Animal Science and Food Technology

The mortality of beef calves is high in the first days after birth. Investigation of the factors influencing it enables to develop methods for increasing the survival of calves and reduce the cost of growing. The research was conducted on cows of Ukrainian beef breed in the breeding plant "Volia". The influence of live weight of heifers, the age of their fertilization, inbreeding, crossbreeding and dystocia on the share of fallen calves from the total number of births was studied. It was established that the live weight of heifers at 18 months ranging from 361 to 400 kg and the age of their fertilization from 22 to 27 months has a positive effect on the survival of calves of Ukrainian beef breed. The industrial crossbreeding and inbreeding on the ancestor of the mother line and “on the mediator” increases the survival of calves. Intra-linear inbreeding, dystocia, low (up to 360 kg) or large (over 400 kg) live weight of heifers at the age of 18 months, diseases, the first fertilization older than 27 months affects negative. The calves born from large sires, with a large torso length and live weight, and relatively narrow head and torso have higher survival. Hereditary anomalies that are transmitted through the sires, susceptibility to helminth infections and infectious diseases are the most frequent causes of calves’ mortality. 

calves survival, suckling period, beef cattle, inbreeding, crossbreeding, dystocia