.3- 36.6 kg. The heifers born during the summer months grew more slowly. The heifers born in the winter had the lowest live weight during the growing. It was found the heifers in the first month of their lives grew the worst in winter. Their average daily gain was lower than in other times of the year by 24%. The average daily increments of heifers up to one month were relatively constant from spring to autumn. The three-month-old heifers have the worst increments in spring. This is due to unsatisfactory adaptation to the ration of post-dairy period because of a preliminary delay in growth. The growth rate of heifers at the age of 9 and 12 months is decreased in the warm season.

season, heifers, average daily increment, live weight, the Black Spotted Ukrainian Milk breed