The article presents the results of studying cortisol concentration and creatine phosphokinase activity in the blood serum of 40 half-sib Ukrainian black and white dairy cows an hour after planned blood extraction, which was a stress experience. We divided the cows into three groups according to the distribution of cortisol concentration in the animals: I – high, II – average and III – low stress resistance. During the research, the cows from these groups were in their fourth month of lactation after their first calving. They were kept untethered in their summer quarters, natural pastures. The aim of the research was to identify the differences in the quality of colostrum, the vitality of the calves up to the age of 6 months, the vitality of the mother-cows, and also the influence of their different adaptation potentials in cases of abortion and stillborn calves among the cows from different groups. At the dairy complex where the research was conducted, the quality of the cows’ colostrum is not monitored. This is typical for most dairy plants of Ukraine. We found that the classes of A and M immunoglobulins did not depend upon which particular groups the animals belonged to, whereas the content of immunoglobulins of class G is 6.7 g/l higher, and the content of total protein is 8.9 g/l higher in the yield of colostrum of the cows from group 1. The influence of cows’ different levels of resistance to stress experiences on their incidence of abortions and stillborn calves was not determined. Gastroenteritis occurred among calves of cows from group 3 three times more often than with those of group 1. Vitality of calves from cows of groups 1 and 2 was significantly higher. Therefore, technological stress experiences of mother-cows have a negative effect upon the quality of colostrum and upon the vitality of calves. This factor ought to be taken into consideration in the exploitation of animals, especially during pregnancy in order to minimise stress and help individuals with less strong nervous systems. Solving the complex problems of increasing the vitality of calves involves in part guaranteeing their provision with colostrum immunity by compulsory control of the colostrum’ quality using a special aerometer (Colostrometer).
Material and resource conservation are important when choosing the optimal technology for keeping dairy cattle. The so-called "Canadian technologies" of frame construction that are widely used in the world are only relatively recently used in national animal husbandry. The question of ensuring the comfort of animals in such rooms remains controversial, since the climate in them is as close as possible to environmental conditions. The purpose of the study was to study the temperature and humidity regime of uninsulated rooms and assess the state of comfort of animals in barns of the frame and hangar type. The temperature and humidity of the air were measured inside and outside the premises (n = 827) periodically from January to July 2018 (in the temperature range from-7.8 to +34.2°С). Using the multiple linear regression function in STATISTICA 10 (StatSoft, Inc., 2011), the calculated temperature values in the barns for low and high temperatures of the Steppe of Ukraine were obtained. It has been established that the temperature-humidity regime of uninsulated rooms is as close as possible to the state of the external environment and depends on the design features (type) of the barn.
The study presents the research of prenatal growth period duration of Ukrainian red dairy breed and explains the relation of this process to the productive and reproductive qualities. Experimental animals have been divided into three groups depending on the duration of their prenatal period: less than 274 days is short (Group I); 274-284 days is average (Group II) and longer than 284 days is extended (Group III). The boundaries between the groups have been determined on the basis of the standard deviation in the variation in the number of signs: short duration of prenatal period is less than -0,5σ; average -from -0,5σ to +0,5σ; extended -more than +0,5σ. It has been found out that the most significant difference according to the live weight among the studied groups of animals is at the age of 6 and 12 months. During these periods, it was statistically significant in favor of animals with short and medium duration of the prenatal period (P > 0.95). In animals of all groups, the period of intensive growth was the first six months of life, which are characterized by the highest absolute, daily average and relative growth. However, heifers with an extended period of prenatal growth were inferior to animals with a short and average duration of these signs, respectively: 11.4 kg (9.1%) for P > 0.99, 63.4 g (9.2%) for P > 0.999, 6.0% for P > 0.95 and 9.3 kg (7.4%) for P > 0.99, 51.9 g (7.6%) for P > 0.999 and 4.2% for P> 0.95. At the age from 12 to 18 months, heifers with an extended period of prenatal period grew more intensively than those of the same age who had a short and medium duration. Between the specified groups of animals, a statistically significant difference has been established according to the growth rates of live weight (P > 0.99). The body measurements of the firstlings of all groups were typical of dairy cattle livestock production. There was no significant difference in these qualities between experimental animal groups. Animals of all experimental groups after the first calving had a higher body mass compared to the standard for Ukrainian red breed (470 kg). But a significantly higher live weight was observed in firstlings of a short period of prenatal growth compared to those who had an extended duration, the difference is statistically significant and is 37 kg (7.7%) for P > 0.99. For 305 days of the first three complete lactation periods, the advantage over the diets and the yield of the resulting milk fat belongs to animals with a short duration of prenatal growth period compared to animals who had extended period with a statistically significant difference (P > 0.95-0.999). There are no differences between experimental groups of animals for fatty milk. Herd mates with an average duration of prenatal period took the intermediate position. It has been found out that in animals of the Group 1, the age of the first insemination and calving, in comparison with the herd mates of the Group III, was earlier, respectively: 5.9 and 11.4 days. Although all experimental groups of animals are showed satisfa...
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